What does an Orderly do?

An Orderly performs nonmedical tasks that help maintain healthcare facilities and allow patients to get the care they need. The cleaning duties featured in an Orderly job description keep hospitals and long-term facilities sanitary, reducing the risk of infection and making the environment more pleasant and welcoming.

By stocking supplies and setting up rooms, Orderlies ensure medical team members have everything they need to care for patients. They can also handle patient transportation and complete routine tasks that don’t require medical training to contribute to patient safety and satisfaction rates.

Orderly skills and qualifications

Orderlies rely on certain skills when completing their duties. Some skills and qualifications you may want to include in your Orderly job description include:

• Basic understanding of medical terminology, such as the names of different types of hospital equipment and supplies

• Ability to move patients, equipment and supply boxes

• Interpersonal skills to interact positively with patients, family members and facility staff

• Active listening skills to understand instructions given by members of the patient care team

• Observation skills and attentiveness to detail to identify areas in need of cleaning

• Computer skills to utilize email, inventory control and patient records management software

• Ability to administer Basic Life Support, such as CPR Familiarity with best practices for infection control and patient privacy laws and regulation

Orderly experience requirements

How much experience you should identify as a requirement in your Orderlies job description depends on the nature of your open position and your business needs. Because they receive on-the-job training and aren’t typically responsible for medical tasks, a prospective Orderly may be able to succeed with no previous work experience. However, if your facility has a staffing shortage or a high volume of patients, you may prefer to hire candidates with one or more years of experience in the field.

Orderly education and training requirements

There are generally no formal education requirements for Orderlies, as they usually learn how to carry out their job duties through new employee training programs. Some facilities prioritize candidates who hold Basic Life Saving (BLS) certification from the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. To gain this certification, Orderlies must typically attend a training course and pass a practical exam, demonstrating their newly acquired knowledge and skills.

Job description samples for similar positions

If the Orderlies job description outlined above doesn’t fully reflect the details of your open position, review these related job titles:

• Janitor

• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

• Nursing Assistant

• Patient Care Technician

Orderly job description FAQs

What does an Orderly in a hospital do compared to a Nursing Assistant?

In hospitals, Orderlies and Nursing Assistants often work side-by-side, but they perform different tasks. Orderlies aren’t medical professionals, so their duties are usually related to housekeeping and inventory. They also perform basic patient care tasks, such as transporting patients throughout hospitals and serving meals. Nursing Assistants have basic medical training that allows them to carry out patient care duties, including monitoring vital signs and bathing patients.

What’s the difference between an Orderly and a Patient Transporter?

A Patient Transporter and an Orderly are both responsible for moving patients safely from one place to another but in different settings. Orderlies push hospital beds and wheelchairs throughout hospitals and long-term care facilities, while Patient Transporters transport non-emergency patients to and from hospitals and clinics via accessible vans and other vehicles.

What’s the difference between an Orderly and a Patient Care Technician?

The duties listed in a Patient Care Technician and an Orderly job description overlap, but there are differences between them. Both Patient Care Technicians and Orderlies clean and organize patient rooms and may be responsible for escorting patients throughout a hospital. However, Patient Care Technicians often assist patients with daily living tasks, such as dressing, grooming and eating. Orderlies are less likely to provide this type of assistance, and they’re often responsible for cleaning and maintaining other parts of a hospital ward beyond patient rooms.