Alarm Fatigue and Job Burnout Among Intensive Care Unit Nurses: A Cross‐Sectional Study in a Tertiary Hospital in China

BACKGROUND: Alarm fatigue in ICU settings contributes to desensitisation, emotional exhaustion and job burnout, threatening nurse well-being and patient safety. AIM: To measure alarm fatigue and burnout levels among ICU nurses and assess their correlation. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey study. Between February and March 2022, 140 ICU nurses in a tertiary hospital in Baoding were surveyed using a general information questionnaire, the Clinical Alarm Fatigue Scale and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Correlation and subgroup analyses stratified by working years and professional title were performed to examine the relationship between alarm fatigue and the three dimensions of job burnout: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and personal achievement. RESULTS: Intensive care unit nurses exhibited moderate alarm fatigue and severe burnout, highlighting the urgent need for interventions such as alarm management systems and mental health support programs. The three dimensions of burnout-emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and reduced personal achievement-were scored as severe. Alarm fatigue and depersonalisation among ICU nurses were positively correlated (r = 0.288, p < 0.001), indicating that higher alarm fatigue exacerbates these dimensions of burnout. A negative correlation with personal accomplishment was observed (r = -0.218, p = 0.022), suggesting a reduction in the sense of achievement. Subgroup analyses revealed differential impacts: alarm fatigue correlated more strongly with depersonalisation in junior nurses (≤ 10 years) but showed stronger associations with emotional exhaustion and reduced accomplishment in senior nurses (> 10 years). CONCLUSIONS: Alarm fatigue is closely linked to burnout dimensions in ICU nurses, with effects varying significantly by professional seniority, emphasising the need for tailored strategies to mitigate these effects and improve nurse and patient outcomes. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The findings emphasise implementing alarm management training, optimised shift scheduling and emotional support programs to mitigate fatigue, enhance well-being and improve patient safety.