Sterile Processing Technician

About This Role

This night-shift post involves sterilizing and decontaminating surgical instruments and supplies for use in the operating room and throughout the hospital and clinics. The incumbent assembles surgical carts and tracks and maintains the total inventory of instruments, disposables, and implants. The employee monitors biological and chemical indicators to ensure quality and consistency for sterilization of instruments and medical supplies.

Responsibilities

• Prepares and sterilizes surgical instruments and supplies according to established procedures and techniques
• Verifies that equipment functions properly, and the repair or replacement of defective instruments
• Sorts sets of instrument trays and medical equipment and makes them available to sterile processing customers in a timely manner
• Assembles special procedure trays, surgical instrument trays and case carts
• Delivers sterilized supplies to, and retrieves used supplies and trays from hospital department and clinic locations
• Inspects and ensures proper functioning of instruments and equipment; facilitates the replenishment of low, broken or missing items
• Documents patient charges for the use of supplies and procedure trays

Requirements

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above
• Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills
• Basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology and medical terminology
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions
• Ability to accurately detect blood that may remain on instruments before proceeding with the next step of sterilization
• Ability to perform environmental maintenance duties and assists in maintaining inventory levels
• Ability to work and communicate with clients and customers to satisfy their expectations
• Demonstrated ability to acquire and utilize a comprehensive understanding of various sterilizers and sterilization methods; understand departmental supply requests and determine appropriate alternative supplies in the case of unavailability; prioritize workload and requests for supplies and trays
• Ability to wear appropriate protective attire
• Ability to be on-call, work weekends, holidays and rotate shifts as needed
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual

Nice to have:

• Work experience in a medical setting

Important Details