Certified Sterile Processing Tech - SPD Tech - Full Time - 11:00 pm - 7:30 am

Northeast Georgia Health System•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 available resources and references. Applying knowledge of sterilization processes, the technician works independently in a changing technical environment and performs duties related to decontaminating, assembling, sterilizing, and dispatching sterile instruments and equipment. The technician participates in unit quality-control activities, understands how the role relates to patient care, and helps maintain a safe environment for team members and patients. The position involves cleaning and inspecting instruments, assembling trays and sets, preparing packages and linen packs, operating and monitoring sterilization equipment, documenting sterilization loads and indicators, and ensuring processed items are available when requested. The schedule listed is 11:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

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 Surgical Technologist Certification.
Precise hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity.
Knowledge of instruments and their assembly, including laparoscopy instruments.
Ability to identify priority instruments and equipment and process them accordingly.
Knowledge of proper filter and seal inspection and container placement.
Understanding of sterilization principles and the ability to correctly load and operate all sterilizers.
Ability to cooperate with the Surgical and Sterile Processing Team and work independently in a changing technical environment.
Ability to read, write, reason, talk, and use a keyboard.
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds frequently.
Ability to kneel, stoop, bend, stand, walk, push, and pull frequently.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Decontaminate supplies and equipment according to safety guidelines.
Inspect and clean washer drains, follow proper washer-loading techniques, and remove blood and bone from instruments and needles.
Assemble instruments before processing them through the washer or decontaminator, and properly process hand-washed items.
Use a Sonic Irrigator to flush the lumens of laparoscopy instruments.
Transport trash and dirty linen and restock the decontamination area.
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, place appropriate chemical indicator strips, and follow correct wrapping procedures.
Dry containers before placing sets inside and match containers with the correct labels.
Fold and wrap linen into packs for various departments.
Assist with starting autoclaves and Sterrad equipment when time permits.
Place Bowie-Dick test packs and biological test packs in the appropriate sterilizers.
Review and complete control log sheets, load cards, and sterilization load information.
Follow guidelines for cooling items in and out of the sterilizer.
Place wrapped items and containers in the correct bins so processed items are available when requested.
Keep autoclaves running in a timely manner.
Check and record biological indicators and use proper technique when placing them in or removing them from the incubator.
Sign equipment out 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.