Effect of a nurse-managed telemetry discontinuation protocol on monitoring duration, alarm frequency, and adverse patient events

Telemetry monitoring is a limited resource. This quality improvement project describes a nursemanaged telemetry discontinuation protocol aimed at stopping telemetry monitoring when it is no longer indicated. After implementing the protocol, datawere collected for 6 months and compared with a preintervention time frame. There was a mean decrease in telemetry monitor usage and a decreased likelihood of remaining on a telemetry monitor until discharge. A nurse-managed telemetry discontinuation protocol was effective in decreasing overmonitoring and ensuring telemetry availability.