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NTI

Concurrent C60M452

Noisy Devices, Silent Harm: IV Smart Pump Usability Challenges and Safety Implications

Facilitator(s): Karen K Giuliano, PhD, RN, MBA, FAAN; Karen Meade, MS, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, OCN

Contact Hours 1.00
CERP B 1.00
San Diego Conference
Date Monday 5/18/2026
Time 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM PT

Session Summary

IV smart pumps (IVSP) are essential for safe medication delivery, yet nurses routinely encounter challenges related to poor usability, inconsistent flow rate accuracy and frequent nuisance alarms. This session presents real-world data from our interdisciplinary program of research highlighting how interface design, programming complexity and alarm burden disrupt nursing workflow and increase risks to patient safety. Evidence-based strategies and best practices to address these issues now and with future IV smart pump design are discussed.

Objectives

  • Identify how poor IVSP usability, flow rate inconsistencies, and clinically insignificant alarms impact safety and nursing workflow.
  • Describe evidence-based strategies to reduce alarm burden, improve IVSP usability and enhance infusion safety.
  • Explain the essential role of nurses as leaders in the development of safer, more intuitive IV infusion systems.
Topics Patient Safety
Population Adult
Role Staff

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Continuing Education Disclosure Statement

Successful Completion

Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.

Accreditation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for 1.00 contact hours.

Disclosure

Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.

Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.

Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.

Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion. 

Refund Policy

Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.