Over on this side of the pond, alarm fatigue is more an issue in units with a nurse to patient ratio greater than 1:1 or 1:2, typically telemetry units and other high dependency units.
There's also a trend, called variable acuity or universal units, where patients are kept on their medical service, and medical devices like patient monitors and staffing ratios are increased if the patient's acuity goes up. The goal here is to avoid a transfer (which adds one day to the length of stay) while delivering appropriate care.
The number of patients requiring patient monitors, ventilators and pumps - who don't require 1:1 or 1:2 nurse to patient ratios seems to be growing. Or perhaps patients who once received more intensive nursing care are no longer getting it. Either way, the status quo is frequently creating alarm fatigue and resulting in failure to rescue.
John, I too have been on units where alarms are left to ring and ring, desensitizing staff and creating an adverse care environment. Sadly, little seems to be done here or in Europe.
