Sterile Processing Technician

Responsibilities

• Prepares and sterilizes surgical instruments and supplies according to established procedures and techniques.
• Verifies that equipment functions properly, and repairs or replaces defective instruments.
• Sorts sets of instrument trays, medical equipment, and makes them available to sterile processing customers in a timely manner.
• Assembles special procedure trays, surgical instrument trays, and case carts.
• Delivers sterilized supplies to, and retrieves used supplies and trays from hospital departments and clinic locations.
• Inspects and ensures proper functioning of instruments and equipment; facilitates the replenishment of low, broken, or missing items.
• Documents patient charges for the use of supplies and procedure trays.

Requirements

• Ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined above.
• Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills.
• Basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology.
• Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Ability to accurately detect blood that may remain on instruments before proceeding with the next step of sterilization.
• Ability to perform environmental maintenance duties and assist in maintaining inventory levels.
• Ability to work and communicate with clients and customers to satisfy their expectations.
• Demonstrated ability to acquire and utilize a comprehensive understanding of various sterilizers and sterilization methods; understand departmental supply requests and determine appropriate alternative supplies in the case of unavailability; prioritize workload and requests for supplies and trays.
• Ability to wear appropriate protective attire.
• Ability to be on-call, work weekends, holidays, and rotate shifts as needed.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served on his or her assigned unit.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of life span growth and development and the ability to assess data regarding the patient's status and provide care as described in the department's policies and procedures manual.

Qualifications

• Entry level position.
• Work experience in a medical setting (preferred).