Quality Improvement and Sustainability
Quality Improvement and Sustainability
These resources have been compiled to support future alarm fatigue improvement initiatives and to sustain a culture of safety through continuous evaluation, education, and quality improvement.
Huang, L.-L., Jiang, Y.-H., Yang, J.-H., Hong, W.-W., Chen, H.-F., & Hu, W.-W. (2025). Experience of nurse-guided root cause analysis after a sentinel event: A qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02787-6
Description:
This study emphasizes that performing root cause analysis after patient safety events and incorporating nurses’ perspectives leads to more comprehensive findings and improved quality improvement outcomes.
Relevance:
This study is relevant for identifying and anticipating future alarm fatigue issues, supporting proactive quality improvement planning.
Use in Practice:
This study is very useful to help nurses determine underlying causes of patient safety events.
Ruppel, H., Dougherty, M., Bonafide, C. P., & Lasater, K. B. (2023). Alarm burden and the nursing care environment: A 213-hospital cross-
sectional study. BMJ Open Quality, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002342
Description:
This study highlights the importance of reporting alarm-related events and incorporating staff feedback as key components of quality improvement and the sustainability of alarm fatigue reduction initiatives.
Relevance:
This study is evidence that reporting and leadership follow-up are key components of safety improvement plan.
Use in Practice:
This study is useful in providing evidence for ensuring quick alarm-related reporting and daily leadership rounding.
Reynolds, S. S., Waldrop, J. B., & Dunlap, J. J. (2025). Evidence-based practice Quality Improvement Reporting Guidelines. Journal of Nursing Care Quality. https://doi.org/10.1097/ncq.0000000000000912
Description:
This article goes over the importance of coming up with a PICO(t) question to find the best quality research for future safety improvement plans.
Relevance:
This study is relevant to the toolkit because it highlights how the PICOT process can direct evidence-based research and quality improvement efforts addressing patient safety issues, including alarm fatigue reduction initiatives.
Use in Practice:
This study is helpful for nurses seeking to locate and apply relevant research to inform quality improvement initiatives and address patient safety issues, such as alarm fatigue.
Moon, S. E., Hogden, A., & Eljiz, K. (2022). Sustaining improvement of hospital-wide initiative for Patient Safety and Quality: A Systematic Scoping Review. BMJ Open Quality, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002057
Description:
This study reviewed factors that hindered the sustainability of safety improvement plans. The study points out factors that are either people, processes, or organizational can hinder the sustainability of safety plans.
Relevance:
This is relevant because ensuring that the safety improvement plan results in sustainable change is critical for maintaining long-term patient safety and quality outcomes.
Use in Practice:
This study is useful in practice because it identifies factors that could hinder the success of a safety improvement plan, allowing nurses and leadership to proactively address potential barriers.