Certified Sterile Processing Tech - SPD Tech - Full Time - 3:00 pm - 11:30 pm

Northeast Georgia Medical Center•Gainesville, GA

About The Position

The Certified Sterile Processing Technician works under the direct supervision of the SPD Manager or SPD Shift Lead Tech and cooperates with members of the Surgical and Sterile Processing Team. The role requires professionalism, ethical conduct, and the ability to complete assigned tasks using appropriate resources and references. Applying knowledge of sterilization processes, the technician works independently in a changing technical environment and processes sterile instruments and equipment through decontamination, assembly, sterilization, and dispatch. The technician participates in unit quality-control activities, understands how the role supports patient care, and helps maintain a safe environment for patients and team members. The position is full-time, scheduled for an 8-hour afternoon/evening shift from 3:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Duties include cleaning and inspecting instruments and equipment, assembling trays and sets, preparing and operating sterilizers, documenting sterilization loads and indicators, and ensuring processed items are correctly stored and available when requested.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
National certification in Sterile Processing, with responsibility for maintaining 12 continuing education points per year for continued Core Course completion status or certification, or Surgical Technologist Certification.
Precise hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity.
Appropriate knowledge of instruments and their assembly, including laparoscopy instruments.
Knowledge of priority instruments and equipment and the ability to process them accordingly.
Knowledge of proper inspection of filters and seals and placement of containers.
Understanding of sterilization principles and ability to correctly load and operate sterilizers to ensure product sterility.
Ability to work cooperatively with the Surgical and Sterile Processing Team and demonstrate professionalism and ethical standards.
Ability to read, write, reason, talk, and use a keyboard.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds frequently; frequent standing, walking, kneeling, stooping, bending, pushing, and pulling; and moderate vision demands.

Nice To Haves

Six months of experience in Sterile Processing.
Other healthcare experience.

Responsibilities

Decontaminate supplies and equipment in accordance with safety guidelines; inspect and clean washer drains, load washers correctly, and remove blood and bone from needles and instruments.
Assemble instruments before washer/decontaminator processing, process hand-washed items, and use a Sonic Irrigator to flush laparoscopic instrument lumens.
Transport trash and dirty linen and restock decontamination-area supplies.
Inspect instruments for proper working order and accurately assemble trays and sets.
Replace plates, screws, and implants, and note items that need to be reordered.
Tape and label packages with item identification, initials, and date; place appropriate chemical indicator strips in packages; and follow proper wrapping procedures.
Dry containers before loading sets, match containers with correct labels, and fold and wrap linen into packs for various departments.
Assist with starting autoclaves and Sterrad sterilizers when time permits; place Bowie-Dick test packs and biological test packs as appropriate.
Review and complete log sheets, control records, load cards, and sterilization load-sheet information for each load type.
Follow sterilizer cooling guidelines and place wrapped items and containers in the correct bins so processed items are available when requested.
Keep autoclaves running on schedule; check and record biological indicators and handle them correctly when placing them in or removing them from the incubator.
Sign out equipment from the equipment room and complete surgery requisitions.
Participate in unit quality-control activities and help maintain a safe environment for patients and team members.