CSS Educator

UIOWA•Iowa City, IA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The CSS Educator supports clinical education for sterile processing department (SPD) staff and other health professionals. Applying medical device reprocessing expertise, this position improves health care outcomes through educational resources, interventions, and informatics. The CSS Educator is a critical member of a growing team working to align medical device reprocessing education and best practices across UI Health Care Central Sterilizing locations, including the Integrated Service Center, Turn Center, Iowa River Landing, FERC, North Liberty, and Medical Center Downtown. Schedule and location flexibility are expected; primary working hours are during the day at the Integrated Service Center in Coralville. The role provides specialized clinical and technical education in sterile processing and high-level disinfection. It offers subject matter expertise on complex surgical instrumentation and interpretation of manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFUs) to ensure compliance with facility equipment and procedures. The Educator assesses employee skills through observation, identifies training gaps and process drift, recommends and participates in training and re-education, and performs or coordinates in-services with external company representatives. The CSS Educator collaborates with clinical, administrative, human resources, operations, education, instrument specialist, and quality teams to support staff onboarding, coordinate new hires’ transitions to their shifts and locations, maintain accurate training and competency records, and keep competencies, training materials, standard operating procedures, policies, and procedures current. The role also supports review of new product IFUs and change management to standardize new processes, techniques, and products across CSS sites. The Educator provides staff guidance, coaching, and counseling, models professionalism, and stays current with relevant regulatory and professional standards.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field or equivalent education and CSS experience.
Maintain certification through a nationally recognized central sterilizing service training program, such as HSPA or CBSPD.
Obtain and maintain Endoscope Reprocessing Certification from CBSPD or HSPA within the first two years of employment.
At least 2 years of related experience working in a medical field that includes sterile processing and medical device reprocessing.
At least 2 years of related experience training or precepting others, including documenting training and competency.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Proficiency with computer software applications such as Word, Outlook, and Excel.
Demonstrated commitment to principles of Service Excellence.
Experience working independently with minimal supervision.
Excellent organization skills and attention to detail.
Ability to collaborate and develop effective interpersonal relationships with nursing staff, medical staff, the CSS department, interdisciplinary teams, and other hospital departments.

Nice To Haves

Previous knowledge or experience with university policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Provide specialized clinical and technical education in sterile processing and high-level disinfection.
Provide expertise on complex surgical instrumentation and interpret manufacturers’ instructions for use (IFUs) to support compliance with facility equipment and procedures.
Conduct observation-based employee skill assessments and reprocessing observations to identify training gaps and process drift.
Recommend and participate in training and re-education solutions.
Perform or coordinate in-services with external company representatives in partnership with Operations leaders and Instrument Specialists.
Collaborate with the health care team on clinical and technical specifications related to cleaning, high-level disinfection, and sterilization of instruments, equipment, and supplies.
Support new-hire orientation for UI and agency staff in collaboration with HR, Administration, and Operations leadership.
Coordinate with Operations leaders to schedule new hires’ transitions to their shifts and locations.
Monitor timely and accurate completion of training and competency records with department Educators, Administration, Operations leadership, and HR.
Review and revise department competencies, training materials, SOPs, policies, and procedures with relevant colleagues to reflect evolving industry standards and best practices.
Review new-product IFUs to determine compatibility with available equipment, processes, policies, and procedures.
Plan change management with the team, including communication and operationalization of new processes, techniques, and products across CSS sites.
Maintain compliant, current staff-education records and document training and competency.
Stay current with applicable regulatory agency and professional association standards.
Provide guidance, coaching, and counseling to staff to help achieve outcomes.
Model professionalism and adapt to dynamic team needs through flexibility and effective communication.