Description
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.
- • Answer patient call signals, signal lights, bells, or intercom systems to determine patients' needs.
- • Carry messages or documents between departments.
- • Change soiled linens, such as bed linens, drapes, or cubicle curtains.
- • Clean and sanitize patient rooms, bathrooms, examination rooms, or other patient areas.
- • Clean equipment, such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, or portable medical equipment, documenting needed repairs or maintenance.
- • Collect and transport infectious or hazardous waste in closed containers for sterilization or disposal, in accordance with applicable law, standards, or policies.
- • Collect soiled linen or trash.
- • Disinfect or sterilize equipment or supplies, using germicides or sterilizing equipment.
- • Lift or assist others to lift patients to move them on or off beds, examination tables, surgical tables, or stretchers.
- • Position or hold patients in position for surgical preparation.
- • Respond to emergency situations, such as emergency medical calls, security calls, or fire alarms.
- • Restrain patients to prevent violence or injury or to assist physicians or nurses to administer treatments.
- • Serve or collect food trays.
- • Stock or issue medical supplies, such as dressing packs or treatment trays.
- • Stock utility rooms, nonmedical storage rooms, or cleaning carts with supplies.
- • Transport bodies to the morgue.
- • Transport patients to treatment units, testing units, operating rooms, or other areas, using wheelchairs, stretchers, or moveable beds.
- • Transport portable medical equipment or medical supplies between rooms or departments.
- • Transport specimens, laboratory items, or pharmacy items, ensuring proper documentation and delivery to authorized personnel.
- • Turn or reposition bedridden patients, alone or with assistance, to prevent bedsores.
- • Provide physical support to patients to assist them to perform daily living activities, such as getting out of bed, bathing, dressing, using the toilet, standing, walking, or exercising.
- • Separate collected materials for disposal, recycling, or reuse, in accordance with environmental policies.
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Healthcare & Human Services
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
