New to the medical field question...

[new12345]

I am just starting out...as in very new. I'm also new to this site. So bear with me and I apologize if I'm on the wrong board or discussion. I don't mean to ask a stupid question but any help would be great.

I am very curious, the switchboard behind the patient's hospital bed...what is all on there? And the alarms/call light above the patient's door...what do the different colors typically mean?

Any help would be great..thanks!

[Nurse Kyles, BSN, RN]

Behind the bed there is a lot of outlets. There is also a plug in for oxygen on either side of the bed. There are multiple locations where suction can be plugged in. The call light and bed are plugged in to the call light system which are located behind the bed. We have various monitors that have multiple plug ins that go on the wall behind the bed. The light outside the room at my facility has a N that glows green when a nurse is in the room as well as an A/B light. When the call light is ringing the A/B flashes. The A/B is from when there were double rooms. At that time either the A or B would light up. When a patient pulls the call light in the bathroom the call light makes a different sound, and the light flashes in a different pattern. The sound is also different if a bed alarm goes off. This can vary from facility to facility.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

you will need to get an in-service on all the items in your facility. I can tell you that the red plugs are connected to generators in case the power goes out. There are regulators for oxygen, air (blowing air like at the dentist) and suction.