Hospital Orderly

Tasks & duties

Hospital orderlies may do some or all of the following:

• assist patients in and out of taxis, ambulances, cars or helicopters
• transfer patients between wards and departments using wheelchairs, stretchers or moveable beds
• lift patients on and off beds with the assistance of nurses
• deliver and collect linen, rubbish, infectious waste, specimens and equipment
• transfer patient files and x-rays between departments
• transport specimens to laboratories
• attend emergency cardiac arrest calls, fire and other urgent situations within the hospital and grounds
• move deceased patients to the mortuary
• assist in administrative duties such as photocopying ward forms
• maintain, clean and prepare wheelchairs, trolleys and other equipment
• discuss patients' concerns with nurses

Specialisations

Hospital orderlies can specialise as:

• security orderlies – ensuring hospital premises are safe and helping to calm people who are upset
• theatre orderlies – assisting during surgery

Skills & knowledge

Hospital orderlies need to have:

• the ability to handle equipment such as wheelchairs, beds and other medical equipment
• good listening and spoken communication skills
• computer skills
• written communication skills for dealing with patient files and security reports

They also need to have knowledge of:

• procedures to guide patients safely through the hospital
• hospital health and safety procedures
• basic patient care
• hospital and staff routines
• medical terms and first aid
• hygiene and sterilisation requirements

Entry requirements

To become a hospital orderly you need to have at least four years of secondary education and must not have any criminal convictions. A first aid certificate is also useful. To become a security orderly you will need a full, clean driver's licence.

Training on the job

Many skills are gained on the job. Hospitals provide orientation and practical training courses which may include:

• basic nursing
• hygiene and sterilisation
• first aid and medical terminology
• hospital health and safety procedures
• transportation regulations and procedures
• security procedures
• safe manual handling of the equipment and patient lifts
• customer service, computer usage and emergency training
   

Useful experience

Useful experience for hospital orderlies includes:

• other hospital work
• security work 
• jobs that involve helping people, or customer service 
• first aid experience

Related courses

Community Client Care

For more information, please refer to Career Services.