Wired or wireless type nurse call systems shall be permitted if they have been tested and approved by a national recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) to meet the requirements of UL 1069, 7th edition, published October 12, 2007, as referenced in Chapter 35 of this code. All wireless systems shall be been tested and approved by a national recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) to meet the requirements of Section 49, Wireless Systems of UL 1069, 7th edition as referenced in Chapter 35 of this code. All nurse call systems whether wired or wireless shall have electronically supervised visual and audible annunciation in accordance with the supervision criteria of UL 1069, 7th edition for nurse call systems and tested and approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) to meet those requirements.
A nurse call system shall be provided that will register a call from each resident bed to the related staff work area(s) by activating a visual signal at the resident room door or wireless pager and activating a visual and audible signal in the clean utility, soiled utility, nourishment station, medication prep or mobile nurse station receiver and the master station of the resident. If a mobile nurse station receiver is utilized to receive the resident call, it will be worn by all staff who are assigned to the resident unit and shall identify the specific resident and or room from which the call was placed. Audible signals may be temporarily silenced, provided subsequent calls automatically reactivate the audible signal. In rooms containing two or more calling stations, indicating lights shall be provided for each calling station. In multicorridor nursing units, corridor zone lights shall be installed at corridor intersections in the vicinity of staff work areas.
An emergency calling station of the pull cord-type shall be provided and shall be conveniently located for resident use at each resident toilet, bath or shower room but not inside of the shower unless the nurse call device is listed for wet locations. The call signal shall be the highest priority and shall be cancelled only at the emergency calling station. The emergency calling station shall activate distinctive audible and visual signals immediately at the resident room door or wireless pager, and activate a visual and audible signal in the clean utility, soiled utility, nourishment station, medication prep or mobile nurse station receiver and the master station of the resident unit. If a mobile nurse station receiver is utilized to receive the resident call, it will be worn by all staff who are assigned to the resident unit and shall identify the specific resident and or room from which the call was placed.
The nurse call master station shall be located inside the resident unit at a staff administrative area and shall not block any incoming resident calls. The master station control settings shall not prevent the activation of the incoming audible and visual signals. In wireless systems, all orphaned calls to mobile nurse station receivers will register at the nurse call master station.
Activation of an emergency call shall not cancel a normal call from the same room.
A corridor dome light shall be located directly outside of any resident care area that is equipped with a wired nurse call system.