Communication Devices Flashcards
personal pager
- Dial pager #
- Enter phone number including area code
- Hang up and wait for return call
overhead pager
This is a communication system in which the hospital switchboard operator or a switchboard operator at a centralized location, upon request, will place a page on a speaker that is heard in every area of the hospital.
• Dial local for the switchboard
• Give clear message to the operator identifying hospital name, unit, your name, and reason for the overhead paging request
• Hang up and listen to hear message overhead
patient intercom
The intercom system is a device used to communicate between the nurses’ station and the patients’ rooms on a nursing unit.
Uses:
• The intercom provides a method of taking patients’ requests without going into the room.
• To locate nursing personnel
• To relay messages to staff in patients’ rooms
pneumatic tube
The pneumatic tube is a system in which air pressure transports tubes carrying supplies, requisitions, specimens or messages from one unit or department to another. A keypad is used to enter the location to where the message is to be sent.
assignment sheet
A form completed at the beginning of each shift that lists the nursing staff assigned to each patient on that unit.
daily activity sheet
This is a form kept near the NUC’s station on which is kept a record of all patient discharges, admissions, and transfers. It includes information such as: patient name, room & bed number, hospital number, time patient left, diagnosis if patient being admitted, other relevant info.
white board
Most nursing units have a large grease board at the nurses’ station to record relevant information. It is usually the NUC’s job to keep the board updated. It includes information such as: • patient name • room & bed number • admitting doctor’s name • nurse assigned to the patient • pending tests or surgeries • discharges
Sometimes certain information is omitted for confidentiality reasons.
nursing unit bulletin board
The bulletin board contains information such as:
• changes that will take place in the facility
• nursing policies
• educational material
• in-service programs
• bulletins detailing new procedures
• new medications.
The board will have to be kept up-to-date. This job is often the responsibility of the NUC.
telephone directories
Telephone numbers for extensions to the different departments and key personnel in the hospital is usually available electronically but often is kept in hard copy near the NUC’s telephone. A doctors’ directory is available in hard copy and kept at the station and most health care facilities have computer access to this information.
