Central Sterile Processing Technician 2, Full Time

University of Miami•Coral Gables, FL

32d•Onsite

About The Position

The Central Sterile Processing Technician 2 is responsible for preparing supplies and equipment for use during patient procedures, achieving competency in two areas of sterile processing. This role involves receiving, processing, stocking, and distributing supplies. The technician will clean and disinfect equipment requiring decontamination or sterilization, perform assembly, packing, sterilization, documentation, handle implantable devices, and manage case carts, emergency carts, and supplies for surgical nursing units and ancillary departments, thereby assisting with daily operational flow. The position requires sterilizing instruments, equipment, and utensils using various types of autoclaves and high-level disinfection equipment, and selecting appropriate sterilization methods. Quality control is maintained through routine testing and cleaning to ensure sterilization equipment and instruments are functioning properly. The technician will load autoclaves and/or disinfect equipment according to prescribed methods, setting controls for specified time and temperature based on material and item requirements. Verification of appropriate sterilization cycles and maintenance of documentation records are crucial. The role also includes maintaining assigned work areas and equipment in a clean and organized condition to meet standards for handling sterilized and clean materials and to ensure a safe work environment. Priority is given to emergency requests, and required supplies and equipment are issued based on the intended procedure. Assembling and wrapping materials, instruments, and supplies according to established aseptic technique and manufacturer recommendations is part of the daily tasks. The technician will assist with locating instruments in the Instrument Room and provide professional customer service to internal and external customers, respecting patient privacy. Following through to ensure expectations are met and keeping customers informed of progress are key aspects of the role. Additional duties include examining sterilization/expiration dates, reporting inoperable equipment, maintaining adequate stock levels, testing sterilization equipment effectiveness, storing new and reprocessed equipment and supplies, cleaning shelves and work areas, and ordering replacement instruments. Accessing Physician Preference Cards to ensure equipment availability and ensuring staff in the decontamination room use PPE are also responsibilities. Daily checks of humidity, temperature, and pressure readings for decontamination and sterile processing rooms are required to ensure compliance with regulatory agencies. The role involves evaluating all instruments, carts, and equipment for cleanliness and proper functioning, decontaminating reusable instruments, trays, and carts, and monitoring inventory to ensure adequate supplies are properly stored and rotated. Adherence to AAMI, OSHA, CDC, and AORN standards is mandatory. Sterilization records and biological readings are reviewed daily, with immediate reporting of any discrepancies. Prompt, clear, and polite responses to telephone calls and overhead pages are expected. The position provides overall expertise, training, coaching, mentoring, and monitoring of all cleaning procedures and sterilization methods. Maintaining a clean, orderly work area and acting as a mentor or preceptor to less experienced staff and new employees are important functions. Ensuring adherence to departmental policies and procedures, enforcing safety practices, and maintaining professional competence and certification are also required. Adherence to UHEALTH Standards of Behavior is expected.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent.
Current certification as a CBSPD or CRCST is required.
Minimum of 1 year of experience in related fields is required.
Member of IAHCSMM or CBSPD organization required.
General knowledge of office procedures and operations.
Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
Proficiency in computer software (i.e. Microsoft Office).
Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
Ability to accurately prepare and maintain records, files, reports and correspondence.

Responsibilities

Receives, processes, stocks, and distributes supplies.
Cleans and disinfects equipment requiring decontamination or sterilization.
Performs assembly, packing, sterilization, and documentation.
Handles implantable devices, case carts, emergency carts, and supplies for surgical nursing units and ancillary departments.
Sterilizes instruments, equipment, and utensils using various autoclaves and high-level disinfection equipment.
Selects appropriate sterilization methods.
Performs quality control through routine testing and cleaning of sterilization equipment and instruments.
Loads autoclaves and/or disinfects equipment according to prescribed methods, setting controls for specified time and temperature.
Verifies appropriate sterilization cycles and maintains appropriate sterilization documentation records.
Maintains assigned work areas and equipment in a clean and organized condition.
Assigns priority to emergency requests and issues required supplies and equipment.
Assembles and wraps materials, instruments, and supplies according to established aseptic technique and manufacturer recommendations.
Assists with locating instruments stored in the Instrument Room.
Provides customer service in a professional demeanor.
Follows through to ensure that established expectations are satisfied and keeps customers informed of progress.
Examines sterilization/expiration dates when applicable.
Reports inoperable equipment.
Maintains adequate levels of stocked sterilization supplies.
Tests effectiveness of sterilization equipment according to procedure.
Stores new and reprocessed equipment and supplies.
Cleans shelves and work areas as necessary.
Orders replacement instruments.
Accesses Physician Preference Cards to ensure equipment availability.
Ensures PPE is used by all staff working within the decontamination room.
Checks humidity, temperature, and pressure readings daily for decontamination and sterile processing rooms.
Evaluates all instruments, carts, and equipment for cleanliness and proper functioning ability.
Decontaminates all reusable instruments, trays, and carts, using proper equipment.
Monitors inventory and assures that supplies are adequate, properly stored and rotated.
Follows AAMI, OSHA, CDC and AORN standards.
Performs and reviews all sterilization records and Biological readings on a daily basis and reports any discrepancies immediately.
Responds to telephone and overhead page promptly, clearly and politely.
Provides overall expertise, training, coaching, mentoring and monitoring of all cleaning procedures/sterilization methods.
Maintains a clean, orderly work area.
Acts as a mentor or preceptor to less experienced staff and new employees.
Ensures that Policy and Procedures of the department and scope of practice are followed.
Enforces safety practices in the workplace overseeing that safe work practices are followed.
Responsible to maintain professional competence and certification.
Adheres to UHEALTH Standards of Behavior.