Education:
89%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
7%
Less than a High School Diploma
Orderlies
This is a sub-career of
Nursing Assistant or Orderly
More sub-careers
Select a specialized sub-career for more details.
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Job Outlook:
As fast as average
Education:
High school diploma or equivalent
Salary
High:
$46,700.00
Average:
$36,070.00
Hourly
Average:
$17.34
What they do:
Transport patients to areas such as operating rooms or x-ray rooms using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds. May maintain stocks of supplies or clean and transport equipment. Psychiatric orderlies are included in Psychiatric Aides.
On the job, you would:
- 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.
Important Qualities
Communication skills. Nursing assistants and orderlies must listen and respond to patients’ concerns. They also need to share information with other healthcare workers.
Compassion. Nursing assistants and orderlies help and care for people who are sick, injured, or need aid for other reasons. They need an empathetic attitude to do their work.
Patience. The routine tasks of cleaning, feeding, and bathing patients may be stressful. Nursing assistants and orderlies must be able to complete these tasks with professionalism.
Physical stamina. Nursing assistants and orderlies spend much of their time on their feet. They must be able to perform tasks such as lifting or moving patients.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
90% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
|
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82% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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81% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
|
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78% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
|
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78% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
|
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75% | Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. | |
|
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74% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
|
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73% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
|
|
68% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
89% | Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources. | |
|
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72% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
61% | Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
66% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
Clean medical equipment.
Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards.
Transport biological or other medical materials.
Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards.
Clean medical equipment.
Adjust positions of patients on beds or tables.
Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
Adjust positions of patients on beds or tables.
Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
Feed patients.
Stock medical or patient care supplies.
Stock medical or patient care supplies.
Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards.
Transport biological or other medical materials.
Move patients to or from treatment areas.
Transport biological or other medical materials.
Transport biological or other medical materials.
Adjust positions of patients on beds or tables.
Assist patients with daily activities.
Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards.
Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
Record vital statistics or other health information.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
98% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
|
|
97% | Exposed to Disease or Infections - How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections? | |
|
|
97% | Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? | |
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95% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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|
94% | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? | |
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91% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
|
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91% | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? | |
|
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91% | Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running? | |
|
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90% | Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing? | |
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88% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
|
|
88% | Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? | |
|
|
88% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
|
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86% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
|
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86% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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84% | Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body? | |
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81% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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81% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
|
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79% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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78% | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? | |
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|
77% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
|
|
76% | Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements? | |
|
|
74% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
|
|
71% | Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? | |
|
|
70% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
|
|
70% | Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection - How much does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection? | |
|
|
68% | Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job? |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
83% | Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. | |
|
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81% | Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. | |
|
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81% | Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. | |
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79% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
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74% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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74% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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72% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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72% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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68% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. |
What Nursing Assistants and Orderlies Do
Nursing assistants help patients with activities of daily living like eating and bathing.
Nursing assistants, sometimes called nursing aides, provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas.
Duties
Nursing assistants and orderlies work as part of a healthcare team under the supervision of licensed practical or licensed vocational nurses and registered nurses.
Nursing assistants provide basic care and help with activities of daily living. They typically do the following:
- Clean and bathe patients
- Help patients use the toilet and dress
- Turn, reposition, and transfer patients between beds and wheelchairs
- Listen to and record patients’ health concerns and report that information to nurses
- Measure patients’ vital signs, such as blood pressure and temperature
- Serve meals and help patients eat
Depending on their training level and the state in which they work, nursing assistants also may dispense medication.
Nursing assistants are often the principal caregivers in nursing and residential care facilities. Nursing assistants often develop relationships with their patients because some patients stay in these facilities for months or years.
Orderlies typically do the following:
- Help patients to move around the facility, such as by pushing their wheelchairs
- Clean equipment and facilities
- Change linens
- Stock supplies
Work Environment
Nursing assistants held about 1.4 million jobs in 2022. The largest employers of nursing assistants were as follows:
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 33% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 33 |
| Continuing care retirement communities and assisted living facilities for the elderly | 11 |
| Home healthcare services | 6 |
| Government | 4 |
Orderlies held about 45,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of orderlies were as follows:
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 85% |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 6 |
| Government | 1 |
The work of nursing assistants and orderlies may be strenuous. They spend much of their time on their feet as they care for patients.
Injuries and Illnesses
Nursing assistants and orderlies have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. These workers frequently move patients and have other physically demanding tasks. They typically get training in how to properly lift people, which can reduce the risk of injuries.
Work Schedules
Although most nursing assistants and orderlies work full time, some work part time. Because nursing and residential care facilities and hospitals provide care at all hours, nursing assistants and orderlies may need to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Getting Started
How to Become a Nursing Assistant or Orderly
Nursing assistants must be able to communicate effectively to address patients’ or residents’ concerns.
Nursing assistants typically must complete a state-approved education program and pass their state’s competency exam. Orderlies typically have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.
Education and Training
Nursing assistants often need to complete a state-approved education program that includes both instruction on the principles of nursing and supervised clinical work. These programs are available in high schools, community colleges, vocational and technical schools, hospitals, and nursing homes.
In addition, nursing assistants typically complete a brief period of on-the-job training to learn about their specific employer’s policies and procedures.
Orderlies typically have at least a high school diploma or equivalent and receive a short period of on-the-job training.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Specific requirements for nursing assistants vary by state. Nursing assistants often need a state-issued license or certification. After completing an approved education program, nursing assistants often must pass a competency exam, which allows them to use state-specific titles. In some states, a nursing assistant is called a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), but titles vary by state.
Nursing assistants who have passed the competency exam are placed on a state registry. They must be on the state registry to work in a nursing home.
Some states have other requirements as well, such as continuing education and a criminal background check. Check with state certifying agencies for more information.
In some states, nursing assistants may earn additional credentials, such as Certified Medication Assistant (CMA). As a CMA, they may dispense medications.
Orderlies do not need a license; however, jobs might require certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or basic life support (BLS).
Job Outlook
Overall employment of nursing assistants and orderlies is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 209,400 openings for nursing assistants and orderlies are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
As the baby-boom population ages, nursing assistants and orderlies will be needed to help care for an increasing number of older people who have chronic or progressive diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Demand for nursing assistants may be constrained by financial pressures on nursing homes, which might lead some facilities to close or reduce staff. However, increased opportunities are expected in home- and community-based settings as patient preferences and shifts in federal and state funding generate demand for care in these settings.
Contacts for More Information
For information about healthcare assistants, visit
National Association of Health Care Assistants (NAHCA)
For more information about state requirements, visit
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Occupational Requirements Survey
For a profile highlighting selected BLS data on occupational requirements, see
Nursing assistants (PDF)
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of nursing assistants and orderlies.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Home Health and Personal Care Aides |
Home health and personal care aides monitor the condition of people with disabilities or chronic illnesses and help them with daily living activities. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $30,180 |
|
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses |
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and licensed vocational nurses (LVNs) provide basic medical care. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $54,620 |
|
Medical Assistants |
Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments and taking patients’ vital signs. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $38,270 |
|
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides |
Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. |
See How to Become One | $63,450 |
|
Psychiatric Technicians and Aides |
Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental conditions or developmental disabilities. |
See How to Become One | $37,330 |
|
Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides |
Physical therapist assistants and aides are supervised by physical therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses. |
See How to Become One | $57,240 |
|
Registered Nurses |
Registered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients and the public about various health conditions. |
Bachelor's degree | $81,220 |
|
Dental Assistants |
Dental assistants provide patient care, take x rays, keep records, and schedule appointments. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $44,820 |
|
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers |
Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers handle routine animal care and help scientists, veterinarians, and others with their daily tasks. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $34,740 |