SPD TECH- STERILE PROCESSING (FT Afternoons)

Riverside Healthcare is seeking a detail-oriented and dedicated Sterile Processing Technician to join our team in Kankakee, Illinois. The Sterile Processing Technician is responsible for ensuring that all surgical instruments and equipment are properly cleaned, sterilized, and prepared for use in surgical procedures. This role is critical to maintaining a safe and sterile environment for our patients and healthcare professionals.

Scheduling Requirements

3pm-11:30pm

Essential Duties

• Instrument Sterilization: Clean, decontaminate, and sterilize surgical instruments and equipment according to established procedures and standards.
• Equipment Inspection: Inspect surgical instruments and equipment for proper function and cleanliness, identifying and reporting any damages or malfunctions.
• Inventory Management: Assemble and organize surgical instrument trays, ensuring all necessary instruments are available for surgical procedures.
• Record Keeping: Maintain accurate records of sterilization processes, including biological and chemical indicators, to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Collaboration: Work closely with surgical teams, operating room staff, and other healthcare professionals to meet the needs of the surgical schedule and ensure the timely availability of sterile instruments.
• Adherence to Protocols: Follow all infection control protocols, safety guidelines, and hospital policies to minimize the risk of contamination and ensure patient safety.
• Flexibility: Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure.

Non-essential Duties

• Inventory Restocking: Assist with restocking supplies and maintaining the cleanliness of the sterile processing area.
• Continuing Education: Participate in ongoing training and education opportunities to stay current with industry best practices and advancements in sterile processing technology.
• Cross-Departmental Support: Provide occasional support to other departments as needed, including assisting with supply management and equipment distribution.

Preferred Experience

• Previous SPD Tech experience a plus

Required Licensure/Education

• High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred Education

• CRCST or CSPDT preferred

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements

Exposure to: 

• Chemicals: ETO, Hydrogen peroxide, Cidex, and enzymatic cleaner, pre-soak, instrument bath, Ethylene Oxide, glutaraldehyde and phenolic. 
• Video Display Terminals: Average 
• Blood and Body Fluids: Sharps, contaminated linen, contaminated instruments 
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: Very limited. Possible during unit rounds.

Sensory requirements: (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

• Speech: Answer phones communicate with peers, OR staff, nursing units or other hospital departments. 
• Vision: To be able to wrap packages, monitor sterilizers and indicators for proper cycle completion. Accurately dispense items. 
• Smell: To detect hazardous odors. 
• Hearing: Phone, doorbell, alarms on sterilizers. 
• Touch: To distinguish between hot and cold

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 5%
• Twist: 10%
• Stand: 75%
• Crawl: 0%
• Walk: 20%
• Kneel: 10%
• Lift: 60%
• Drive: 0%
• Squat: 10%
• Climb: 5%
• Bend: 5%
• Reach above shoulders: 2%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

• Up to 10 lbs.: Frequently
• Up to 20 lbs.: Frequently
• Up to 35 lbs.: Frequently
• Up to 50 lbs.: Occasionally
• Up to 75 lbs.: Not Required
• Up to 100 lbs.: Not Required
• Over 100 lbs.: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements.

• Lift boxes off-loading pallet, carry 3'-4'; boxes of water approximately 2'; no higher than 18' off ground. 
• Putting supplies away, lifting overhead to re-stock shelves; weight is no more than 3- 4#, raised head high for items higher than that a stepstool is used.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

• Sit: 30
• Twist: 5
• Stand: 120
• Crawl: 0
• Walk: 20
• Kneel: 5
• Lift: 5
• Drive: 0
• Squat: 5
• Climb: 2
• Bend: 5
• Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated)

• Simple grasp up to 10 lbs. 
• Normal weight:<10# continuous>
• Pushing &pulling Normal weight: 10-30# frequently
• Fine Manipulation: Writing, keyboard on computer frequently
• Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control:

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards

• Environmental Factors (Time Spent):
• Inside hours: 8.5
• Outside hours:
• Temperature: Normal Range
• Lighting: Average
• Noise levels: Average
• Humidity: Normal Range
• Atmosphere:
• Special Hazards: Chemical, Other: Ethylene Oxide, Hydrogen Peroxide, Chemical used for cleaning, decontamination, soaking of instruments, gluteraldyhyde, and phenolic.
• Protective Clothing Required: scrubs/hats/masks-handling rec. processed ETO items. Eye prot.-cleaning STERRAD H2O2 inject. port. Gloves-removing items from STERRAD full protect.-anticipate splash in decontam.