What is a nurse call system?
A nurse call system is an emergency call system that lets a patient, resident or visitor press a button or pull a cord to request help from staff. The activation is sent to a nurse call station, annunciator display, overdoor light or pager so nurses and support workers know who needs help and where the call has come from. Safe-Life nurse call systems are designed to be simple to use for patients while giving staff clear, consistent alarms that are easy to respond to.
How do nurse call systems work?
- The patient, resident or visitor presses a nurse call button or pulls a cord on a wall plate, toilet call point or pendant.
- The call point sends a signal through the nurse call system, either via cable (hardwired) or radio (wireless), to the control equipment.
- The system activates an indicator such as an overdoor light, annunciator display or pager, identifying the room or call location.
- Staff attend to the person, assist as required, then cancel the call using the cancel button at the call point or at the annunciator.
- In more advanced systems, calls can be prioritised, logged or escalated if they are not answered within a set time.
Who are nurse call systems for?
Medical centres and GP clinics that need simple nurse call buttons and toilet alarms.
NDIS and SDA homes that require reliable emergency call systems for participants living in the community.
Community group homes, respite houses and supported independent living environments.
Assisted living, SRS and aged care facilities needing room, ensuite and corridor call points.
Allied health and day therapy centres where clients may need to request help quickly.
Disabled toilets in public or shared buildings where an emergency call button is required.
What types of nurse call products are available?
- Hardwired nurse call points – Fixed wall call points for bedrooms, corridors and toilets that connect back to a central nurse call system and overdoor lights.
- Wireless nurse call systems – Radio-based call points and receivers, including kits such as the Wireless Nurse Call Self Installed, ideal for smaller sites or upgrades where running cable is difficult.
- Call points with cancel and pendant jacks – Wall plates that include call and cancel buttons plus a jack for a nurse call pendant cord, so bed or chair pendants can be added easily.
- Annunciator and overdoor indicators – Displays and lights that show which room or area has called, so staff can see calls at a glance.
- Call point to pager kits – Systems that send nurse call activations directly to pagers, suited to small clinics, community homes or after-hours cover.
- Design support and brochures – Nurse call system brochures and planning support to help builders, electricians and facility managers design compliant layouts.
Key features and benefits of nurse call systems
| Product type |
Best for |
| Hardwired nurse call points |
New builds or major refurbishments where cabling can be installed throughout the facility. |
| Wireless nurse call systems |
Retrofits, smaller sites or community homes where running new cable is disruptive or expensive. |
| Call points with pendant jacks |
Bedsides and chairs where residents need a reachable cord or pendant to call for help. |
| Annunciator and overdoor indicators |
Nurse stations, corridors and central points where staff need to see calls clearly. |
| Call point to pager kits |
Clinics, small facilities or community homes where staff carry pagers instead of sitting at a desk. |
Why choose Safe-Life for nurse call systems?
- Safe-Life focuses on nurse call, emergency call and falls prevention equipment for Australian healthcare and community settings.
- Systems can be tailored from simple one-room solutions through to multi-room facilities using a mix of call points, indicators and paging.
- Many solutions are plug-and-play or self-installed, reducing downtime and installation complexity for smaller sites.
- Products are selected to work alongside other Safe-Life equipment such as bed exit sensors, floor mats and wireless monitoring.
- Support is available from the Safe-Life team in Melbourne for design questions, compatibility and ongoing use.
Frequently asked questions about nurse call systems
What is a nurse call button?
A nurse call button is a wall plate or pendant that lets a patient, resident or visitor press a button or pull a cord to send an alarm to staff through the nurse call system.
Do you provide wireless nurse call systems for small facilities or homes?
Yes. Safe-Life offers wireless nurse call kits, including options like the Wireless Nurse Call Self Installed, so smaller clinics, community homes or respite houses can receive alerts without installing a full cabled system.
Can these nurse call systems be used in NDIS or SDA homes?
Yes. Many nurse call points and wireless kits are suitable for NDIS and SDA homes, providing an emergency call button in bedrooms, living areas and accessible bathrooms.
Who installs a nurse call system?
In larger facilities, nurse call systems are usually installed by an electrician or specialist contractor, while smaller wireless kits can often be installed by maintenance staff or the home owner following the setup guide.
Can nurse call points trigger overdoor lights or an annunciator display?
Yes. Hardwired and some wireless nurse call points can be connected so that activations trigger an overdoor light or annunciator display to show which room or area has called.
Do your nurse call systems integrate with falls prevention devices?
In many cases they can. Selected bed exit sensors, floor mats and other monitoring devices can connect to nurse call inputs so that a fall risk event triggers a nurse call alarm. Options include non-contact sensors such as the single bed exit PIR beam or dual bed exit PIR beam, pressure-based solutions like the Safe-Life bed alarms, and crash mat systems including the Cura1 facility wireless crash mat kit. These devices can send alerts through the nurse call system so staff receive a clear indication when someone is attempting to stand or has left the bed.
Do you offer brochures or design support for new builds?
Yes. Safe-Life provides nurse call system brochures and can assist with basic design guidance so builders, electricians and facility managers can plan call point locations and equipment selection.
