Sterile Processing Technician (SPD Tech) || PRN

Summary/Objective:

The Sterile Processing Technician is responsible for infection prevention and patient safety by ensuring all instruments and equipment are processed according to established standards, policies, and manufacturer instructions for use. The Sterile Processing Technician (SPD Tech) is responsible for including but not limited to the decontamination, inspection, assembly, packaging, sterilization, storage, and distribution of reusable medical instruments, equipment, and supplies used throughout the hospital.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Critical Competency –

1. Collects, receives, cleans, disinfects, and decontaminates instruments, supplies and equipment according to hospital policies and procedures, AORN recommendations, AAMI guidelines and DNV requirements.
2. Inspects surgical instruments, medical equipment and detect needs for repair or replacement; inspects for cleanliness, assembles, wraps or containerizes instruments and equipment.
3. Sterilizes instruments, equipment and supplies as required; handles and stores instruments, equipment and supplies appropriately.
4. Monitors sterilizers and equipment mechanically, biologically, and chemically in accordance with quality assurance standards and performance improvement standards.
5. Maintains established departmental policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, safety, environmental and infection control standards, patient rights and ethics, performance improvement, management of information, management of human resources and leadership.

Safety/ Infection Control –

1. Utilizes proper body mechanics as instructed and requests help when needed.
2. Responds to emergency codes per policy and procedure.
3. Follows established standards (universal) and safety precautions in the performance of all duties.
4. Reports all violations, completes incident reports in a timely manner.

Equipment and Maintenance –

1. Utilizes equipment properly to obtain quality reading.
2. Notifies RN or manager of malfunctioning equipment.
3. Maintains adequate stock of supplies and equipment for unit.
4. Cleans and maintains equipment in accordance with policies and procedures.
5. Operates equipment in a safe manner and reports any defects according to policy and procedure.

Professional Development and Accountability –

1. Develops goals related to job performance and follows through with appropriate action.
2. Shows initiative by volunteering for unit-specific projects.
3. Is involved in unit specific PI projects.
4. Attends a minimum of 75% of scheduled staff meetings and mandatory in-services.
5. Assists in orientation and education of personnel as requested.
6. Supports department and unit goals through daily behaviors and active participation in unit activities.
7. Willing to float to other areas as the need arises and does so in a positive and helpful manner.
8. Performs all care using caring attitude, tact, sensitivity, sound judgment and a professional attitude when relating with patients, families, visitors and personnel.
9. Assists Operating Room personnel with instrument availability and turnover needs as assigned.
10. Reports equipment malfunctions, quality concerns, and process variances to leadership promptly.
11. Participates in quality improvement activities, competency assessments, and continuing education programs.
12. Observes cost cutting measures and recommends cost saving ideas
13. Complies with HIPAA regulations.
14. Performs other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

1. Customer/Patient Safety Focus.
2. Ethical conduct.
3. Flexibility
4. Thoroughness
5. Time Management.
6. Initiative
7. Personal Effectiveness/Credibility.
8. Stress Management/Composure.
9. Teamwork Orientation.
10. Technical Capacity.
11. Quality Focus.

Supervisory Responsibility:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles and some mechanical equipment.  The employee is occasionally exposed to a variety of patient conditions and elements.  The noise level is moderate to quiet.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and listen.

This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day.  The employee must frequently lift or move objects and patients weighing over 50 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a PRN (as needed) position in a health care facility open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  Rotating shifts as well as holiday and weekend are required.  Working during inclement weather will be required.  Shifts may vary, but working hours may be up to approximately 12 hours.

As PRN, this position requires working at least two shift per month.

Travel:

No travel is expected for this position.

Required Education and Experience:

1. Prefer High School diploma or GED.
2. Current, valid AHA Healthcare Provider training (BCLS/ BLS).
3. At least two years’ experience working operating room environment / sterile processing.
4. Sterile Processing Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC), Certified Sterile Processor, CRCST - Cert Reg Central Service Tech, CSPDT - Cert Sterile Proc & Distribution Tech, Ophthalmology / Cataract instrument sterilization

Additional Eligibility Requirements:

1. None required.

At Will Statement:

Monroe County Hospital is considered at will.  “At will” means that you may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or advance notice. “At will” also means that Monroe County Hospital may terminate employment at any time, with or without cause or advance notice, as long as federal and state laws are not violated.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee of the job.  Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.