Fewer patients per nurse may be associated with improved achievement of oxygen saturation goals and may be an important modifiable factor influencing oxygen-related outcomes in premature newborns. This effect may vary with mode of respiratory support.

No abstract

Participating NICUs showed significant progress between audits in their implementation of Joint Commission Alarm Safety goals for oximeter monitoring. Oximeter high alarm not set per local policy is associated with increased hyperoxemia in preterm infants. Recommendations to standardize oxygen saturation targets for infants at risk for oxygenation-related outcomes have not been widely adopted.

Through small changes in oximeter alarm settings, including revision of alarm limits, alarm delays, and age-specific alarm profiles, our NICUs significantly reduced nonactionable alarms without increasing hypoxemia.