Sterile Processing Technician - Sterile Processing

Health First Careers•Palm Bay, FL

About The Position

Performs and maintains recommended standards for decontamination, assembly, inspection, packaging, and sterilization of instrumentation for surgical procedures. Provides timely distribution of equipment and supplies to patient care areas and collaborates with Perioperative Nursing staff to ensure sterile instrument sets, equipment, and case carts are accurate and available when needed. Maintains a consistent workflow and provides customer service.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Excellent customer service skills.
Basic computer skills.
Ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision.
Strong critical-thinking skills and ability to make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to read, understand, and apply HSPA, CBSPD, AAMI, and AORN standards and manufacturers’ equipment-use instructions.
Ability to plan and organize work in a timely manner with attention to detail.
Ability to flex work hours to meet departmental needs, including on-call rotation, weekend, and state-of-emergency coverage.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree.
Certification through HSPA (formerly IAHCSMM) or CBSPD.
One year of prior sterile processing experience.
Knowledge of basic and complex instrumentation.
Knowledge of HSPA, CBSPD, AAMI, and AORN standards.

Responsibilities

Process instrumentation and equipment according to applicable policies, aseptic technique principles, and HSPA, CBSPD, AAMI, and AORN standards.
Decontaminate, assemble, package, sterilize, and distribute instrumentation and equipment according to manufacturers’ instructions for use.
Navigate surgical software programs, including Censitrac, SCM, SSC, and Orchestrate.
Serve as a resource to clinical staff on instrumentation and equipment, and communicate with surgical team members and other associates to ensure timely delivery of supplies and equipment.
Coordinate with OR leadership and staff to ensure instrumentation supports daily surgical volume; maintain accurate inventory charge and credit records.
Organize and accurately assemble routine and specialty surgical instrumentation, case carts, and supplies using pick lists, instrument count sheets, and/or the case cart system.
Prepare supplies and instruments rapidly and accurately within limited time frames.
Operate cleaning and sterilization equipment, document efficacy testing and load contents, and troubleshoot equipment as needed.
Inspect equipment, instruments, and packaging for cleanliness, defects, malfunctions, and expiration dates; remove defective items from rotation and submit repair requests.
Perform routine physical monitoring and cleaning to ensure equipment and instrumentation function properly.
Follow regulatory requirements for fire and safety, sterilization, universal precautions, and documentation, including OSHA, FDA, CDC, TJC, CMS, and DOH requirements.