On this page
01. The problem on the ward02. How a call travels through the ward03. What to check before you buy04. How we set it up05. What we supply06. How to put it to the hospital or care home07. Get a free survey and quote08. FAQ
At night a few nurses cover a whole ward. A nurse call system tells them which room needs help first, so they spend the night attending to patients, not searching the corridor.
Key takeaways
- Know the room first
- Lamps in dim corridors
- Answer by voice
- Less walking, more care
01The problem on the ward
Night shift is the hardest time to run a ward: fewer nurses, more beds, dim corridors and patients who may be afraid. Imagine one nurse at the station and another with a patient at the far end. A bell rings somewhere. Without a call system the nurse walks the corridor looking for the door that matters. With one, the lamp over the door is lit and the station shows the room. Seconds saved on every call add up to a calmer ward and a nurse who is not out of breath.
02How a call travels through the ward
03What to check before you buy
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Lamp brightness | Visible in a dim corridor but gentle for sleeping patients |
| Sound | A tone staff can hear without waking the ward |
| Station position | Where the night nurse sits |
| Handsets or pagers | For nurses away from the station |
| Priority | Whether urgent calls look different |
| Backup power | Night is when a power cut hurts most |
04How we set it up
- 01Talk to the night staffWhere they sit, where they walk, what annoys them.
- 02Place lamps and the stationWhere nurses will see them.
- 03Set the tonesClear but not harsh.
- 04Test at nightWe check brightness and sound in real conditions.
- 05Train the shiftShort sessions at shift change.
05What we supply
We design, supply and install nurse call systems for wards, clinics and care homes, on IP and SIP networks. Fanvil's IP nurse call range is one option we quote, alongside others, and we recommend whichever fits your ward. Send us the room count and we reply with a written quote.
06How to put it to the hospital or care home
Pitch to the nurse in charge, not only the owner. Ask what a bad night looks like and show how lamps and a station message change it. Quote lamps for every door, a station display and handsets or pagers for staff who leave the desk.
07Get a free survey and quote
08Frequently asked questions
Will the sound wake patients?
Choose a tone and volume agreed with the nurse in charge. We test it at night.
Can nurses carry alerts?
Yes, with pagers or handsets where the system supports them.
Does it help a small night team?
It helps most when few nurses cover many beds.
What if the power fails?
Plan backup power for the station and controller.
