Every hospital, clinic, and nursing home
relies on a team of skilled staff
to provide personal care to patients;
nursing assistants and orderlies
are an important part of that team.
Under the supervision of nursing staff,
nursing assistants provide basic care
for patients,
while orderlies transport patients
and clean treatment areas.
Nursing assistants answer patient call signals,
turn or reposition bedridden patients,
and ensure each patient
receives the appropriate diet.
They help patients
with daily living activities
such as getting out of bed,
using the bathroom,
bathing, and walking.
Nursing assistants measure vital signs,
such as blood pressure and temperature.
They observe and listen
to patients’ health concerns,
then document and share them
with supervising nurses.
Orderlies move patients
between bed and wheelchair or gurney,
change bed linens, stock supplies,
and clean facilities.
Most nursing assistants
work in nursing homes, hospitals,
assisted living facilities,
and in home health care.
Most orderlies work in hospitals.
Nursing assistants and orderlies
typically work full time.
Their work is physically demanding,
with long hours spent on their feet
and lifting and moving patients,
so injuries are a risk.
Work schedules that include nights,
weekends, and holidays are common.
Nursing assistants must complete
state-approved training,
lasting from a few months to a year,
then pass their state’s certification exam.
Orderlies typically have
at least a high school diploma
or equivalent
and receive on-the-job training.