Sterile Proc Tech - Covenant Health

Sterile Processing Technician

PRN/OCC, Varying hours per pay period, Varied shifts

With more than 30 specialties from Cardiology and Neurosurgery to Orthopedics and Vascular care, Methodist Medical Center was one of the first hospitals in East Tennessee to offer cutting-edge treatments and technologies that benefit people with life-threatening aneurysms, severely damaged knee, hip and shoulder joints, sudden heart failure, and non-healing wounds.

• 283 licensed beds
• 25 ICU beds
• 12 intermediate care beds
• 38 emergency suites
• 2 cath labs
• 8 LDRP suites
• Over 250 active and courtesy physicians
• Over 800 employees

Job Objectives:

Store, process and issue supplies and instruments for use in the operating room and clinical hospital departments.

Recruiter: Kathleen Rice || kkarnes@covhlth.com || 865-374-5386

• Cleans, decontaminates, assembles, and sterilizes instruments utilizing established antiseptic techniques.
• Operates and maintains washer decontamination unit and ultrasonic cleaner.
• Operates and maintains all sterilizers used within the sterile processing department and OR; maintains appropriate records in compliance with the Joint Commission standards, and assists with preparations for the Joint Commission inspections.
• Maintains routine biological readings on Steris for quality control.
• Provides sterile linen and instrumentation for all clinical departments.
• Assembles the supplies and instruments necessary for surgical cases.
• Responsible for putting away supplies and instruments and ensuring proper rotation of such.
• Assists with the supply replenishment process for the OR.
• Maintains and operates etcher for proper identification of instruments.
• Utilizes department computer programs to complete data entry and access reports for supply and instrument management functions.
• Communicates and renders assistance to nursing staff within the limits that their training and skills permit.
• Collects data for quality measurements.
• NON-ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Other duties as assigned.
• HEALTH/SAFETY/COMPETENCE: Cannot pose a direct threat to health or safety of self or others. Must provide safe, efficient, competent care to customer or patient population assigned.  Must demonstrate competency of the unit specific functions described in the performance continuum, skill lists and/or standards.

Education/Knowledge/Skills:

A high school diploma or its equivalent is required.  Additional training in the nursing field is preferred.  Working knowledge of aseptic technique is required.  Must be able to read with comprehension and write legibly.  Must be capable of understanding and following instructions provided on the proper care of surgical instruments, endoscopes, drills, and all items cleaned and processed for surgery.  Must possess critical thinking skills pertinent to the sterile processing environment.  Computer skills with hardware/software preferred.

For staff involved in the care of age-specific groups, knowledge of the bio-psychosocial needs of adult, geriatric and pediatric patients is essential.  Special knowledge is required in growth and development needs of pediatric/geriatric patients where applicable.

Experience:

Six months' previous experience in the workroom is preferred. SPD experience preferred but not required. Will be required to obtain HSPA certification 18 months post hire. 

Licensure/Certifications:

None is required.