Sterile Processing Technician - Day Shift

Decypher•Bethesda, MD

About The Position

The Sterile Processing Technician receives, inspects, decontaminates, and sterilizes reusable medical devices and surgical instruments. The technician selects appropriate cleaning and sterilization methods according to instructions for use (IFU), verifies instrument function and sterilization effectiveness, and ensures devices are assembled, labeled, packaged, and stored correctly. The role also prepares specialty trays, instrument sets, and case carts and responds to routine, special, and emergency supply requests across clinical areas. This position requires knowledge of microbiology, aseptic principles, detergents and cleaning techniques, sterilization methods and testing, packaging and storage, and the operation and assembly of surgical instruments and medical devices. The technician uses judgment to select processing methods, resolve minor equipment problems, and make supplies available in urgent situations. The schedule is 11:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in eight-hour shifts, with weekend and holiday rotation required. Compensation is up to $35.50 per hour plus H&W.

Requirements

Completion of a central sterile supply training course.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification.
Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification.
At least two continuous years of experience as a Sterile Processing Technician within the last four years.
Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English well enough to communicate effectively with all staff members.
U.S. citizenship is required.

Responsibilities

Receive, disassemble, and inspect reusable medical devices and surgical instruments for damage.
Determine appropriate decontamination and sterilization methods, removing gross contaminants through wiping, soaking, rinsing, scrubbing, and use of ultrasonic and washer-disinfecting equipment.
Operate cleaning and sterilizing equipment and inspect items after decontamination to confirm contaminants have been removed and instruments function properly.
Label and identify medical devices and instruments for the Main Operating Room, Labor and Delivery, wards, and clinics.
Assemble specialty trays and instrument sets for operating rooms, clinics, wards, and Labor and Delivery using inventory sheets.
Select appropriate wrapping and packaging materials for devices and instruments.
Select sterilization processes according to the IFU, including Hydrogen Peroxide (STERRAD and V-Pro), Ethylene Oxide, or steam sterilization.
Label and seal wrapped items with appropriate sterilization tape.
Monitor sterilizer operations using graphs, computer panels, Bowie-Dick tests, and biological spore challenge tests.
Ensure appropriate use of gravity displacement and cycles for specialty items.
Receive sterilized trays, loaners, instrument sets, and medical equipment; check sterilization integrity, including indicators and package dryness; and stock and store sterile items appropriately.
Complete Main Operating Room case cart requisition forms and fill special or emergency requests.
Use judgment to select cleaning methods and sterilization media, arrange instruments in trays, substitute for missing supplies, resolve minor equipment problems, and respond to emergency supply needs.