Central Sterile Tech (certified tech preferred) in Central Sterile, Full-Time 1 p.m - 9:30 p.m. M-F

The Central Supply Technician performs decontamination and sterilization of surgical equipment and instrumentation for the operating room, outpatient department, other hospital departments and physician offices. Additional functions include cleaning surgical suites, cleaning and packaging instrumentation, pulling supplies for surgical cases, and re-stock OR suites and sub sterile rooms.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Certified Central Sterile Tech preferred.

Experience: Previous hospital or health care experience preferred.

Reports To: Central Sterile Supervisor; Director of Surgical Services

Other Contacts: Surgeons, Surgical Services Personnel, Hospital Personnel, Physician Offices, Patients and Patient’s families.

Machinery or Equipment Used: Supply carts, sterilizers, autoclaves, centrifuge, ultra-sonic cleaner, steam water distiller, heat sealer, washer sterilizer and scope cleaner.

Physical Demands: Prolonged standing/walker with minimal sitting for inserting photos into the computer system, logging information into appropriate books. Use of both hands to clean, sterilize, wrap, label and store equipment. May sit briefly when doing surgical set ups, following color coded diagram. Sustained stooping is required for endoscopic cleaning. Occasional: squatting, bending/stooping, crouching, and overheard reaching when putting equipment and instrumentation away and pulling cases. Balancing required when reaching overhead, when wearing booties due to floor surface and with exposure to occasional wetness on the floors. Exposed to occasional awkward body positions when cleaning rooms. Handling of equipment weighing 20-40 lbs. Book Walter retractor (40 lbs) located at 36 and 41 inches on storage racks, spider foot piece (30 lbs) must be lifted from the floor and is awkward to handle . Frequent pushing/pulling to move furniture when cleaning rooms, move carts including autoclave headers (hand height 42-43 inches) and to pass/retrieve equipment and instrumentation between the decontamination room and the sterile supply room. Handling if equipment weighing up to 20 lbs. Reaching is required for both hands when re-stocking rooms, putting sterilized equipment/instrumentation away and pulling cases for the next day. Heights of reach vary from waist level (work table 36 inches) to 10 inches off the floor for the bottom shelf on storage racks to 67 inches at the highest shelf. Pinching and light gripping are necessary to wrap sterile instrumentation/equipment.

Working Conditions: Climate controlled at 60 degrees F. Frequent exposure to blood borne pathogens and infectious materials. Occasional slippery floor conditions. Moderate noise level when autoclave and washer are running simultaneously. Slight potential for exposure to ethylene oxide during autoclaving instruments/equipment that cannot be steamed. Also exposed to peroxyacetic acid 35% (Steris 20), glutoraldehyde and bleach.

Required Protective Equipment: PPE indicated during decontamination and sterilization procedures. Sterile environment must be maintained. Full face shield with mask when indicated, gloves, hair nets, booties, uniform, bear net (for med), thermal gloves for handling autoclave header when taking hot, sterile objects from autoclave.

1. Clean instruments to prepare and process them for sterilization

Operate and maintain steam autoclaves, keeping records of loads completed, items in load, and maintenance procedures performed

Organize and assemble routine or specialty surgical instrument trays or other sterilized supplies, filling special requests as needed

Examine equipment to detect leaks, worn or loose parts, or other indications of disrepair

Report defective equipment to appropriate supervisors or staff

2. Check sterile supplies to ensure that they are not outdated

Purge wastes from equipment by connecting equipment to water sources and flushing water through systems

Prepare case carts according to preference cards

3. Communicates with patients, team members, and management in an accurate and timely manner evidenced by:

Talks with and listens to team members

Reports pertinent, concise information Report equipment issues to proper channels

Report equipment issues to proper channels

Completes timely documentation

Protects confidentiality of colleagues

Collaborates with appropriate staff to orient new employees

4. Applies critical thinking skills and considers alternatives

Organizes multitask workload

Prioritizes tasks/work

Seeks assistance appropriately

5. Manages self and resources effectively

Acknowledges limits of experience and capability

Utilizes equipment and supplies appropriately Regularly assess instrument inventory to ensure adequate par levels to support surgical cases Monitors sterilizing equipment autoclaves for optimum working order

Regularly assess instrument inventory to ensure adequate par levels to support surgical cases

Monitors sterilizing equipment autoclaves for optimum working order

Maintain clean, orderly environment of care

Ensures traffic control in "service areas"

Performs tasks in a safe manner according to all policies/procedures

6. Demonstrates the unit specific skills requisite for performance

See unit specific competencies

Adheres to AAMI standards for sterilizing and disinfecting instrumentation and equipment for OR and OPD

Processes instrumentation appropriately: sorts, wraps, sterilizes

Disperses OR linen supply daily

Manages case cart system for daily surgical cases in CR by pulley supplies, instrumentation and equipment needed for those case Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Northwestern Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace that values diversity, inclusion, and belonging. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Northwestern Medical Center is dedicated to fostering a respectful, inclusive, and supportive work environment where all employees have the opportunity to contribute, grow, and succeed. We encourage qualified individuals from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process. Applicants requiring accommodation are encouraged to contact Human Resources for assistance.

#IND123