Sterile Processing Tech I

About the role

ECU Health Beaufort Hospital seeks a Sterile Processing Technician to participate in the collection, decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, scanning, sterilizing, storage, and distribution of reusable surgical instruments following the guidelines of the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI). This role collaborates with all departments to ensure efficient, safe, and effective instrument reprocessing while modeling excellence in customer service for both internal and external customers.

Responsibilities

• Ensure all procedural instrumentation is collected, cleaned, decontaminated, assembled, sterilized, and/or high-level disinfected per AAMI guidelines.
• Verify instruments are in open position, free of bioburden, and function properly prior to sterilization; alert supervisor if repairs or replacements are needed.
• Follow established manufacturer Instructions for Use (IFU) when processing instrumentation; notify supervisor if IFUs are required.
• Maintain and monitor all required biological/chemical wash solutions to ensure quality and consistency for decontamination.
• Document and maintain sterilization records in accordance with AAMI and department policy.
• Sort mismatched sets of instruments to ensure availability and completeness of instrument trays; inform supervisor of missing instruments.
• Demonstrate proficiency in preparing procedure case carts with appropriate instruments and supplies per department schedule.
• Maintain a clean and organized work area adhering to OSHA standards.
• Participate in departmental policy/procedure development, quality improvement projects, infection control practices, OSHA standards, and MSDS awareness.
• Communicate effectively using strong interpersonal skills with all internal and external customers.
• Complete all department-required competencies, including orientation and annual requirements.
• Engage in departmental continuing education to foster proficiency in sterile processing.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (or higher) is required.
• Less than 2 years of sterile processing experience.
• Certified Sterile Processing Technician (CST) certification is not required.

Pay

$18.00 - $24.26 per hour.

Schedule

• Two ten-hour shifts per week with rotating starting times.
• Weekend call rotation every 4 weeks.

About the employer

ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, a campus of ECU Health Medical Center, is a 142-bed full-service hospital located in Washington, NC. It holds national designation as a Primary Stroke Center and features a 16-bed emergency department serving approximately 25,000 patients annually. The hospital also includes the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, offering chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other cancer services, along with general medical and surgical services, operative services, a women’s birthing center, rehabilitation services, and outpatient clinics.