Sterile Processing Tech

Children's National Hospital; United States; On-site; USD 32,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health coverage

Generous paid time off

401(k) plan and retirement benefits

Life/AD&D and disability coverage

Tuition assistance and wellness perks

Job summary

Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC seeks a Sterile Processing Technician to support the Operating Room and inpatient units by inspecting, preparing, receiving and issuing sterile instruments and supplies. The role requires CRCST certification, a high school diploma, and 6 months to 1 year of healthcare experience.

Strong aseptic technique, attention to detail, and clear communication are essential. Day shift consists of four 10-hour shifts, with occasional weekends.

Qualifications

• Requires CRCST certification and high school diploma.
• Experience: 6 months to 1 year in healthcare.
• Knowledge of aseptic technique and instrumentation handling.

Responsibilities

• Inspect, wash, prepare and issue instruments and trays for sterilization.
• Maintain daily productivity and accurate records of sterilization.
• Communicate needs to Operating Room staff and clinical managers.
• Assemble paperwork for patient cases and maintain equipment readiness.
• Follow policies to ensure safety and proper sterilization procedures.

Skills

Moderate computer ability

Communication skills

Aseptic technique

Basic calculations

Interpersonal skills

Telephone etiquette

Professional conduct

Education

High School Diploma/GED

CRCST Certification

Job description

Kids Are Our Everything.

111 Michigan Avenue NorthwestWashington, DC 20010

Department

10358 Periop Sterile Proc Svcs

Pay Range

$22.87 - $45.99

Schedule: (4) 10-hour shifts Day Shift M-F (occasional weekends)

Who We Are:

Children’s National surgery center performs nearly 17,000 procedures annually, providing specialized surgical care for infants, children, and adolescents. Surgical Services at the main campus include 17 operating rooms and 2 procedure rooms, supporting a comprehensive range of perioperative services. The department’s mission is driven by a culture of safety, with a strong focus on patients, families, and the care environment. Surgical Services is committed to fostering an environment that promotes safe, high-quality patient care, clinical excellence, continuous performance, improvement, and positive health outcomes.

What You’ll Do:

This position requires overall inspection, preparation, receipt and issuance of sterile processing equipment and supplies to the Operating Room and inpatient units. Performance of these technical tasks is integral to the support of clinical operations of the Operating Room.

What You’ll Bring:

Minimum Education:

• High School Diploma/GED (Required)

Minimum Experience:

• 6 months to 1 year of related experience (Required)
• Experience in health care related field (Required)
• Sterile Processing Experience (Preferred)

Certifications/License Requirements:

• Certification as a Registered Central Services Technician (CRCST) (Required)

Required Skills/Knowledge:

• Moderate computer ability
• Communication Skills Training (Inclusive of written and verbal skills).
• Knowledge of aseptic technique. Basic calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division).
• Human relations and interpersonal skills.
• Good telephone etiquette.
• Ability to maintain interpersonal skills; i.e. friendly and polite attitude towards families and staff

Functional Abilities:

Patient Advocate

• Supportive of patients, families and staff; report any concerns or issues regarding preoperative care to appropriate personnel.
• Direct any questions regarding preoperative preparation (case preparation) to Clinical Manager of SPD.
• Provide a safe, efficient, and supportive environment for surgical patient through the quality of processed equipment and supplies for the surgical patient
• Assemble paperwork needed for the patient.

Instrument and Supply Quality and Maintenance

• Receive, wash, inspect, prepare and issue instruments, trays and other equipment according to policies and procedures.
• Inspect and prepare surgical items for sterilization.
• Stamp, date, store and rotate items; issue sterile and nonsterile items; and inspect for outdated items.
• Maintain daily productivity levels.
• Communicate with Operating Room staff about the needs and activities of the inner and outer core, supplies, case carts, instruments, linens and waste.

Aseptic Technique

• Identify the principles of sterile technique.
• Demonstrate a surgical conscience at all times.
• Select and prepare supplies and instruments for the sterilizer.
• Utilize the appropriate sterilizer for sterilization purposes (i.e.: flash sterilizer vs. washer sterilizer).
• Apply the correct technique of disinfection and follow manufacturer protocols.

Sterile Processing

• Load and operate washers, dryer, ultrasonic cleaner , sterilizers and cart wash machines.
• Follow established policy and procedure for building instrument sets according to count sheets.
• Display knowledge and dexterity in the utilization of required instrumentation and supplies.
• Anticipate emergency or unusual circumstances associated with equipment needs and supply availability.
• Anticipate the needs of the surgical team.
• Demonstrate organizational skills when preparing for surgical cases.
• Maintain surveillance of sterilization; maintain and monitor the daily records and indicators; follow recall procedures.
• Implement procedures to ensure adherence to sterilization requirements.

Safety

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and take time to resolve the situation
• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers
• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance

Benefits That Support You:

• Comprehensive health coverage, including medical, prescription, infertility, and transgender health services.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation accrual from day one, sick leave, holidays, and a personal day.
• Financial wellness support, including a 401(k) plan and healthcare and dependent care spending accounts.
• Employer-paid life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage, with optional supplemental plans.
• Additional perks, including tuition assistance, fitness resources, employee assistance, commuter benefits, and more.

Why Join Us:

• Nationally Recognized Excellence – Consistently ranked among the Top 10 Children’s Hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
• Leading Pediatric Care – One of the largest and most comprehensive children’s hospitals in the country, offering nationally ranked specialties and cutting-edge treatments.
• Innovation & Research – A premier academic medical center with a strong commitment to pediatric research, education, and advancing the future of child health.
• Mission-Driven Culture – Dedicated to providing family-centered care while fostering a collaborative, supportive environment for clinical teams.

The disclosed salary range includes the minimum and maximum rates within which Children’s National believes an individual’s base pay rate will fall for this position. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the maximum of the pay range. The exact pay rate for this position will be based on a variety of factors in alignment with the Children’s National compensation philosophy. These factors are legitimate and non-discriminatory including, but not limited to, the current market conditions; organizational needs; the individual’s combination of prior work experience, level of education, knowledge, skills, and other qualifications. Children’s National is committed to providing a fair and competitive total rewards package to each of our employees. This base salary range does not include our comprehensive benefits package or any additional compensation for which this position may be eligible.

Childrens National Hospital is an equal opportunity employer that evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, identity, or other characteristics protected by law. The “Know Your Rights” poster is available here: and the pay transparency policy is available here:Know Your RightsPay Transparency Nondiscrimination Poster.

Please note that it is the policy of Children’s National Hospital to ensure a “drug-free” work environment: a workplace free from the illegal use, possession or distribution of controlled substances (as defined in the Controlled Substances Act), or the misuse of legal substances, by all staff (management, employees and contractors). Though recreational and medical marijuana are now legal in the District of Columbia, Children’s National and its affiliates maintain the right, in accordance with our policy, to enforce a drug-free workplace, including prohibiting recreational or prescribed marijuana.