Sterile Instrument Technician

Renown Health; Reno (NV); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Renown Health is seeking a Sterile Processing Technician in Reno, NV. In this role, you'll process and prepare multi-specialty surgical instruments, ensuring quality and safety in the surgical services department. Key responsibilities include sterilizing instruments, maintaining supply levels, and assisting OR personnel as needed. Candidates should have knowledge of medical instruments and experience in a sterile processing environment. This position may require flexible hours and overtime.

Qualifications

• Must possess the computer skills to complete online learning and access necessary forms.
• Working knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology is preferred.
• Ability to work safely with Ethylene Oxide under permissible exposure limits.

Responsibilities

• Process and prepare surgical instrumentation and medical supplies.
• Maintain quality assurance standards related to sterilization and infection control.
• Provide support to operating room personnel regarding instrumentation.

Skills

Critical thinking skills

Ability to multi-task and prioritize duties

Fine motor skills

Basic knowledge of medical instruments

Ability to safely handle contaminated items

Education

Working-level knowledge of English

At least one year in Sterile Processing

Job description

Position Purpose

This role will process and prepare multi-specialty and general surgery instrumentation, provide quality sterile trays, surgical instruments, packs and medical supplies, and clean patient equipment for a multi‑million-dollar department on a 24‑hour, 7 day a week basis.

Nature and Scope

This position provides a vital service to the Surgical Services Department as well as other clinical departments within the Renown Health Network which cannot function without the instrumentation and equipment prepared by this staff. The role involves cleaning; assembling instruments; sterilization of supplies; providing all initial cleaning and decontamination of instruments and trays; and serving as a resource to operating room personnel.

The major challenges to this position include learning constantly changing instruments, equipment, procedures, and sterile techniques, and efficiently handling the equipment and supply needs for emergency cases. The incumbent determines that processed instrumentation meets stringent criteria for sterility and use in the operating room, serves as the source for identifying outside vendor instruments, systems, and their locations, and provides assistance to all outside vendors on a daily basis including maintaining their instruments and sets.

The conditions of work may involve exposure to communicable diseases, potentially dangerous gases, chemicals, and injury from sharp instruments.

This position is responsible for monitoring the need for instruments, implants, and supplies, and for utilizing expertise in providing service to physicians, staff, and outside hospitals.

• Must be conscientious, industrious, precise, and reliable.
• Incumbent must pay close attention to detail and have the ability to retain knowledge of the work involved, be capable of planning and assessing priorities to maintain adequate production, accept responsibility, and prefer activities of a repetitive nature.
• Maintains proper levels of instruments and supplies needed for reprocessing.
• Maintains proper patient charges related to the Sterile Processing Department to all user stations throughout Renown Health and off‑site affiliates.
• Accurately maintains comprehensive quality assurance standards related to sterilization and infection control in a sterile area.
• Operates within the sterilization procedures.
• Determines whether each piece of equipment that is processed is in correct working condition.
• Determines whether processed instrumentation meets the stringent criterion for sterility and use in the Operating Room prior to distribution.
• Maintains adequate levels of reserve supplies for routine use and emergency situations.
• Other related duties, flexible hours, and overtime may be required.

This position has the freedom to relocate equipment to increase work efficiency and safety.

Demonstrates the positive behaviors that reflect understanding and support of the organizational mission, vision and purpose.

Flexible hours and overtime may be required to meet customer needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Basic knowledge of medical instruments and their use and location in Sterile Processing.
• Working knowledge of basic Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology.
• Ability to work safely with Ethylene Oxide under permissible exposure limits (where appropriate).
• Understanding of patient equipment and its proper use/function.
• Ability to safely handle items contaminated with possibly infectious material.
• Ability to work with pressurized sterilizers.
• Ability to utilize proper telephone etiquette.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Conflict management skills.
• Fine motor skills.
• Demonstrates behavior consistent with Renown Health Living Our Values.
• Must be able to multi‑task and prioritize duties.
• Responsible for assembling/restocking all implant systems (where appropriate).
• OR assistance for questions regarding instrumentation and proper use. Knowledge of OR aseptic technique (i.e. opening instruments/supplies on the sterile field). Accurately maintains comprehensive quality assurance standards related to sterilization and infection control in a sterile area.
• Responsible for tracking and retrieving instruments and supplies loaned interdepartmentally and to outside hospitals.
• Responsible for providing education and training to new employees as needed.
• Other related duties, flexible hours, and overtime may be required.

This position does not provide patient care.

Disclaimer

The foregoing description is not intended and should not be construed to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills and efforts or work conditions associated with the job. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the general nature and level of the job.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Must have working‑level knowledge of the English language, including reading, writing, and speaking English.

Experience: At least one year in Sterile Processing or other related medical field is preferred.

License(s): None.

Certification(s): None.

Computer / Typing: Must possess the computer skills necessary to complete online learning requirements for job‑specific competencies, access online forms and policies, complete online benefits enrollment, etc.