Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing)

Veterans Health Administration • North Chicago, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Medical Supply Technician (Sterile Processing) performs work involving the decontamination, preparation, sterilization, high-level disinfection, and transportation of clean and soiled reusable medical devices (RMD), as well as preparation of case carts. The position processes reusable medical equipment and instruments received from hospital wards, clinics, operating rooms, and community-based outpatient clinics. Work includes assembling instrument trays and sets for medical procedures, including intricate surgical trays and microsurgery instruments used in the operating room.

The technician disassembles reusable equipment and selects cleaning methods according to manufacturer instructions; inspects and assembles equipment; and determines appropriate sterilization methods and packaging. The position also maintains instrument and equipment stock, rotates supplies, and cleans medical equipment and work areas to prevent cross-contamination. The full performance level is GS-06; applicants may be selected from GS-03 through GS-06.

The work takes place in decontamination, preparation, clean sterile supply, and other areas throughout a medical facility. Conditions may include hot, cold, drafty, poorly lighted, and noisy environments, and regular transitions between contaminated and controlled clean areas. The technician wears special clothing and personal protective equipment, handles sterilizer carts with insulated gloves, and may encounter body fluids, tissue, strong odors, sterilizing gases, hot items, and material-handling hazards. The schedule is Monday through Friday on one of two night shifts: 3:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., with on-call weekends and holidays.

Requirements

• Must be a United States citizen, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizen appointments when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
• Must be proficient in spoken and written English.
• Must meet the basic experience and/or education requirement: six months of qualifying experience; one year of post-high-school education including at least six semester hours in health-care-related courses; or an equivalent combination.
• For GS-04, qualifying experience or education is required, including six months of relevant experience or two years of post-high-school education with at least 12 semester hours related to the occupation.
• For GS-05, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade or qualifying four-year education leading to a bachelor's degree with at least 12 related semester hours, or a bachelor's degree, is required.
• For GS-06, one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade is required.
• Demonstrate applicable knowledge of universal precautions, cross-contamination prevention, medical terminology, surgical instruments, sterilization and cleaning equipment, packaging and sterility principles, and the relevant medical sciences, according to the grade level.
• Be able to communicate orally and in writing, read and interpret instructions and procedures, and manipulate, disassemble, and assemble instruments with the required dexterity and visual acuity.
• Must complete applicable background/security investigation, onboarding, identification, application-document, and other pre-employment requirements; drug testing may apply to testing-designated positions.
• Must participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program.
• Must serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
• Must meet the position's physical demands, including standing and walking throughout the workday, frequent bending and lifting packages, occasionally weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Transcripts are required at application when education is used to establish qualifications.

Nice To Haves

• One to two years of sterilization processing experience.

Responsibilities

• Disassemble reusable medical equipment and select appropriate cleaning methods in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
• Inspect and assemble reusable equipment and select appropriate sterilization methods and packaging.
• Perform decontamination, preparation, sterilization, and high-level disinfection of reusable medical devices and instruments.
• Receive reusable medical equipment, instruments, and supplies from hospital wards, clinics, operating rooms, and community-based outpatient clinics.
• Assemble instrument trays and sets for medical procedures, including intricate operating-room surgical trays and microsurgery instruments.
• Prepare operating-room case carts.
• Rotate sterile supplies, remove outdated supplies, and maintain stock levels of surgical instruments and equipment for wards, clinics, and the operating room.
• Clean and maintain medical equipment, sterilizers, aerators, carts, work areas, and storage shelves using specified chemical solutions, detergents, and alcohol to prevent cross-contamination.
• Perform and document daily operational checks and records for sterilization equipment at the full-performance level.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and regular salary increases; a higher step rate may be considered for higher or unique qualifications or agency special needs.
• 37–50 days of annual paid time off per year, including 13–26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, and 11 paid federal holidays.
• Eligible employees may receive credit toward annual leave accrual based on prior work or military service.
• Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after 12 months of employment in connection with a child's birth, adoption, or foster-care placement.
• Eligible full-time employees may qualify for a childcare subsidy after 60 days of employment, subject to income and other eligibility limits.
• Traditional federal pension with five-year vesting and a federal 401(k) with up to 5% in VA contributions.
• Federal health, vision, dental, term life, and long-term care insurance; many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED