Orderlies

Salary Overview

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Key Skills

Knowledge Areas

What They Do

• Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
• Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
• Disinfect or sterilize equipment or supplies, using germicides or sterilizing equipment.
• Clean equipment, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, or portable medical equipment, documenting needed repairs or maintenance.
• Respond to emergency situations, such as emergency medical calls, security calls, or fire alarms.
• Carry messages or documents between departments.
• Transport portable medical equipment or medical supplies between rooms or departments.
• Change soiled linens, such as bed linens, drapes, or cubicle curtains.

Tools & Technology

★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)

Education Requirements

Typical entry-level education: High School Diploma

Related Careers

Careers with the highest skill compatibility from Orderlies.

A Day in the Life

An orderly's shift typically begins with a briefing from the charge nurse or dispatch coordinator, reviewing scheduled patient transports, discharges, and any special handling requirements for the day. They respond to transport requests throughout their shift, carefully transferring patients from beds to wheelchairs or stretchers using proper body mechanics and transfer techniques to ensure patient safety. During transports, they monitor patients for signs of distress, maintaining a calm and reassuring presence that helps ease anxiety about procedures or tests. Between patient transports, orderlies assist with turning and repositioning bedridden patients, helping nursing staff prevent pressure ulcers and maintain patient comfort. They clean and prepare stretchers, wheelchairs, and transport equipment between uses, ensuring proper infection control through thorough sanitization. Supply runs to and from central supply, the pharmacy, or laboratory are interspersed throughout the day, supporting clinical departments that need materials quickly. Orderlies may also assist with post-mortem care, transporting deceased patients to the morgue with dignity and respect, which requires emotional resilience. Shifts typically run eight to twelve hours and can include nights, weekends, and holidays, as hospitals operate around the clock.

Work Environment

Orderlies work in the physically demanding environment of hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centers, and psychiatric institutions where they are constantly on the move throughout large facilities. The work is highly physical, involving regular lifting, pushing, and pulling of patients and heavy equipment, often maneuvering through narrow hallways and into elevators. They are exposed to healthcare environments where infectious diseases, bodily fluids, and hazardous materials are present, requiring strict adherence to personal protective equipment protocols. The emotional environment can be challenging, as orderlies interact with patients in pain, families in distress, and situations involving serious illness or death. Noise levels vary from quiet patient rooms to the controlled chaos of emergency departments and busy surgical floors. Temperature fluctuations are common as they move between climate-controlled patient areas and loading docks or outdoor walkways during patient transfers. The role requires wearing scrubs or hospital uniforms and often involves walking several miles per shift across sprawling medical complexes.

Career Path & Advancement

Most orderly positions require a high school diploma or GED, with employers providing on-the-job training in patient handling techniques, infection control procedures, and facility-specific protocols. Some facilities prefer candidates with a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential, which can be earned through state-approved training programs lasting four to twelve weeks. New orderlies typically work under close supervision during an orientation period, gradually assuming independent transport responsibilities as they demonstrate competency. With experience, orderlies can advance to lead orderly or transport supervisor positions, coordinating the activities of transport teams and managing scheduling logistics. Many orderlies use their hospital experience as a launching pad for further healthcare careers, pursuing education and certification as nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, or licensed practical nurses. Some transition into surgical technologist or radiology technologist programs, where their familiarity with operating rooms and imaging departments provides a head start. Administrative advancement into patient services coordination or hospital operations roles is possible for those who combine clinical experience with further education.

Specializations

Operating room orderlies specialize in surgical suite transport and turnover, learning sterile field awareness, proper surgical positioning assistance, and the specific protocols required in perioperative environments. Emergency department transport specialists work in high-acuity settings where rapid response to trauma activations and emergency transports demands quick thinking and the ability to assist with urgent patient care. Psychiatric orderlies work in behavioral health facilities, requiring specialized training in de-escalation techniques, patient observation, and safety protocols for managing patients in mental health crises. Pediatric transport orderlies develop expertise in handling young patients and their families, using child-friendly communication and specialized pediatric transport equipment. Rehabilitation facility orderlies assist patients with mobility limitations during transfers, working closely with physical and occupational therapists to support patient recovery goals. Morgue attendants specialize in the respectful handling and transport of deceased individuals, managing documentation and coordination with funeral services. Radiology transport specialists develop knowledge of imaging department workflows and the specific patient preparation requirements for different diagnostic procedures.

Pros & Cons

Industry Insight

The healthcare industry continues to need orderlies and patient transporters, as the physical movement of patients within facilities remains difficult to fully automate despite technological advances. Some large hospital systems are piloting automated guided vehicles (AGVs) for supply transport, though patient transport continues to require human presence for safety, comfort, and clinical monitoring. The aging population is driving growth in healthcare facility admissions and procedures, increasing the volume of patient transports and support services needed. Infection control standards have intensified since the COVID-19 pandemic, with enhanced cleaning protocols and PPE requirements becoming permanent aspects of the orderly role. Hospital systems are increasingly recognizing the importance of patient experience during transport, training orderlies as ambassadors who influence patient satisfaction scores. Workforce shortages in healthcare support roles are creating competitive compensation improvements and signing bonuses in some markets. The integration of digital dispatch systems and GPS-enabled transport tracking is optimizing workflow and reducing patient wait times, requiring orderlies to be comfortable with handheld technology.