Sterile Processing Tech I - Sterile Processing - Full Time

Guthrie Enterprise•Cortland, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision and/or direction of the OR Nurse Manager, the Sterile Processing Tech I performs various duties assisting in the handling and processing of instrumentation/equipment and supplies. This role also involves the transport of patients, specimens, and supplies in accordance with established Hospital Policies and Procedures. The individual must understand and adhere to GCMC’s Compliance Standards, keeping abreast of all pertinent federal, state, and GCMC regulations, laws, and policies.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Ability to read, write, and comprehend medical terminology.
Must be able to demonstrate and follow proper hand hygiene.
Must be able to demonstrate and follow all hospital isolation protocol and procedures and utilize appropriate PPE.
Must be able to follow hospital infection control policies and procedures.
Maintains a neat and hazard free work area and reports any safety issue promptly to SPD Team Leader or OR Nurse manager.
Reports defective equipment, appropriately tags and remove equipment from service.

Nice To Haves

Completion of a medical assistant or sterile processing program preferred.
Certification as a Central Sterile Supply Technician per NYS Law preferred.
Experience in a medical / surgical setting a plus.
Previous experience as medical assistant or sterile processing technician preferred.
Knowledgeable on the operation of washer-decontaminator, ultrasonic cleaner, Steris, pasteurizer, and DSD machines, including adjusting and selecting correct cycles, running quality assurance testing and troubleshooting as needed.
Knowledgeable of OR special instrumentation and SPD instrumentation and equipment.
Maintains current knowledge of sterilization techniques including use of high level disinfecting agents such as Cidex OPA.
Selects correct method per instrument manufacturer’s instructions and perform QI testing and logs per manufacture instruction and hospital policy.
Can demonstrate working knowledge of ethylene oxide sterilization including correct handling, storage, and identification of packages which do not meet these requirements.
Knowledgeable on the operation of sterilizers, including adjusting and selecting correct cycles, running quality assurance testing and troubleshooting as needed.
Competent in counting and restocking emergency carts and totes to support the perioperative area and assist MM on weekends if needed in restocking these carts and totes.

Responsibilities

Provide safe and effective patient care in accordance with hospital Infection Control policy and procedures and adheres to AORN and AAMI standards.
Assume responsibility for decontamination, disinfection, and terminal sterilization of all contaminated instruments and equipment following AORN and AAMI standards.
Perform gross cleaning and decontaminates instruments and equipment utilizing correct cleaning solutions, and equipment for proper decontamination of instrument prior to sterilization.
Operate washer-decontaminator, ultrasonic cleaner, Steris, pasteurizer, and DSD machines, including adjusting and selecting correct cycles, running quality assurance testing and troubleshooting as needed.
Log all QI tests and strips as appropriate.
Identify, sort, inspect, and test all instruments prior to reassembly to assure instruments are free from defects and acceptable to return to use.
Utilize OR instrument instruction book and SPD procedure cards to correctly reassemble trays correctly.
Wrap trays and instruments using correct wrapping technique, including correct placement of sterilization integrators.
Ensure that items wrapped are labeled on the outside of the set to include initials of the person preparing the tray.
Demonstrate working knowledge of ethylene oxide sterilization including correct handling, storage, and identification of packages which do not meet these requirements.
Perform decontamination per schedule. Pick up dirty equipment and instruments and transport them safely to SPD for cleaning and inspection.
Clean, test, and assemble all equipment that is kept in SPD to ensure patient care equipment is cleaned in accordance with policies and is safe and available for use in a timely fashion.
Operate sterilizers, including adjusting and selecting correct cycles, running quality assurance testing and troubleshooting as needed.
Input biological test orders into Meditech and is able to interpret and accurately record results and log is complete at the end of every day and results are filed.
Perform routine supply replenishment duties to support the perioperative area.
Complete daily order for instruments and supplies and follows through with OR staff and/or OR charge nurse for resolution of shortages.
Exhibit consistency with timeliness of delivering daily supplies to assure availability for cases to be picked.
Check outdates in department as directed and removes them promptly, reprocesses, if necessary, and records these outdates in appropriate logs.
Make daily rounds for Operating Room in a timely manner to include Cafeteria, Linen, SPD, Pharmacy, Switchboard and other Service Departments.
Check oxygen tanks on stretchers and changes if needed.
Transport specimens to proper area in a timely and safe manner and according to policy and procedure.
Count and restock emergency carts and totes to support the perioperative area and assist MM on weekends if needed in restocking these carts and totes.
Perform routine duties independently and efficiently and as a team player.
Exhibit autonomy and self-motivation in performing daily work and projects as assigned.
Perform after-hours expectations of role and contributes to the smooth operation of the department.
Perform other duties as requested and observed by manager or supervisor.