STERILE PROC TECH II

Covenant-Health; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, part of Covenant Health, is seeking a Sterile Processing Technician for the night shift. This full-time role involves decontaminating, inspecting, assembling, and sterilizing surgical instruments per AAMI standards, with proficiency in processing equipment and instrument tracking systems.

Requires CRCST or CSPDT certification and at least one year of instrument experience.

Qualifications

• 1 year surgical instrument experience.
• CRCST or CSPDT certification required.
• Must meet licensure requirements per issuing authority.

Responsibilities

• Decontaminates surgical instruments per manufacturer instructions and dept. guidance.
• Operates decontamination equipment (washer, ultrasonic cleaner, cart washer, AER).
• Inspects instruments after decontamination for cleanliness and function.
• Assembles trays ensuring sterility and accessibility for end users.
• Packages instrument sets per manufacturer guidelines and AAMI standards.
• Loads sterilizer carts properly to prevent damage; runs sterilizer tests daily.

Skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Communication

Tools

AER – Automatic Endoscope Reprocessor

Washer Disinfector

Ultrasonic Cleaner

Job description

Overview

Sterile Processing Technician

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Night Shift

Fort Sanders Regional Overview:

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is a 444-bed hospital recognized for pairing clinical expertise with advanced medical technology to deliver exceptional care. As a Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center, we provide leading-edge treatment for stroke recovery. Our facility also offers specialized services in bariatric surgery, robotic surgery, minimally invasive spine procedures, and advanced orthopedic care.

Fort Sanders Regional is part of Covenant Health, East Tennessee’s largest nonprofit health system and a Becker’s “Top 150 Places to Work in Healthcare.” Covenant Health includes nine hospitals and nearly 150 service locations, offering employees a comprehensive benefits package with tuition reimbursement, student loan assistance, certification bonuses, and leadership development programs.

Position Summary:

Under the direction of department leadership, responsible for the proper decontamination, inspection, assembly, and high level disinfection and sterilization of surgical instruments. Operates processing equipment. Requires proficiency in instrument decontamination and assembly and knowledge of the sterilization methods available and which method is appropriate in correlation with the devices that are to be processed.

Responsibilities

• Decontaminates surgical instruments according to manufacturer’s instructions or advised by the department leader. Will operate all decontamination equipment including washer disinfectors, ultrasonic cleaners, cart washer, and automatic endoscope reprocessor (AER).
• Inspects instruments after decontamination ensuring all items are clean, intact, functional, and accounted for.
• Assembles trays in a manner that ensures devise sterility as well as presenting a tray that is easy for the end user to access for use. Uses count sheets to ensure trays are assembled accurately. Interfaces with the instrument tracking system for all functions of processing.
• Packages or containerizes instruments sets according to manufacturer’s guidelines and Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) standards. Packages in a neat and proper technique ensuring easy, aseptic opening in the operating room.
• Loads sterilizer carts in a way to ensure packaged items are not punctured or compromised, loads containers and wrapped goods as recommended
• Runs daily sterilizer tests on all steam and low temperature sterilizers.
• Operates sterilizer according to manufacturer’s instruction ensuring load biological monitoring.
• Documents all load contents, interfaces load to tracking system, loads cycle confirming correct parameters, monitors sterilizer to tracking system information, records all pertinent information (biological, mechanical, and chemical).
• Unloads sterilizers, ensuring items are not compromised, and stores in correct location according to instrument tracking system storage locations
• Follows endoscope manufacturer’s processing instructions and accepted standards/ guidelines.
• Assists with the orientation of new employees in department as needed.
• Prepares hospital requisitions as needed; monitors and communicates to management all items received from outside vendors.
• Answer phones and relays information to other employees and staff members.
• Inventories set levels of instruments and stock items to be sterilized daily. Re-stocks supplies in all areas.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and/or certification as required by the issuing authority.

Minimum Experience:

Must have one (1) year surgical instrument or instrument technician experience.

Licensure Requirement:

IAHCSMM (International Association for Healthcare Material Management) as a Certified Registered Sterile Processing Technician (CRCST) or CBSPD (Certification Board for Sterile Processing Technicians) as a Certified Sterile Processing Distribution Technician (CSPDT) certification is required.