Onboarding plan

Orderly Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)

A practical, printable plan to take a new orderly from first day to full productivity.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Orderly onboarding at a glance

Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.

Before day one

  • Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
  • Verify required credentials: BLS CPR, Safe patient handling training (as applicable)
  • Prepare equipment and access: wheelchairs; stretchers; patient lifts; transport tracking systems
  • Assign a buddy or preceptor
  • Enroll the new hire in Orderly training so foundations are covered before or during week one

Week one: orient and protect

  • Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
  • Use proper lifting and lifts
  • Lock brakes
  • Follow isolation precautions
  • Watch for fall risks
  • Shadow an experienced orderly through a full shift
  • Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)

Days 1–30: learn

Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.

  • Supervised practice: transport a patient by wheelchair
  • Supervised practice: help reposition a patient
  • Supervised practice: enter an isolation room
  • Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
  • 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins

Days 31–60: contribute

Goal: handle a regular workload independently.

  • Transport patients: independently
  • Help move and reposition patients: independently
  • Deliver equipment and supplies: independently
  • Clean and set up rooms: independently
  • Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
  • Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
  • 60-day check-in

Days 61–90: own

Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.

  • Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
  • Begin cross-training on a secondary task
  • Agree on a credential goal (for example, BLS CPR)
  • Discuss the career path: Orderly → Patient Care Technician → CNA or LPN
  • 90-day review

Competency checklist

Skill or taskTrainedObservedSigned off
Transport a Patient by Wheelchair
Help Reposition a Patient
Enter an Isolation Room
Safe patient handling
Wheelchair and stretcher use
Infection control
Basic patient care

How to measure onboarding success

  • Days until the new hire works without a preceptor
  • Competency sign-offs completed on time
  • Documentation or charting error rate
  • 90-day retention

How Orderly training maps to this plan

  1. Introduction to the Orderly Role
  2. A Day on the Job
  3. Essential Orderly Vocabulary
  4. Core Duties and Responsibilities
  5. Common Tasks, Step by Step
  6. Tools, Equipment and Technology
  7. Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
  8. Skills Employers Look For
  9. Launching Your Orderly Career
  10. Final Knowledge Check
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