What is a nurse call system? Nurse call is exactly what it sounds like, it is a system designed to allow a patient to call or contact their nurse or the nurse’s station. It is the quick and easy communication between the patient and the nurse. And it can be the lifeline for the patient. Things can be integrated with the nurse call system such as bed exit alarms and TV control.
The main components of the nurse call system are the pillow speaker also known as a call light, a wall station, the bed cable, desk console, and code blue. The pillow speaker allows the patient to contact the nurse, control the TV and control overbed lights. Alternate breathe calls for patients with limited movement or paralysis can be plugged into the wall station allowing the patient to contact the nurse by inhaling or exhaling into a tube.
The wall station actually contains the microphone and speaker for communication between nurse and patient. It is also the receptacle for the pillow speaker and houses the code blue button. A great feature of modern nurse call systems is the ability to connect medical equipment such as IV pumps or ventilators to the nurse call system through the wall station. This allows for alerts at the nurse’s station when connected medical equipment goes into alarm. The benefit is notifying the nurse sooner to address the alarm thus decreasing noise.
The patient bed can also be connected to the wall station by a bed cable allowing the clinical staff to know if the patient is trying to exit the bed and shouldn’t, as long as the bed exit alarm is set. If the patient bed is equipped it also allows for the patient to call the nurse’s station from the button on the bed rail.
The desk console acts like a telephone and in many ways looks like a telephone. It allows the unit secretary or nurse to answer calls from the patient. The unit secretary or nurse can also call into a room if needed.
And of course code blue. Code blue signifies a patient needs immediate help. Pressing a code blue button sets up a string of audio and visual alerts inside the room, outside the room, at the nurse’s station and anywhere else the nurse call system is configured to alert. Periodic testing of code blue is highly recommended.
Troubleshooting these devices can be fairly simple for the most common complaints.
The patient cannot hear or control their TV? The first thing to start with is the pillow speaker. Replace the pillow speaker with a new pillow speaker. This will resolve a majority of your calls. If replacing the pillow speaker does not resolve the problem, check the volume on the TV. If the volume is turned down or off, the patient won’t hear anything through the pillow speaker. Next check the cabling for the TV to the nurse call system. The cables can sometimes work themselves loose with constant moving of the TV. If the cables check out OK, check the TV programing in the service mode. If all these things are correct and you still have no sound or control of the TV then you probably have an issue with the wiring in the wall between your wall station and TV.
Patient can’t call using buttons on the bed? What if the clinical staff informs you that the patient presses the nurse call button on the bed but nothing happens? First assure the bed cable is securely connected to the wall station and to the bed. Check the bed cable pins. One bent pin can cause one or 10 problems.
The bed exit alarm is not working. The troubleshooting is the same as for the patient can’t call using the buttons of the bed. Check the bed cable. Next check to assure the bed exit alarm is set. This a very common cause when the bed exit alarm is not working. This is a great opportunity to in-service the clinical staff on how to set a bed exit alarm.
Can’t hear the patient or volume is too loud. Check the volume of the pillow speaker and replace if needed. Also, check the volume of the desk console. The unit secretary or nurses can increase or decrease the volume as needed. Many times at night they will decrease the volume to keep the noise down. This is another great opportunity to in-service the clinical staff.
User error. This is also a great opportunity to conduct in-services for your patient transport team and housekeeping. Many times they just don’t know that the bed cable needs to be connected. An in-service can help them understand how important something as simple as a bed cable can be.
The best thing you can do to support a nurse call system is learn as much about the system as possible. Learn what each component does, the wiring and the topography. Become familiar with the manufacturer’s service manual. Check YouTube for nurse call system tips. And if all troubleshooting techniques have been exhausted, contact the manufacturer for support.