Sterile Processing Technician

Sterile Processing Technician I

The Sterile Processing Technician I cleans, prepares, sterilizes, and stores surgical instruments and equipment to support a wide range of surgical and clinical services. This role focuses primarily on decontamination, ensuring that all instruments are processed safely and efficiently in accordance with departmental policies and regulatory standards. The technician also supports operating room operations by preparing case carts, distributing instruments, and maintaining a strong patient- and customer-focused approach while upholding strict quality, safety, and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily sterile processing functions with primary assignments in decontamination and secondary assignments in instrument staging and preparation as needed.
• Clean, inspect, assemble, sterilize, and distribute surgical instruments and trays in accordance with departmental policies, regulatory standards, and infection control guidelines.
• Apply detailed knowledge of instrumentation handling, tray assembly, and special procedural items to ensure accuracy, completeness, and quality of all sets.
• Assemble surgical trays processed by the department when required, following standardized configurations and count sheets.
• Utilize sterilization and infection control principles to properly decontaminate instruments and equipment, ensuring safe handling and processing at all times.
• Dispense equipment and instrumentation to surgical areas and other clinical departments as needed to support patient care.
• Restock carts, complete case cart picking, and assist with operating room turnover to ensure timely readiness for surgical procedures.
• Perform put-aways of instruments, supplies, and equipment into appropriate storage locations, maintaining organization and inventory accuracy.
• Operate department equipment, including cart washers, decontaminators, ultrasonic equipment, computers, scanners, and related tools in a safe and efficient manner.
• Conduct routine instrument and equipment quality checks to identify damage, missing components, or maintenance needs, and escalate issues appropriately.
• Document required activities accurately and promptly using Epic and other designated systems.
• Maintain a strong patient- and customer-focused approach in all interactions with surgical, clinical, and support staff.
• Adhere to strict quality, safety, and compliance standards, including aseptic technique, decontamination protocols, and sterilization best practices.
• Collaborate with team members to support a high-volume sterile processing department serving multiple operating rooms, specialty services, and clinics.
• Work effectively with vendor-supplied instrument trays, ensuring proper handling, tracking, and processing.

Essential Skills

• Sterile processing experience with a minimum of 5+ years in a sterile processing role.
• Proficiency in instrumentation processing and sterilization, including decontamination, assembly, and packaging of surgical instruments and trays.
• Demonstrated experience in acute care settings, with knowledge of sterilization, decontamination, and aseptic technique.
• Ability to apply sterilization and infection control principles consistently in daily work.
• Experience working in a Level II trauma center or similar high-acuity facility.
• Ability to operate sterile processing equipment such as cart washers, decontaminators, ultrasonic cleaners, and related tools.
• Competence in using computers, scanners, and electronic documentation systems, including Epic, for tracking and recording sterile processing activities.
• Strong attention to detail and quality, with the ability to perform routine instrument and equipment quality checks.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• National certification in sterile processing, such as CBSPD or HSPA (IAHCSMM/HSPA).
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through the American Heart Association.
• Travel experience as a sterile processing professional within the last year.
• Ability to maintain a patient- and customer-focused mindset while working under strict quality and safety standards.
• Capability to achieve and maintain a rating of 3 or above in robotics instrumentation handling.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting a broad range of surgical specialties, including robotics.
• Familiarity with sterile processing for multiple environments, such as surgical operating rooms, labor and delivery operating rooms, cath lab, and outpatient clinics.
• Experience working with vendor instrument trays from manufacturers such as Stryker, Zimmer, Medtronic, Depuy, and other major vendors.
• Comfort working primarily in decontamination while flexing to other sterile processing functions as needed.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills to collaborate effectively with operating room and clinical staff.
• Ability to adapt to varying shift schedules, including day and night shifts, and to manage workload in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Reliability and professionalism appropriate for a 13-week travel…