Sterile Processing Technician

About This Role

This night-shift post on the cardiac ward pairs patient care with mentoring new nurses. This role is responsible for decontaminating, cleaning, assembling, sterilizing, and distributing surgical instruments and equipment. It ensures that surgical instrumentation and equipment is properly processed and available for use in procedural and patient care areas, adhering to established policies, procedures, and regulatory standards. This role applies the principles of sterile processing to maintain a safe and effective healthcare environment and ensures quality standards are maintained.

Responsibilities

• Proficiently receives and sorts contaminated instruments and equipment from various departments
• Independently disassembles instruments and cleans them using appropriate cleaning agents and equipment
• Thoroughly inspects cleaned instruments for cleanliness, proper function, and damage
• Assembles instrument sets according to established count sheets and tray lists
• Wraps or packages instruments and sets for sterilization
• Independently monitors sterilization cycles and interprets printouts to ensure proper sterilization parameters were met
• Follows all safety and infection control policies, procedures, and protocols and uses personal protective equipment (PPE) as required
• Operates and maintains automated washing and decontamination equipment and can troubleshoot minor issues with equipment
• Loads and operates appropriate sterilization equipment and can troubleshoot minor issues as needed
• Documents sterilization cycles and maintains accurate records
• Delivers sterile items to requesting departments in a timely manner and can prioritize urgent requests
• Maintains a clean and organized work environment
• Assists in training new employees on department procedures and equipment
• Other duties as assigned or requested

Requirements

• High School/GED
• Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) or Certified Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) at hire (certification requirement does not apply to Sterile Processing Technicians who have been employed by a healthcare facility on or before 12/29/2020; a Surgical Technologist holding an active Certification of Surgical Technologist (CST) or Tech in Surgery Certified (TSC) meets this license requirement)
• 1 year of experience with sterile processing

About the Company

Allegheny Health Network is the employer for this role.