Sterile Processing Technician

Midland Health; Midland (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Midland Health is seeking a Sterile Processing Technician to perform decontamination, disinfection, and sterilization of instrument sets in a hospital setting. You will contribute to indirect quality patient care by ensuring instrument readiness for procedures and maintaining infection control standards.

The role requires a high school diploma or equivalent, and ongoing education for Advanced Sterile Processing Certification.

Qualifications

• Must be a high school graduate or equivalent work experience.
• Annual continuing education: 12 hours for Advanced Sterile Processing Certification.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of instrument sets and instrument names.
• Ensures loads are documented accurately as a legal record.
• Monitors daily surgery schedule to anticipate instrument needs.
• Sorts reusable instrumentation by decontamination method.
• Handles and cares for instruments, selecting cleaning agents and verifying function.
• Packages/wraps and labels material per item properties and sterilization process.
• Operates equipment to prepare, assemble, and sterilize instruments per standards.
• Maintains sterilization records and monitors quality control and infection standards.
• Peel-packs supplies, inspects instruments for use and cleanliness.
• Adheres to Standard Precautions when handling infectious waste.

Skills

Instrument knowledge

Documentation

Infection control

Sterilization processes

Equipment operation

Standard Precautions

OneSource usage

Education

High school diploma

Advanced Sterile Processing Certification

Tools

OneSource

Job description

Job Description

Performs the essential duties and responsibilities and the primary functions of a Sterile Processing Technician. Incorporates current knowledge of principles of decontamination, disinfection, sterilization, and instrumentation in a hospital setting to provide indirect quality patient care. Utilizes knowledge of Standard Precautions and infection control to perform the functions of the position.

SHIFT AND SCHEDULE

Full Time, Nights, 11:00pm to 7:30am

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS/PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS

• Demonstrates thorough knowledge of instrument sets and names of instruments.
• Recognizes that documentation of loads is a legal record and must be done accurately and completely.
• Monitors surgery schedule daily in order to anticipate instrument needs for scheduled add-on and emergency procedures.
• Sorts reusable instrumentation based on methods of decontamination (i.e., heat sensitive vs. non-heat sensitive, immersible vs. non-immersible, mechanical vs. hand wash).
• Accurately handles and cares for instruments appropriately, including appropriate selection of cleaning agents, lubricants, examination for function, identification and assembly according to OneSource in preparation for sterilization; retrieves malfunctioning instruments and ensures repairs are complete.
• Using OneSource, correctly packages/ wraps and labels material based on item properties and sterilization processes, following guidelines and manufacturer recommendations.
• Operates all required equipment and machinery accurately and safely. Prepares, assembles, and sterilizes instruments and supplies according to parameters of sterilization in accordance with The Department of Health, DNV, OSHA, CDC, AAMI, and AORN standards.
• Maintains appropriate sterilization records, and monitors quality control and infection control standards. Provides asset management and support of surgical instruments and trays belonging to or consigned to the facility.
• Correctly peel-packs supplies/instruments, wraps instruments for sterilization while inspecting each instrument for use, function, completeness and cleanliness.
• Adheres to Standard Precautions as appropriate, which may include: the use of protective barriers as appropriate (e.g. gloves, masks, gowns, pocket masks, and/or safety glasses) while handling and disposing of infectious waste.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Must be a high school graduate or equivalent work experience.
• Required to complete twelve (12) hours of continuing education hours annually for Advanced Sterile Processing Certification.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The individual must be able to:

• Stand, walk, sit, stoop, reach, lift, see, speak and hear. Lifting is limited to 35 lbs. for clinical staff and to 50 lbs. for non-clinical staff. The individual must use an assisted-lift device or get another individual(s) to assist with the lift that is over these maximum limits.