Instrument Technician-Processing

UnityPoint Health•Waterloo, IA

About The Position

Instrument Tech – Sterile Processing UnityPoint Health - Allen Shift: Full-time; weekend, holiday, and on-call shifts on rotation Benefits Eligible As an Instrument Technician, you’ll play a vital role in keeping patients safe and supporting exceptional care throughout the hospital. You’ll be responsible for the full lifecycle of medical instruments and equipment—including decontamination, disinfection, inspection, assembly, and sterilization—while following rigorous infection‑control standards. We’re looking for someone who is: Detail‑driven and dependable , with a strong commitment to following precise procedures Calm under pressure and able to work efficiently in a fast‑paced, team-focused environment Professional and collaborative , working closely with clinical departments across the hospital Eager to learn , open to new ideas, and willing to grow within the role A problem-solver , able to troubleshoot issues, identify solutions, and communicate clearly with the Sterile Processing Leader If you take pride in meticulous work and want to make a meaningful impact behind the scenes of patient care, we’d love to meet you! Why UnityPoint Health? At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members. Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few: Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program . Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members. Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family . With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together. And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience. Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

Requirements

Education: High school graduate or equivalent Internal applicants within UPH-Allen, in good standing, with two years of hospital experience will be considered in place of high school diploma.
Experience: Previous experience in Sterile Processing preferred
Other: Must read, write, speak, and comprehend English fluently to read manufacturer’s instructions, sterilization records and all other documentation pertinent to Sterile Processing Department (SPD).
Microsoft Office-basic computer skills.
Critical thinking skills using independent judgement in making decisions.
Ability of flexibility in accepting assignments and works well as a team member and individual.

Responsibilities

Assembles all instrument procedure trays using protocol content lists as a guide.
Decontaminates instruments, equipment & all other devices per manufacturer guidelines.
Ensures items needing repair are removed from service and delivered to the SPD office.
Communicates effectively with all customers and staff.
Sterilizes instruments, equipment and supplies in various types of autoclaves and sterrad machines.
Loads autoclaves and sterrad machines in prescribed manner and sets controls to specified time and temperature according to the type of items being sterilized.
Completes appropriate documentation records prior to sterilization.
Demonstrates knowledge of medical/surgical procedure and terminology.
Applies aseptic techniques in daily work assignments.
Performs general cleaning of department surface areas, racks, shelves, storage cabinets, all storage areas, and equipment.
Maintains assigned work areas and equipment in a clean and organized condition to maintain required standards for the handling of sterilized and clean materials and equipment.
Demonstrates a cooperative, courteous and dependable work performance.
Performs other related duties that may be assigned.
Demonstrates basic knowledge of equipment operation and maintenance.
Demonstrates knowledge of infection control principles and Spaulding’s classifications.
Expresses knowledge of chemical disinfectants and can access MSDS.
Demonstrates knowledge of washer decontamination equipment and can function independently in the decontamination area.
Demonstrates knowledge of instrument names and the care and handling of instruments, tray preparation and special procedure items.
Demonstrates ability to access and utilize OneSource website for manufacturer’s instructions for use documents.
Demonstrates knowledge of sterilizing procedures and biological monitoring and documentation of the steam and sterrad sterilizers.
Demonstrates ability to access and utilize RL Events site.
Maintains a 3% or less error rate.