Hospital Monitor Alarms: What Each Alarm Means and How to Respond--1.7

By MedLinket Clinical Education Team | Updated: February 2025 | 15 min read

Understanding every alarm on your patient monitor is essential for timely clinical response and patient safety.

⚡ Quick Answer Hospital patient monitor alarms indicate changes in vital signs that need attention. Red alarms (continuous tone) are life-threatening and require immediate response. Yellow alarms (intermittent tone) need prompt assessment within minutes. Blue/white alarms (single beep) signal equipment or technical issues. The most critical rule: always assess the patient first, then check the monitor. Between 85% and 99% of hospital alarms are false or clinically insignificant — but every alarm must be taken seriously until verified.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Hospital alarms are tiered by severity: red (critical), yellow (warning), and blue/white (advisory) — each requiring a different response speed.

• The overwhelming majority of patient monitor alarms are false or non-actionable, but every alarm must be verified by assessing the patient first.

• SpO₂, heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG each trigger specific alarm types with distinct causes and responses.

• Alarm fatigue is a documented safety hazard — reducing false alarms through proper skin prep, quality monitoring accessories, and patient-specific alarm settings is a shared clinical responsibility.

• Quality ECG cables, SpO₂ sensors, and NIBP cuffs directly reduce false alarms and improve patient safety outcomes.

📖 In This Article

• Alarm Priority Levels Explained

• SpO₂ Alarms: Causes and Response

• Heart Rate Alarms: Tachycardia and Bradycardia

• Blood Pressure Alarms: High, Low, and Failed Readings

• ECG Alarms: Leads Off, Arrhythmia, and Artifact

• Technical and Equipment Alarms

• Universal Alarm Response Flowchart

• Alarm Fatigue: The Hidden Safety Crisis

• 7 Proven Strategies to Reduce False Alarms

• Frequently Asked Questions

📚 Part of the Hospital Monitor Reading & Accessories Guide

This article is part of our comprehensive series on understanding patient monitors. For related topics, see:

How to Read a Hospital Monitor →

Alarm Priority Levels: Red, Yellow, and Blue

Every modern patient monitor — whether from Philips, GE Healthcare, Mindray, Dräger, or another manufacturer — uses a tiered alarm system. Understanding these tiers is the first step to responding correctly. While specific alarm tones and display styles differ between brands, the fundamental priority structure follows the IEC 60601-1-8 international standard across all medical devices.

⚠️ Clinical Reality Check The alarm priority system works perfectly in theory. In practice, the sheer volume of alarms complicates everything. A single ICU patient can generate 150 to 400 alarms during one nursing shift, and published research consistently finds that 85–99% of these are either false or clinically insignificant. This is why alarm management — including the quality of your monitoring accessories — matters as much as understanding alarm types.

Many monitors also feature a distinction between latching alarms (which continue until manually acknowledged even after the triggering condition resolves) and non-latching alarms (which stop automatically once the condition resolves). Critical alarms for conditions like ventricular fibrillation are almost always latching — they demand that a clinician acknowledges the event, not just its resolution.

SpO₂ Alarms: Causes and Immediate Response

SpO₂ monitoring (peripheral oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry) is one of the most common alarm sources on any hospital unit. The SpO₂ value is typically displayed in a blue or cyan color on the monitor, with the plethysmographic (pleth) waveform running alongside it. The pulse oximeter uses two wavelengths of light — 660nm red and 940nm infrared — to calculate the ratio of oxygenated to deoxygenated hemoglobin. This means anything that disrupts that light path will affect the reading.

True Hypoxemia vs. Sensor Problem: How to Tell the Difference

This is one of the most common clinical judgment calls you'll make at the bedside. The key discriminator is the pleth waveform. A clean, regular pleth waveform with a consistently low SpO₂ reading strongly suggests true hypoxemia. A poor, erratic, or absent waveform points to a sensor or perfusion problem.

Signs the low SpO₂ is real (true hypoxemia): visible cyanosis (blue lips, fingertips), increased work of breathing, altered mental status, and a good pleth waveform showing a consistent low reading.

Signs it's a sensor problem (false alarm): the patient appears comfortable and well-perfused, the pleth waveform is absent or irregular, the reading jumps erratically, or the sensor feels loose on the finger. Common culprits include patient movement, cold extremities with poor perfusion, nail polish or acrylic nails, ambient light interference, and a worn-out or improperly placed SpO₂ sensor.

🔗 Reduce SpO₂ False Alarms with Quality Sensors

Worn-out or low-quality SpO₂ sensors are one of the most common — and most preventable — sources of false low-oxygen alarms. MedLinket manufactures compatible SpO₂ sensors for Philips, GE, Mindray, Masimo, and Nellcor monitors with ±2% accuracy across 70–100% SpO₂ range.

Mindray Compatible SpO₂ Sensor (Adult Soft) →
Comen Compatible SpO₂ Sensor (Adult Soft) →
Mindray Compatible SpO₂ Ear Clip Sensor →

📖 Related reading: How Do SpO₂ Sensors Work? | Understanding SpO₂ Sensors: Masimo, Nellcor & Neonatal Options

💡 Pro Tip from Clinical Engineers: One overlooked cause of persistent SpO₂ false alarms is technology mismatch. A sensor designed for Nellcor OxiMax technology will not give reliable readings on a Masimo SET module — even if the connector physically fits. Always confirm that the SpO₂ sensor technology matches your monitor's module, not just the plug shape. At MedLinket, we've seen this compatibility trap cause weeks of frustration in hospitals that mistakenly assumed identical connectors meant identical compatibility.

📚 Deep Dive: 7 Benefits of Monitoring Your SpO₂ Levels — Understand why continuous SpO₂ monitoring matters and how to interpret changes clinically.

Heart Rate Alarms: Tachycardia and Bradycardia

Heart rate (HR) alarms trigger when the monitored heart rate — derived from either the ECG signal or the pulse oximeter pulse rate — falls outside the set limits. The ECG-derived heart rate is generally more reliable for arrhythmia detection, while the pulse rate from SpO₂ confirms a mechanically effective heartbeat. When HR and PR values diverge significantly, that itself is a clinical finding worth investigating.

⚠️ The Asystole Alarm Trap One of the most common sources of "code blue" false activations is an asystole or VFib alarm caused by a disconnected ECG lead wire — not actual cardiac arrest. Before activating an emergency response, take 3 seconds to physically look at the patient. If the patient is sitting up, talking, or otherwise alert, the alarm is almost certainly a lead disconnection. This immediate patient-first assessment prevents unnecessary trauma to the patient and resource waste.

When Heart Rate Alarms Require Escalation

Not all heart rate alarms carry equal clinical weight. Here's how experienced clinicians differentiate urgency levels:

• Escalate immediately: Sustained HR >150 BPM with symptoms (chest pain, dyspnea, altered consciousness), any new wide-complex tachycardia, HR <40 BPM with hypotension or symptoms of poor perfusion.

• Monitor and assess: Sinus tachycardia 100–130 BPM in the context of pain, fever, or postoperative status. Sinus bradycardia 45–60 BPM in an otherwise comfortable patient on beta-blockers or during sleep.

• Likely false alarm: Sudden brief spikes or drops that immediately self-correct, especially coinciding with patient movement or position changes. The ECG waveform will often show artifact during the event.

📚 Deep Dive: How to Read an EKG Quickly: How to Count Heart Rate on ECG — Learn practical ECG interpretation for fast heart rate assessment at the bedside.

Blood Pressure Alarms: High, Low, and Failed Readings

NIBP (non-invasive blood pressure) monitoring uses the oscillometric method: the cuff inflates to occlude arterial flow, then slowly deflates while the monitor detects pressure oscillations. The strongest oscillation point corresponds to the mean arterial pressure (MAP), and systolic and diastolic values are algorithmically derived from there. This means NIBP measurements are inherently susceptible to factors that affect cuff fit, patient movement, and arterial compliance.

Why MAP Matters More Than You Think

While most clinicians focus on the systolic and diastolic numbers, MAP (Mean Arterial Pressure) is actually the most clinically significant value from the oscillometric method — because it's the value the monitor directly measures rather than derives. MAP represents the average perfusion pressure driving blood to your organs. The critical threshold is MAP <65 mmHg, below which organ perfusion becomes inadequate. In sepsis management, MAP >65 mmHg is a primary resuscitation target. The formula is: MAP = DBP + ⅓(SBP − DBP).

"Measurement Failed" — The Most Common NIBP Alarm

Failed NIBP readings are far more frequent than high or low BP alarms. The most common causes are:

🔗 NIBP Cuffs and Hoses That Fit Right

Wrong cuff size is the single most common source of inaccurate blood pressure readings. MedLinket offers the full range of NIBP cuffs from neonatal (3–6 cm) through adult extra-large (32–42 cm) and thigh (42–54 cm), all latex-free and DEHP-free.

Adult Reusable NIBP Cuff →
Disposable NIBP Cuff (Adult Long 28–37 cm) →

📖 Related reading: How to Choose a Suitable Blood Pressure Cuff | Which Blood Pressure Cuff Fits Me? | How to Put on a Blood Pressure Cuff Correctly

ECG Alarms: Leads Off, Arrhythmia, and Artifact

ECG monitoring generates some of the highest-volume and most safety-critical alarms in any hospital unit. The ECG signal pathway includes the patient's heart (electrical source), ECG electrodes (skin contact), ECG lead wires (signal conductors), ECG trunk cables (connection to monitor), and the monitor's processing algorithm. A problem at any point in this chain will trigger an alarm — and the vast majority of ECG alarms originate from the electrode-to-skin interface, not from the patient's heart.

The "Leads Off" Alarm: The Most Common ECG Alarm in Every Hospital

Ask any bedside nurse what alarm they hear most often, and the answer is almost universally "leads off." This alarm fires when the monitor loses the electrical signal from one or more ECG electrodes. The root cause is almost always at the electrode-skin interface — not the patient's heart. Common culprits include dried-out electrode gel (electrodes older than 24 hours), diaphoresis (sweaty skin breaks the adhesive seal), chest hair preventing full gel-to-skin contact, and worn-out snap connectors on ECG lead wires.

Here's a systematic approach to fixing a "Leads Off" alarm:

1. Identify which lead is off — most monitors display the specific lead (RA, LA, LL, RL, V/C). Check that lead first.

2. Verify the electrode is on the patient — has it peeled at the edges? Is the adhesive still tacky?

3. Check the snap or clip connection — is the lead wire securely attached to the electrode snap?

4. Assess electrode age — if older than 24 hours, the conductive gel has likely dried out. Replace it.

5. Evaluate skin condition — oily, wet, or hairy skin breaks contact. Clean with alcohol, let dry, clip hair if needed.

6. Check the cable — inspect the ECG trunk cable connection to the monitor and look for visibly damaged wires.

📚 Deep Dive: ECG Artifact Troubleshooting — Complete guide to identifying and resolving the three major types of ECG artifact: 50/60 Hz interference, muscle artifact, and baseline drift.

Understanding ECG Interference Sources

The three primary types of ECG artifact correspond to distinct causes, each with specific solutions:

🔗 ECG Cables and Electrodes That Reduce False Alarms

Low-quality or worn-out ECG cables and ECG lead wires are a leading contributor to artifact and "leads off" alarms. MedLinket's ECG cables are tested to meet OEM performance specifications and are compatible with Philips, GE, Mindray, and other major patient monitor brands.

Offset (eccentric) ECG electrodes are specifically designed to reduce artifact caused by cable tension and patient movement — studies show they significantly reduce baseline drift compared to traditional center-snap electrodes. MedLinket's patented offset electrode design places the snap connector away from the sensing area, so cable pulls don't disturb the signal.

Mindray 3-Lead ECG Cable (Snap/IEC) →
Mindray 5-Lead ECG Cable (Grabber/IEC) →
Philips M1603A 3-Lead ECG Leadwires →
GE 5-Lead ECG Leadwires →

📖 Related reading: Common ECG Lead Placement Mistakes | ECG Quality Control System | Master 3-Lead, 5-Lead, and 12-Lead ECG Placement

Technical and Equipment Alarms

Not all alarms reflect a change in the patient's condition. Technical (equipment) alarms signal issues with the monitoring hardware itself. While these are lower priority than physiological alarms, ignoring them can lead to loss of monitoring — which is itself a safety risk.

📖 For a comprehensive guide on identifying which cables and sensors your specific monitor model requires, see: Compatible Masimo SpO₂ Sensors: Solutions for Multi-Brand Monitors | How to Quickly Find NIBP Hoses for Philips Monitor Series

Universal Alarm Response Flowchart

Regardless of the alarm type, a systematic approach prevents both missed true alarms and unnecessary panic over equipment issues. This protocol works across all alarm types and monitor brands:

🔔 ALARM SOUNDS ↓ STEP 1: LOOK AT THE PATIENT (not the monitor) → Is the patient in visible distress? → Is the patient responsive? → Is there an obvious emergency (cyanosis, apnea, seizure)? ↓ ┌─── YES → Initiate emergency response │ (call for help, begin intervention, activate code if needed) │ └─── NO → STEP 2: CHECK THE WAVEFORM / READING → Is the waveform clean and consistent? → Does the reading match the patient's appearance? ↓ ┌─── Reading matches clinical picture → CLINICAL INTERVENTION │ (true alarm — treat the cause, notify physician) │ └─── Reading doesn't match → STEP 3: CHECK EQUIPMENT → Sensor/electrode attached? → Cable connected? → Sensor quality OK (not expired/damaged)? → Correct accessory for this monitor? ↓ Fix the issue → REASSESS Still not resolved → REPLACE ACCESSORY Still not resolved → CONTACT BIOMED

📋 The Golden Rule of Alarm Response Always assess the patient first, then assess the equipment. This simple prioritization prevents two critical errors: (1) treating a non-existent emergency caused by a loose sensor, and (2) ignoring a real emergency because you assumed it was another false alarm. If you remember nothing else from this article, remember this rule.

Alarm Fatigue: The Hidden Safety Crisis

Alarm fatigue is the desensitization that occurs when clinicians are exposed to an overwhelming number of alarms — the vast majority of which turn out to be clinically insignificant. It is consistently ranked among the top technology safety hazards in healthcare, and the Joint Commission has made alarm management a National Patient Safety Goal since 2014.

The Numbers Tell the Story

The 2019 FDA report identified cardiac monitor alarms as the leading cause of alarm-related patient deaths. In one widely-cited case, a patient being monitored on a telemetry unit experienced multiple low-heart-rate alarms that went unaddressed by nursing staff — the patient was found unresponsive and subsequently died. The subsequent investigation attributed the failure directly to alarm fatigue: too many non-actionable alarms had desensitized the clinical team.

Why Alarm Fatigue Happens

Alarm fatigue is not a failure of individual nurses — it's a systems problem with multiple contributing factors:

• Excessive non-actionable alarms: When 85–99% of alarms require no clinical action, clinicians learn to treat alarms as background noise.

• Default alarm settings: Most monitors ship with generic default thresholds that aren't tailored to individual patients. A COPD patient with baseline SpO₂ of 88% will alarm constantly on standard settings.

• Poor-quality accessories: Worn-out ECG electrodes, degraded SpO₂ sensors, and damaged cables generate avoidable false alarms.

• Inadequate skin preparation: Skipping proper skin prep before applying ECG electrodes dramatically increases artifact and "leads off" alarms.

• High nurse-to-patient ratios: Understaffing means more alarms per nurse, compounding the fatigue effect.

• Environmental noise: ICU sound levels routinely exceed 45 dB — well above the WHO recommendation of 35 dB — making individual alarm differentiation difficult.

7 Proven Strategies to Reduce False Alarms

Reducing false alarms is not a single intervention — it requires a multi-pronged approach addressing equipment, settings, workflow, and accessories simultaneously. These strategies are drawn from published hospital quality improvement initiatives and real-world clinical engineering experience.

1. Proper Skin Preparation and Electrode Management

This single intervention can reduce ECG-related false alarms by up to 50%. The protocol is straightforward: clean the skin with alcohol, allow it to dry fully, lightly abrade until slightly pink, and clip (don't shave) excessive hair. Replace all ECG electrodes every 24 hours — gel dries out and adhesion weakens over time. Research has confirmed that standardizing daily bathing and electrode replacement significantly reduces false alarm frequency.

2. Patient-Specific Alarm Parameter Customization

Default alarm thresholds are designed to be broadly safe but are not optimized for any individual patient. A patient with chronic atrial fibrillation should have arrhythmia alarms adjusted. A well-conditioned athlete with a resting HR of 48 BPM shouldn't trigger bradycardia alarms every few minutes. Customize alarm limits based on the patient's baseline condition at the start of every shift. One hospital reduced total alarms by 60% simply by adjusting default heart rate thresholds to better match patient populations.

3. Use Quality, Compatible Monitoring Accessories

Degraded or incompatible accessories are a consistent source of avoidable false alarms. Old SpO₂ sensors with worn LEDs produce noisy signals. Damaged ECG cables with broken shielding pick up 50/60 Hz interference. Ill-fitting NIBP cuffs cause repeated measurement failures. Investing in quality, properly compatible accessories — whether OEM or certified-compatible — pays for itself in reduced alarm burden and clinical time savings.

💡 From MedLinket's Clinical Engineering Team: One of the most impactful changes we've seen hospitals make is switching from traditional center-snap ECG electrodes to offset (eccentric) electrodes for continuous monitoring. In our internal testing using a standardized simulated click experiment (every 4 seconds), traditional center electrodes showed baseline drift up to 7,000 μV — while MedLinket's offset electrodes were virtually unaffected. The patented neck-relief structure absorbs cable tension so it never reaches the sensing gel-skin interface. For telemetry and Holter applications, this dramatically reduces motion artifact and false arrhythmia alarms.

4. Implement Alarm Delay Settings

Many modern monitors allow brief alarm delays (typically 10–15 seconds) to filter out transient, self-correcting events. For example, a momentary SpO₂ dip during patient repositioning will self-correct — a 10-second delay prevents the alarm from firing for a clinically meaningless fluctuation. Work with your biomedical engineering team to identify which alarm types are appropriate for short delays.

5. Regular Cable and Sensor Inspection

Establish a routine inspection schedule for all monitoring accessories: check cables for visible damage (fraying, exposed wires, bent connector pins), test connector integrity, and replace sensors that show degraded signal quality. MedLinket recommends the following replacement intervals as a baseline:

📚 Deep Dive: Ultimate Guide to Cleaning and Maintaining Reusable NIBP Cuffs

6. Staff Education and Alarm Response Protocols

No technology solution replaces well-trained clinical staff. Education programs should cover: proper ECG electrode placement, SpO₂ sensor positioning technique, understanding the difference between "silence" and "disable" alarm functions, patient-specific alarm customization workflows, and a clear escalation pathway for when alarms cannot be resolved. The AACN Practice Alert on alarm management recommends that every unit develop a specific alarm management protocol with regular competency verification.

7. Multidisciplinary Alarm Management Teams

The most successful alarm reduction programs involve collaboration between nursing, biomedical engineering, physicians, and administration. Create a multidisciplinary alarm committee that reviews alarm data monthly, identifies top alarm sources by unit, and tests interventions. One children's hospital reduced alarms from 180 per patient per day to 40 — and false alarms from 95% to 50% — through exactly this kind of team-based approach.

Why Hospitals in 120+ Countries Trust MedLinket Monitoring Accessories

Since 2004, MedLinket (Shenzhen Med-Link Electronics Tech Co., Ltd., NEEQ stock code: 833505) has specialized in manufacturing high-quality patient monitor accessories — including SpO₂ sensors, ECG cables, ECG lead wires, ECG electrodes, NIBP cuffs, NIBP hoses, temperature probes, IBP transducers, and EtCO₂ sampling lines. Every product is designed to reduce false alarms and improve signal quality at the bedside.

🏭 21 Years of Manufacturing Founded 2004, 3 factories (Shenzhen, Shaoguan, Indonesia), 3,500+ molds, 16,651+ product variants

✅ Full Regulatory Compliance FDA 510(k) (19 clearances), CE MDR, ISO 13485:2016, MDSAP, NMPA, BSCI

🌍 Global Hospital Network Exported to 120+ countries, 2,000+ terminal hospitals, including UK Royal Victoria Hospital and France's Institut Hospitalier Jacques Cartier

🔧 30+ Compatible Brands Philips, GE, Mindray, Dräger, Masimo, Nellcor, Nihon Kohden, Comen, Biolight, Edan, and more

🛡️ $5M Product Liability Insurance Maximum payout USD 5,000,000; individual certificates available for distributors as additional insured

🔬 Patented Technology 45 utility model patents, 8 invention patents, 26 design patents, 1 PCT international patent

Ready to improve alarm performance on your unit?
Contact us: shopify@medlinket.com | WhatsApp: +852 6467 3105
MOQ: Flexible | Lead Time: 7–15 business days | Samples Available

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the hospital monitor keep beeping even though the patient looks fine?

This is almost always a technical or equipment issue rather than a clinical problem. The most common causes are: a loose or dried-out ECG electrode triggering "leads off," an SpO₂ sensor that has shifted on the finger, or alarm thresholds that haven't been customized for this patient's baseline. Check all connections, replace electrodes if they're older than 24 hours, and verify that alarm limits match the patient's condition. If the issue persists, try a fresh sensor or cable to rule out equipment degradation.

Can I silence alarms on a patient monitor? What's the difference between "silence" and "disable"?

Silence (or "pause") temporarily mutes the audible alarm for a set period — usually 60 to 120 seconds — while keeping visual alarm indicators active. The alarm will re-sound if the condition persists. Disable turns off a specific alarm entirely — the monitor will no longer alert for that condition at all. Silencing is appropriate during known transient events (repositioning a patient, suctioning). Disabling alarms should only be done with a physician order and careful documentation. Most accreditation bodies strongly discourage routine alarm disabling.

What should I do first when any alarm sounds?

Always assess the patient first, then assess the equipment. Physically look at the patient: Are they responsive? Are they in distress? Is there visible cyanosis, apnea, or other signs of deterioration? This 3-second visual assessment tells you more than the monitor does. If the patient looks well, proceed to check the equipment (sensor placement, electrode adhesion, cable connections). If the patient is in distress, call for help and begin clinical intervention.

What percentage of hospital alarms are false?

Published research consistently reports that 85% to 99% of hospital monitor alarms are either false (no clinical event occurred) or clinically insignificant (the event was real but required no intervention). This enormous proportion of non-actionable alarms is the root cause of alarm fatigue. Reducing this percentage through better accessories, proper skin prep, and patient-specific alarm limits is one of the most impactful safety improvements any clinical unit can make.

How do I know if a VFib alarm is real or just a loose lead?

Look at the patient immediately. If the patient is sitting up, talking, or otherwise alert, the alarm is a lead artifact — not true ventricular fibrillation. True VFib presents with an unresponsive patient without a palpable pulse. In artifact, the ECG waveform typically shows chaotic, non-physiological morphology that doesn't resemble any real cardiac rhythm. When in doubt, feel for a pulse while looking at the monitor — if the patient has a pulse and is responsive, it's artifact.

Does using compatible (non-OEM) monitoring accessories affect alarm accuracy?

High-quality, certified-compatible accessories perform equivalently to OEM accessories in signal quality and alarm accuracy — provided they are properly matched to your specific monitor model and technology type. The key is to verify: (1) brand and model compatibility, (2) connector type match, (3) technology compatibility (e.g., Masimo SET vs. Nellcor OxiMax for SpO₂). Reputable manufacturers like MedLinket test all compatible accessories against OEM specifications and hold independent regulatory clearances (FDA 510(k), CE). Always source from manufacturers with documented regulatory compliance and traceability. Learn more about compatible vs. OEM accessories →

How often should ECG electrodes be replaced to minimize false alarms?

Replace disposable ECG electrodes every 24 hours as a standard practice. For neonatal patients, some protocols recommend every 12 hours due to thinner, more sensitive skin. If adhesion fails before 24 hours — due to diaphoresis, excessive movement, or poor skin prep — replace sooner. Each new electrode should go on freshly prepped skin (cleaned with alcohol, allowed to dry, lightly abraded). This single intervention is one of the most effective ways to reduce "leads off" and artifact alarms.

Related Articles in This Series

This article is part of our comprehensive Hospital Monitor Reading & Accessories Guide. Explore related topics:

Understanding Vital Sign Parameters

• Understanding SaO₂, PaO₂ vs SpO₂ and PaO₂/FiO₂ Ratio

• How to Read an EKG Quickly: How to Count Heart Rate on ECG

• Preductal vs Postductal: Interpreting Ductal Sats in Neonates

• How to Read a Hospital Monitor and Interpret Key Parameters

ECG Placement & Troubleshooting

• 12-Lead ECG Placement: The Complete Guide

• 5-Lead ECG Placement: Colors, Mnemonics & Steps

• 3-Lead ECG Placement: Step-by-Step

• ECG Artifact Troubleshooting

• Common ECG Lead Placement Mistakes

• Special ECG Placement Situations

Equipment & Accessories

• How Do SpO₂ Sensors Work?

• What is a Pulse Oximeter and How Does It Work?

• How to Choose the Right Disposable SpO₂ Sensors

• How to Choose a Suitable Blood Pressure Cuff

• What is a Pressure Infusion Bag and What is It Used For?

📚 This article is part of the Hospital Monitor Reading & Accessories Guide series

Explore the full series to master patient monitoring — from basic parameter interpretation to advanced troubleshooting and accessory selection.

Read the Pillar Guide: How to Read a Hospital Monitor →