In aged care, hospitals, and disability support settings, a reliable nurse call system is foundational to safety, responsiveness, and compliance. But when choosing—or upgrading—a system, facilities often face a core question:
“Should we go wireless, wired, or a hybrid approach?”
In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of wireless and wired nurse call systems, key decision factors, and why many organisations are gravitating toward Xacom’s modern IP architecture that supports both wired and wireless deployment. Our aim: help you make a confident choice tailored to your facility’s needs.
What Is a Nurse Call System?
Before diving into types, a quick primer: a nurse call system allows residents or patients to request assistance from care staff. Basic systems might simply trigger a light or sound at the nurse station; modern systems integrate with mobile devices, escalation logic, reporting dashboards, and tracking. (Wikipedia’s article on nurse call buttons notes that wireless systems avoid wiring but introduce battery and interference challenges.)
Nurse call systems come in three main configurations:
- Wired (hardwired) — devices physically cabled to central control panels
- Wireless (radio, WiFi or mesh-based)
- Hybrid / mixed — a combination of both, balancing trade-offs
Many modern solutions (including Xacom) support hybrid deployments so you don’t have to pick one extreme.
Pros & Cons: Wired Nurse Call Systems
Pros (Strengths)
- Reliable & stable signal
Because signals travel over dedicated cabling, wired systems are generally less vulnerable to radio interference, signal dropouts, or environmental obstructions. - No battery management (for endpoints)
Devices don’t rely on battery power (except for backup), which means you don’t need to track, monitor, or replace batteries. - Long-term lower maintenance (cable-based)
Once installed properly, cabling can last for decades and typically requires little intervention unless physical damage or renovation disturbs it. - Trusted & compliant heritage
Wired systems have long been the default in many aged care and hospital settings. Some regulatory or design guidelines may prefer or require wired connections (or certified wired paths).
Cons (Weaknesses & Trade-offs)
- High disruption and cost in retrofit
Installing wires through walls, ceilings, and floors can be laborious, messy, and disruptive—especially in facilities already in operation. - Inflexible to changes
If you shift rooms, change layouts, add wings, or reconfigure space, wired devices often require new cabling, patching walls, or complex rewiring. - Single point or segment failure risk
Damage to a cable run, connector, or junction can disable whole segments of the system. Unless redundancy is built in, remediation can be invasive. - Dependency on power supply
While wiring protects signal integrity, the system still depends on electricity. Power outages or upstream faults must be accommodated (e.g. via UPS, backup circuits). - Longer installation timeline
The time taken to trench, chase walls, install conduit, and terminate cabling is usually greater than wireless setups.
Pros & Cons: Wireless Nurse Call Systems
Pros (Strengths)
- Rapid, low-impact installation
No need to run cables through walls or ceilings. This means minimal disruption in operating facilities. Wireless devices can often be up and running much faster than wired. - Flexibility & scalability
You can more easily add or move call points, install portable or wearable devices, or expand coverage zones without major infrastructure work. - Mobility & wearable integration
Wireless systems support mobile pendants, wearable devices, or even room-level presence detection—allowing calls to originate from anywhere within the wireless coverage area. - Better fit for retrofits, heritage buildings
In buildings where wiring infrastructure is impractical (heritage buildings, concrete slabs, occupied wards), wireless is often the only feasible choice. - Future-oriented feature integration
Because the devices communicate over IP or mesh networks, they more naturally support advanced reporting, integration with staff devices (phones, tablets), analytics, and location tracking.
Cons (Weaknesses & Trade-offs)
- Battery management overhead
Each wireless endpoint typically runs on batteries. You must monitor battery health, schedule replacements, and ensure low-battery alerts. - Signal reliability, interference & dead zones
Wireless signals can be affected by walls, metal infrastructure, other RF sources, and interference. In larger or complex buildings, you may need repeaters or signal boosters. - Higher ongoing service complexity
Wireless systems may demand more ongoing monitoring (connectivity, battery, signal strength) and occasional troubleshooting. - Security risks / encryption demands
Wireless communications must be strongly encrypted, with secure authentication and audit logging, to protect patient safety and privacy. Weak implementations may be vulnerable. - Higher initial hardware cost per endpoint
Because wireless endpoints include radio modules, batteries, and more electronics, their cost can be higher per unit compared to simple wired devices. - Ease of removal (in certain settings)
Because wireless endpoints are not fixed by wiring, in sensitive settings (e.g. mental health units) there is a risk that units could be tampered with or removed.
Hybrid (Mixed) Systems: Best of Both Worlds
Because both wired and wireless systems have their advantages, many modern nurse call solutions—including Xacom—support hybrid deployments. You can place fixed wired devices where wiring is available and stable, and deploy wireless or mobile devices where flexibility is needed.
- Common areas (corridors, bathrooms, nurse stations) can use wired devices for reliability.
- Resident rooms or changeable wards may use wireless or wearable endpoints.
- Wireless devices can complement wired backbone, offering fallback or redundancy.
- Over time, the system can adapt as your facility layout or needs evolve.
Thus, you don’t need to commit to an all-or-nothing approach—especially with an IP-based architecture.
Decision Factors: What to Consider for Your Facility
Choosing the right system depends heavily on your facility’s characteristics, budget, and priorities. Below are key factors to evaluate:
Factor | Key Questions | Implication / Tips |
Age & condition of building | Can you easily run new cables? Are walls/roofs accessible? | Older buildings, heritage sites, or fully occupied wards lean toward wireless or hybrid |
Disruption tolerance | How much downtime or impact can you accept during installation? | If minimal disruption is essential, wireless has clear advantage |
Future expansion & changes | Do you expect to change room layouts, add wings, reconfigure? | Wireless or hybrid gives flexibility; wired becomes rigid |
Reliability & safety standards | How critical is uninterrupted operation? | Wired has strengths; wireless must be designed (with redundancy, signal overlap) to high reliability |
Maintenance resources | Can your staff monitor batteries, radio health, interference? | If not, choose a system with automated diagnostics and alerts (like Xacom) |
Integration & reporting needs | How much do you want analytics, staff mobile alerts, dashboards? | Modern wireless/IP systems tend to integrate more easily |
Budget constraints | What is your capex vs opex profile? | Wired often has higher upfront cost in retrofit; wireless has ongoing battery costs |
Regulatory / compliance requirements | Are there specific certifications or guidelines for nurse call systems in your jurisdiction? | Ensure vendor compliance with local health / aged care standards |
In many cases, the outcome is a hybrid or phased deployment: start with what is easiest and most reliable, then extend into wireless zones gradually.
Why Choose Xacom’s Nurse Call Platform
When comparing nurse call options, here’s how Xacom’s wireless + IP architecture is uniquely positioned to deliver the best of both worlds:
- True IP backbone & intelligent MCPs
Every Master Call Point (MCP) is an independent IP device — remotely diagnosable, upgradeable, and manageable. No hidden proprietary wiring. - Seamless hybrid support
Whether wired, wireless, or mixed, Xacom handles all device types. You can reuse existing cabling where available, lowering installation cost. - Robust wireless capabilities
No manual pairing. Extended battery life (1+ year). Automatic battery-health alerts. Real-time location tracking (RTLS) and presence detection. - Redundancy, security & monitoring built-in
Heartbeat monitoring, retry logic, encrypted communications, audit trails, and remote status visibility keep the system resilient. - Modern, user-friendly experience
Browser-based dashboards, clear icons, intuitive workflows, and training simplicity reduce learning curves and error rates. - Custom reporting & analytics
Automated scheduling of PDF/Excel reports, full time-stamped event logs, and custom dashboards help compliance, continuous improvement, and transparency. - Vendor consolidation & integration
Xacom offers interoperability with paging, phones, CCTV, fire systems, and more — reducing complexity and multiple vendor overhead.
In short, Xacom gives you future-proof flexibility: start with wired where it makes sense, expand to wireless where needed, and evolve with your facility. Most importantly, the system is designed to support safe, fast, and reliable care.
Summary & Recommendation
- Wired systems excel in signal stability, minimal battery overhead, and long-term simplicity — but are rigid, disruptive to install, and inflexible in change.
- Wireless systems shine with minimal installation impact, flexibility, mobility, and modern integration, but require robust design to manage battery, signal reliability, and security.
Hybrid setups allow you to combine both approaches, getting the strengths of each while mitigating their weaknesses.