Central Sterile Technician, Certified

Full Time, 30-40 hours

Monday- Friday, 8:30-4:30pm, may include some weekends.

Benefited position after 60 day waiting period.

Job Summary: The certified registered central service technician works under the supervision of the Director of Surgery. The certified central service technician is a member of the surgical team, is responsible for cleaning, decontaminating, sterilizing, assembling, and distributing medical devices and surgical instruments to prevent patient infection. The certified registered central service technician works in the surgical sterile processing department, operating autoclaves, inspecting instruments for damage, and maintaining strict quality control records to meet infection control standards.

Responsible for the delivery of safe, effective, organized, and quality centered care of all instrumentation in the surgery department, other areas of perioperative services, and for all departments and areas served in the clinics and hospital.

o Sterilization, disinfection, and antisepsis

o Principles of asepsis and sterile technique

o Environmental safety (e.g., electrical hazards, radiation and laser precautions)

o Strict adherence to infection control standards and usage of personal protective equipment such as masks, gowns, and gloves.

o Preparation, inspection, and care of surgical supplies and equipment

o Establishment and maintenance of a sterile field

o Appropriate instrumentation, suturing materials, needles, prosthetic devices and other supplies

o Complications of surgical procedures

o Emergency procedures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and malignant hyperthermia.

o Legal, moral, and ethical responsibilities

o Effective communications and interpersonal relationships

o Cost-containment measures

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as a patient advocate and maintain privacy and confidentiality of individuals and health information
• Complete duties and care in a timely and efficient manner Assists with the orientation and education of staff and students
• Shares knowledge with other staff and students as appropriate
• Training new staff as needed.
• Maintains current clinical knowledge and skills through recertifications, in-services, workshops and/or seminars.
• Adherence to a code of professional behavior that will reflect the ethical, legal, and moral responsibilities of each individual health care practitioner
• Provide a safe, efficient, and supportive environment for the surgical team.
• Function efficiently and in a professional manner in all aspects of duties, during both routine and special duties and tasks. Prepare and know the specific uses of all equipment and supplies used for surgical procedures.
• Differentiate sterilization methods required for specific instruments and equipment.
• Develop and improve skills in the organization of work by learning to use economy in time, motion, and materials.
• Identify emergency situations and use sound judgement in instituting established procedures to respond to emergencies in a calm and efficient manner.
• Demonstrate initiative in expanding knowledge of new surgical procedures/instrumentation, and clinic settings instrumentation needs and instruments.

EDUCATION:

• High school graduate or equivalent.
• Completion of the required hands-on hours (usually 400 hours) to obtain full certification
• Basic Computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel)

EXPERIENCE:

• Preferred but willing to train the right candidate

CERTIFICATION REQUIRED:

• Basic Life Support Certification (BLS)
• Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification, usually granted by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA)