Sterile Processing Tech - Full Time - Evenings

Why work for us

At Nebraska Methodist Health System, we focus on providing exceptional care to the communities we serve and people we employ. We call it The Meaning of Care – a culture that has and will continue to set us apart. It’s helping families grow by making each delivery special, conveying a difficult diagnosis with a compassionate touch, going above and beyond for a patient’s needs, or giving a high five when a patient beats a disease or conquers a personal health challenge. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits and a great work environment where all employees are valued! Most importantly, our employees are part of a team that makes a real difference in the communities we live and work in.

Location: Methodist Hospital, 8303 Dodge St, Omaha, NE

About the role

Sterilization Technicians play an essential role in patient safety by sorting, assembling, sterilizing and distributing instrumentation from all areas of the hospital. This is a hands-on role that includes routine maintenance, instrument tracking, preparing accurate records, and maintaining a working knowledge of sterilization and disinfection methods required for specific instruments and equipment. As a Sterilization Technician, you will be responsible for following universal precautions, infection control policies, federal regulations, and standard policies and procedures within the organization.

Ask about the following incentives that may be available for this position: shift differentials & other financial incentives, tuition assistance, academic sponsorship with Methodist College, and free parking.

Responsibilities

• Sorts, disassembles, cleans, and disinfects contaminated instruments and equipment to render items safe for handling, by using special techniques and procedures of Universal Barrier Precautions.
• Follows procedures for manual and automated cleaning processes.
• Proper use of chemicals and knowledge of Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) forms.
• Practices Universal precautions, Infection Control policies and observes safe work practices.
• Communicates to appropriate personnel regarding sharps, punctures and other potential risks.
• Operates decontamination machinery in strict accordance with departmental procedures.
• Adheres to using personal protective equipment (PPE) while working in decontamination.
• Prepares instrument sets/trays and other reusable patient equipment by following recipe sheets to ensure the completeness and accuracy of each item.
• Precisely follows individual recipe sheets for each set/tray/item being assembled.
• Replaces lost or damaged instruments as required to complete the set/tray.
• Conducts quality checks on instruments for cleanliness, function, defects, breakage and overall condition.
• Flushes all instruments with lumens or cannulated.
• Performs sterile linen processing according to established guidelines to ensure availability of sterile linen.
• Packages each set/tray/item as directed on each recipe sheet and per the department's policy.
• Correctly assembles and wraps linen packs according to guidelines.
• Keeps sterile linen stocked to the set par levels.
• Uses proper wrapping techniques when using non-woven wrapper, paper peel pouches, and rigid containers.
• Loads sterilization cart/chamber according to method of sterilization and set policies and procedures and unloads sterilization carts to ensure smooth and timely processing and delivery of sterile instruments and supplies.
• Operates sterilizers in strict accordance with departmental procedures.
• Follows policy and procedures for steam sterilization, Ethylene Oxide sterilization, and Gas plasma sterilization.
• Understands and interprets mechanical, chemical and biological indicators.
• Prepares sterilization loads according to sterilization method and policies.
• Incubates self-contained biologicals according to protocol.
• Maintains accurate records of sterilization and of all equipment in the department by utilizing the instrument tracking system.
• Maintains Sterile Processing Department (SPD)'s equipment service log.
• Maintains accurate sterilization records/documentation.
• Follows protocol for scanning bar-coded items.
• Scans items to the proper stations and locations.
• Ensures sterilization records are entered accurately into the sterilization module.
• Consistently records accurate load control numbers.
• Consistently verifies and initials all records according to policy.
• Distributes instruments sets to ensure receipt by departments in a timely manner.
• Delivers sterile cart to Operating Room (OR)/Outpatient Surgery (OPS) in a timely manner.
• Accurately delivers sterile items in the correct location as designated in Sterile Processing Department (SPD).
• Responds to Operating Room (OR)/Outpatient Surgery (OPS)'s requests in a timely manner.
• Performs UV cleaning of used equipment following established procedures.

Schedule

2:45pm to 11:15pm with rotating weekends and holidays

Requirements

• High School diploma or General Educational Development (G.E.D.) preferred.
• 1 – 2 years previous experience in Sterile Processing preferred.

Skills

• Knowledge of decontamination of surgical instruments preferred.
• Skilled in appropriate surgical instrument sterilization methods preferred.
• Skilled in proper handling and packaging of instruments preferred.
• Strong verbal communication skills for positive interaction with staff and customers required.
• Able to read, write, and comprehend various written reports and documents required.

Physical Requirements

Weight Demands: Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force.

Physical Activity:

• Not necessary for the position (0%): Climbing, Crawling, Walking
• Occasionally Performed (1%-33%): Balancing, Crouching, Keyboarding/typing, Kneeling, Sitting
• Frequently Performed (34%-66%): Carrying, Distinguish colors, Grasping, Lifting, Pulling/Pushing, Reaching, Repetitive Motions, Speaking/talking, Stooping/bending, Twisting
• Constantly Performed (67%-100%): Hearing, Seeing/visual, Standing, Walking

Job Hazards

• Not Related: Explosives (pressurized gas), Electrical Shock/Static, Radiation Alpha, Beta and Gamma (particles such as X-Ray, Cat Scan, Gamma Knife, etc), Radiation Non-Ionizing (Ultraviolet, visible light, infrared and microwaves that causes injuries to tissue or thermal or photochemical means)
• Occasionally (34%-66%): Biological agents (primary airborne & blood borne viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact), Blood or Body Fluid (BBF), Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex), Physical hazards (noise, temperature, lighting, wet floors, outdoors, sharps) (more than ordinary office environment)
• Frequent (67-100%): Mechanical moving parts/vibrations

About Methodist

Nebraska Methodist Health System is made up of four hospitals in Nebraska and southwest Iowa, more than 30 clinic locations, a nursing and allied health college, and a medical supply distributorship and central laundry facility. From the day Methodist Hospital was chartered in 1891, service to our communities has been a top priority. Financial assistance, health education, outreach to our diverse communities and populations, and other community benefit activities have always been central to our mission.