Sterile Processing Technician
Sterile processing technicians are medical equipment preparers responsible for preventing the spread of disease by sterilizing and preparing medical equipment. Technicians are employed in various healthcare settings, including hospitals and outpatient surgical centers. The primary department within a healthcare facility where sterile and non-sterile medical-surgical supplies and equipment are decontaminated, processed, sterilized, stored, and used to treat patients.
Available in:
CA
Length of Study
14- 16 weeks
Career Level
Gateway/Entry Level
Delivery Type
Hybrid, Asynchronous/Synchronous
Duties
- Clean and sterilized instruments and equipment for medical exams, surgeries, medical carts, and clinical procedures Sterilizing, wrapping, and organizing medical equipment and surgical instruments for clinical procedures.
- Laying out surgical gloves and gowns before each medical procedure Collecting and manually cleaning used and contaminated medical equipment, supplies and instruments for sorting and decontamination
- Preparing and packing decontaminated medical tools and supplies for sterilization
- Operating and monitoring sterilization equipment
- Examining supplies meticulously to ensure their cleanliness
- Checking and reporting any problems or issues with the sterilization equipment to surgeons or supervisors and requesting replacements
- Maintaining records of sterilization procedures, equipment maintenance, sterilized items, and supplies
- Reordering medical and surgical supplies, controlling the inventory, and checking the expiration dates of products Removing medical waste and then disposing of them appropriately
- Other duties as assigned with the scope of practice
Career Opportunities
Technicians in sterile processing can advance to Certified Sterile Processing Tech I and II and then to a leadership or supervisory position. With additional education and training, a Sterile Processing Technician can advance to the position of Surgical Technician.
Day in the Life
A sterile processing technician has a big responsibility. Your job is cleaning, sterilizing, reassembling, packaging, storing, and labeling surgical instruments. You may also sterilize, clean, and maintain operating rooms, tables, and equipment. Each instrument part must be cleaned and sanitized. Every screw, hinge, tube, and crevice must be sanitized at high temperatures. For patient safety and surgical effectiveness, each piece must be reassembled properly. Instruments are returned to the manufacturer for disposal or melting if they are rust prone.
Job Outlook
California has a projected growth of 11 percent between 2020-2030, with a median annual salary of $58,640.
Disclaimer: Futuro Health reserves the right to change or update program requirements and qualifications at any time.