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Reducing Noise and Alarm Burden in Adult Intensive Care Units: An Integrative Review of Interventions and Implications for Nursing Management

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: AIM: To synthesise evidence on noise-reduction and alarm-management strategies in adult intensive care units and examine their implications for nursing management. BACKGROUND: ICU noise and alarm burden present challenges for patient rest, clinical surveillance, nursing workflow and staff experience. Intervention effectiveness and sustainability remain uncertain. EVALUATION: An integrative review guided by Whittemore and Knafl's framework synthesised empirical, implementation and review-level evidence identified through PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and reference screening. KEY ISSUES: Interventions addressed alarm management, environmental modification, quiet-hour practices, staff engagement and multicomponent implementation. Reported benefits varied across studies, and available evidence did not establish the superiority of bundled approaches. Direct evidence concerning workforce well-being, nursing leadership, clinical surveillance and sustained improvement was limited. CONCLUSION: Quiet ICU interventions may improve selected acoustic and alarm-related outcomes, but their comparative effectiveness and long-term sustainability remain uncertain. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nurse leaders may consider context-sensitive interventions supported by alarm governance, workflow integration, staff participation and ongoing evaluation. Future studies should assess nursing workload, clinical surveillance, patient safety and sustainability alongside acoustic outcomes.

Source: Journal of Nursing Management

DOI: 10.1155/jonm/9617407