Education – Completion of a program or training for Central Sterile/Sterile Processing Technician.
Experience – A minimum of Two (2) years of Sterile Processing experience is preferred.
Licenses & Certification – Certified Registered Central Service Technician is required; CPR certification for healthcare workers is required.
Knowledge & Skills –
- Advanced knowledge of cleaning and sterilizing techniques utilized in an operating room.
- Preparing medical equipment and instruments for decontamination.
- Operating equipment to clean, disinfect and decontaminate surgical instruments, medical devices, and equipment.
- Inspecting instruments and equipment for signs of damage and wear and tear.
- Unpacking, checking, and stocking new equipment, instruments, and devices.
- Delivering equipment and supplies to all areas of the facility.
- Responding to emergency supply requests during surgical procedures.
- Maintaining accurate records of when items undergo sterilization.
- Monitoring temperature and humidity conditions within storage areas.
- Knowledge of medical terminology and abbreviations.
- Ability to work closely with highly skilled operating room nurses, surgical scrubs, and surgeons in pressure situations.
- Ability to communicate courteously and effectively with other surgical staff and hospital members and hospital employees when needed regarding surgical instrumentation and the sterilization process.
- Advanced knowledge of a wide range of surgical cases and the instrumentation required for these types including DaVinci Robotics, Uro-Gyn, Urology, General, Orthopedics, ENT, and other specialties as indicated.
- Required to mentor and assist in training new surgical technologists and students in Sterile Processing.
The purpose of the position is to provide skilled Sterile Processing assistance to the operating room personnel and to provide leadership and guidance to new surgical technologists learning Sterile Processing. A sterile processing tech ensures medical instruments are properly inspected, cleaned and sterilized for use across a hospital, clinic, physician’s office or other healthcare institution.
Work is performed in a clinical and/or hospital environment. There is common exposure to contagious disease. The work may include a certain amount of exposure to hostile and emotionally disturbed patients, families, and visitors. Special attire may be required as protection against infection.
Long periods of standing and walking. Working in Sterile Processing requires recurring bending, lifting, squatting, and stretching when moving surgical instrumentation and handling sterile processing equipment. Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds. Must be able to manage stress under many different circumstances.
Satisfactory job performance will be determined by successful execution of the following:
Processes, prepares, and distributes a complete range of clean and sterile medical supplies, instruments, and equipment.
Disassembles, decontaminates, and cleans items brought to Central Sterile from the clinics. Checks workability, reports breakages and defective items and initiates work orders.
Reassembles emergency and routine trays, surgical instruments, and monitoring devices. Packages and wraps items, inserts sterile control indicators, labels packages, and determines the method of sterilization.
Load, unload, and operate autoclave and other equipment used in sanitizing and sterilizing medical equipment and supplies, including antiseptic and cold disinfectant solutions. Assures adequate sterilization has taken place by checking autoclave tapes, internal indicators, steam pressure and timing devices. Routinely conducts testing of autoclave efficiency.
Checks supplies in area, places items for proper storage on shelves. Determines adequate supply, maintains records of stock levels, inventories stock periodically, recommends revisions in levels and/or substitute stock. Notifies supervisor of shortages.
Equal Opportunity Employer
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