Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Background: Advances in neonatal digital health have introduced wearable monitoring devices capable of continuously tracking vital physiological parameters. These technologies have the potential to enhance patient safety, improve early detection of complications, and reduce nursing workload in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of wearable monitoring devices on neonatal nursing practice, with a specific focus on monitoring accuracy, clinical response times, alarm burden, nursing workload, and nurse perceptions.

Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-post intervention study was conducted among 120 neonates and 40 registered neonatal nurses over six months. Wearable biosensors were implemented to monitor heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and body temperature. Data were collected during baseline (standard care) and intervention (wearable implementation) phases. Statistical analyses included paired t-tests and rate comparisons, with a significance level of p<0.05. Nurse perceptions were assessed using Likert-scale questionnaires and thematic content analysis.

Results: Implementation of wearable monitoring led to a significant increase in monitoring accuracy (mean improvement 3.2%, p<0.001) and a reduction in response time to abnormal events (mean reduction 1.6 minutes, p<0.001). False alarms decreased substantially (mean reduction 2.7 alarms per 24 h, p<0.001), while nursing workload scores improved (mean reduction 6.5 points, p<0.001). Early detection event rates increased significantly, with a rate ratio greater than 1, indicating enhanced clinical surveillance. Nurse perceptions improved across all domains, including ease of use, alert clarity, and overall satisfaction.

Conclusion: Wearable monitoring devices significantly improve neonatal monitoring accuracy, reduce alarm fatigue, decrease nursing workload, and strengthen clinical responsiveness. Their integration into NICU workflows offers a promising strategy for improving patient safety and nursing practice. For optimal implementation, structured nurse training, standardized alarm protocols, strong data security measures, and interoperability with electronic health records are essential. Strategic adoption of wearable technologies may serve as a cost-effective and scalable innovation in neonatal care.