Sterile Processing Technician (Evenings)

The Sterile Processing Department is the department within a health care facility in which medical/surgical instruments are decontaminated (cleaned) prepared, processed, sterilized, and issued for patient use.
Education
High School Diploma or GED
Qualifications

• Dependable, honest, and shows integrity in all aspects of the job.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• General knowledge of the computer.
• Must receive sterile process certification within 2 years from hire.
• Pleasant professional demeanor when dealing with customers and coworkers.
• Preferred experience includes six months of experience working in a healthcare environment.

Area of Responsibilities

• Employee accepts responsibility for reported errors and makes improvements to work practices to alleviate the error. Errors that are not easily detected may adversely affect external as well as internal relationships and may result in major expenditures for materials, or procedures detrimental to the patient's welfare or hospital's interest.
• Employee assumes responsibility for professional development staying abreast of new developments in the field of Sterile Processing. Complies with changes needed to stay current with regulations and recommended practices. Actively participates in process improvement initiatives to improve quality for services provided.
• Employee is able to make independent decisions in the absence of the manager using sound judgment and following department policy and procedures.
• Employee is capable of completing all assigned tasks in an efficient and competent manner, seeking assistance as needed. Must rotate to decontamination, assembly, and the sterilization areas with the ability to operate all equipment observing safety and security procedures, completing all necessary documentation accurately, and monitoring own work to ensure a quality product for our customers.
• Job requires contact with others where teamwork is essential, requiring tact in order to obtain cooperation. Employee contributes to a positive team spirit by maintaining a positive and courteous attitude toward all coworkers and our customers and abides by Surgical Services Standards of Behavior. Assists fellow employees as needed.
• Ability to utilize the instrument management system and complete documentation with accuracy.
• Adheres to the hospital's infection control and prevention policies.
• Attendance requirements and punctuality are maintained by the employee.
• Completes daily and weekly departmental cleaning assignments.
• Employee must be able to perform under stress in daily assignments, adapt to frequent change in the work environment and maintain adequate functionality in emergency situations.
• Job requires application of knowledge in a technical manner relative to a specific field using various procedures and techniques to assure proper handling of delicate instruments and equipment and assure sterility of processed materials. Must be able to perform job with accuracy with multiple distractions.
• May obtain certification in Sterile Processing upon completion of all required criteria for the certification body.
• Monitors technical aspects of sterilization and reports unacceptable findings to the manager.
• Participates in hospital sponsored net learning.
• Requires the ability to read and understand a variety of informational documentation, directions, instructions, methods and procedures and be able to perform functions
• Show initiative in learning new procedures and accomplishes procedure with accuracy in a timely manner.
• Work assignments require planning and arranging own work to accomplish definite objectives.

Compliance Statement
Employee performs within the prescribed limits of Tanner Health System's Ethics and Compliance program. Is responsible to detect, observe, and report compliance variances to their immediate supervisor, the Compliance Officer, or the Hotline.
Education
High School Diploma or GED
Experience
No prior work experience required
Licenses & Certifications

• NONE REQUIRED

Supervision

• None

Qualifications

• Debendable, honest, and shows integrity in all aspects of job.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• General knowledge of the computer.
• Must receive sterile process certification within 2 year from hire.
• Pleasant professional demeanor when dealing with customers and coworkers.
• Preferred experience includes six months experience working in a healthcare environment.

Definitions

• The Sterile Processing Department is the department within a health care facility in which medical/surgical instruments are decontaminated (cleaned) prepared, processed, sterilized, and issued for patient use.

Contact With Others
Requires frequent contact with many persons at different levels inside and outside of the organization to carry out organization policies and programs and obtain willing acceptance, consent, or action.
Effect Of Error
Probable errors not easily detected and may adversely affect external as well as internal relationships and may result in major expenditures for equipment, materials, or procedures detrimental to the patient's welfare or the organization's interest. Work is subject to general review only and requires considerable accuracy and responsibility. Continually works with reports, records, plans, and programs of a major functional area of the organization where integrity is required to safeguard the organization's position. Duties may involve the preparation of data on which the administration bases important decisions and are highly confidential.
Supervisory Responsibility
Exercises no supervision, work direction, or instruction of other employees or students
Mental Demands
Work involves a variety of problems in a general field, some of which are complex. Involves some independent judgment to decide what to do to assemble facts, determine variations from standard procedures, or plan other action to be taken to meet general objectives.
Physical Effort
Medium physical effort - Lifts, carries, or handles lightweight (1 to 25 lbs.) materials or equipment for most of the day. Occasional physical effort with medium weight objects (25-60 lbs.). Very occasional physical effort with heavy objects (over 60 lbs.).Works in reaching or strained positions for about half of day.
Working Conditions
Considerable - (About 75% of the day) Involved in exposure to dirt, odors, noise, or some work is performed with exposure to temperature/weather extremes/occupational risk and probability of coming into contact with blood borne pathogens, other potentially infectious diseases, or biomedical/bio-hazardous materials.
Working Conditions Aspects For Immunizations

• Performs tasks involving contact with blood, blood-contaminated body fluids, other body fluids, or sharps (needles)

Physical Aspects
Continually (at least once per day)

• Typing
• Manual Dexterity - picking, pinching With fingers etc.
• Feeling (Touch) - determining temperature, texture, by touching
• Hearing
• Visual
• Color Vision
• Speaking
• Standing
• Lifting up To 25 lbs.
• Handling - seizing, holding, grasping
• Carrying

Frequently (at least 3 times a week)

• Bending
• Reaching - above shoulder
• Reaching - below shoulder
• Balancing
• Walking
• Smelling
• Pushing/Pulling - up To 25 lbs.
• Pushing/Pulling - 25 To 60 lbs.
• Pushing/Pulling - over 60 lbs.

Occasionally (at least once a month)

• Running - In response To an emergency
• Lifting 25 To 60 lbs.
• Lifting over 60 lbs.
• Kneeling
• Squatting