Minnesota Administrative Rules
Agency 144 - Health Department
Chapter 4658 - NURSING HOMES
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS; NEW CONSTRUCTION
Part 4658.4635 - NURSE CALL SYSTEM; NEW CONSTRUCTION

A. A nurse call must be provided for each resident's bed. Call cords, buttons, or other communication devices must be placed where they are within reach of each resident. A call from a resident must register at the nurses' station, activate a light outside the resident bedroom, and activate a duty signal in the medication room, nourishment area, clean utility room, soiled utility room, and sterilizing room. In multicorridor nursing units, visible signal lights must be provided at corridor intersections.

B. An emergency call must be provided in each resident toilet room, in all areas used for resident bathing, dayrooms, therapy areas, and activity areas. If a pull cord is provided it must extend to within six inches above the floor. A push-button type emergency call must be installed at a height of 24 inches. An emergency call must register a call from a resident at the nurses' station, activate a duty signal in the medication room, nourishment area, clean utility room, soiled utility room, and sterilizing room, and activate a signal light by the bedroom door. The emergency duty signal must provide a visual signal light and an audible alarm.

C. If a nurse call system provides two-way voice communication, it must be equipped with an indicator light at each call station which lights and remains lighted as long as the voice circuit is operating. Nurse calls of this type may be capable of being inactivated at the nurses' station.