The Impact of Medical Technology Alarms on Critical Care Nurses: Emotional Responses, Occupational Fatigue, and Implications for Well-Being.

In this focus group study, we examined the challenges associated with sensory overload resulting from medical technology alarms and alerts experienced by intensive care unit nurses. The prevalence of excessive warnings has a detrimental impact on the well-being of critical care nurses. Participants reported a variety of emotional responses to the alarms, predominately negative feelings, such as anger, frustration, stress, and nervousness. Thus, it is imperative to implement strategic measures to address the issue of alarm fatigue and associated noise levels to foster a more conducive work environment, ultimately improving human performance and enhancing workflow for critical care nurses.