Continuous Vital Signs Monitoring with a Wireless Device on a General Ward: A Survey to Explore Nurses’ Experiences in a Post-Implementation Period

Abstract

Background: Nurse engagement, perceived need and usefulness affect healthcare technology use, acceptance and improvements in quality, safety and accessibility of healthcare. Nurses’ opinions regarding continuous monitoring appear to be positive. However, facilitators and barriers were little studied. This study explored nurses’ post-implementation experiences of the facilitators and barriers to continuously monitoring patients’ vital signs using a wireless device on general hospital wards. Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional survey. Vocational and registered nurses from three general wards in a Dutch tertiary university hospital participated in a survey comprising open and closed questions. The data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Results: Fifty-eight nurses (51.3%) completed the survey. Barriers and facilitators were identified under four key themes: (1) timely signalling and early action, (2) time savings and time consumption, (3) patient comfort and satisfaction and (4) preconditions. Conclusions: According to nurses, early detection and intervention for deteriorating patients facilitate the use and acceptance of continuously monitoring vital signs. Barriers primarily concern difficulties connecting patients correctly to the devices and system.

The future of postoperative vital sign monitoring in general wards: improving patient safety through continuous artificial intelligence-enabled alert formation and reduction

“…Thus, among 111 nurses at the general wards experienced with the use of continuous vital sign monitoring, an overall positive attitude existed mainly due to early detection allowing timely interventions to alleviate adverse events, time savings in evenings and at night and insight into the patient's actual status. Barriers were technological and related to device design and internet connectivity [33 ▪ ]. The benefit of CVSM on reducing nurses workload is further supported by a descriptive analysis documenting a 10 minute per patient per day time saving with CVSM as compared with NEWS [34], and also in a case control study in 249 patients of CSVM vs manual monitoring that also found decreased time to rapid response team activation [35], similar to other aforementioned studies [6,19].…”

“…This is especially needed in a healthcare system burdened by increasingly comorbid patients and reduced staffing. Thus, recognizing that CVSM in the general ward is markedly different to the high-staffed facilities such as the ICU or PACU is crucial to adapt the technology to fulfill the potential [33 ▪ ]. Thus, among 111 nurses at the general wards experienced with the use of continuous vital sign monitoring, an overall positive attitude existed mainly due to early detection allowing timely interventions to alleviate adverse events, time savings in evenings and at night and insight into the patient's actual status.…”

Experiences, barriers and expectations regarding current patient monitoring systems among ICU nurses in a University Hospital in Lebanon: a qualitative study

“…This makes it possible to identify deteriorating situations early on, which allows for prompt actions and could ultimately prevent unfavorable developments. ICU nurses value the efficiency and convenience that patient monitoring systems provide because they have instant access to patient data, which eliminates the need for manual charting and allows for tailored patient care ( 10 ).…”

Three Years of Continuous Vital Signs Monitoring on the General Surgical Ward: Is It Sustainable? A Qualitative Study

“…The CeHRes roadmap, a framework to achieve optimal uptake of eHealth technologies, suggests formatively evaluating the actual uptake or usage of technology to improve the technology and its use and to ensure sustainable use of the technology [24]. A postimplementation survey demonstrated that nurses were positive towards the use of the continuous vital signs monitoring system in daily practice [25]. However, understanding the nurses' and patients' perspectives for further development of the use of this system is lacking.…”

“…However, understanding the nurses' and patients' perspectives for further development of the use of this system is lacking. Therefore, to proceed on the findings of Becking-Verhaar et al [25], this study undertook a qualitative interview approach to provide in-depth insight into nurses' and patients' perspectives regarding the use of a continuous vital signs monitoring system, and how it can be further innovated to ensure the sustainable and effective use of this technology.…”