Hospital beds are often surrounded by a variety of buttons, including nurse call buttons. Knowing what each one is for will make sure that you use the correct one for the circumstances.
The buttons are usually clear, but if you are uncertain, check with your medical team, so you are clear on which button to press. The nurse call buttons sometimes are accompanied by a digital display or a light. This can further help the nurses in understanding how to respond.
Standard call buttons
The standard call buttons, placed near a patient’s bed or in a patient’s bathroom, are the buttons most commonly used by the patients themselves. They are usually simple with a call and cancel function, and they allow a patient to request assistance when they need it or to cancel it if the button was pushed in error. These call buttons can be wired or wireless.
Nurse presence buttons
These call buttons are used for staff coordination. They are used by other healthcare professionals to request assistance from nurses. It is particularly necessary when a patient needs more than one person in their care. They may also be used by the nurse to confirm their presence in the room.
Code blue buttons
Code blue buttons are the emergency call buttons. These are designed for the most serious medical emergency. They are commonly found in ICU wards, so they can alert staff to an emergency and potentially life-threatening situation. Responding quickly to the code blue button can often mean the difference between life and death for the patient.
