This one seems to me to be a no-brainer, regardless of staffing levels. I think all of the nurses I've known, from my mother on down, would agree that wireless phones are a Good Idea in hospitals.

The staffing crunch just made the problem visible, as there are fewer nurses to pull a "quick cover me on this catheter insertion, I've got to return a page".

And they ARE paying more these days, which is good, as nursing is a dirty thankless job for the most part. (Best friends recent ex just finished one of her nursing degrees, and has the choice of anywhere in the country to work, at quite nice wages).