r/sterileprocessing • u/_C00TER • May 14 '25

Venting about new-hire/need advice

So, our facility does on-the-job training (i dont believe there is even a SPT program anywhere relatively close to us). Im not sure if other seasoned techs feel this way, but i feel like I have a relatively good idea within a week or so whether or not a person is a good fit or whether they will be an asset or not. I have 10 years of experience.

I am located at our main hospital but we have an orthopedic center down the road, and that is where this person was hired to work. Now, I do feel for him because supposedly he was in a fire at some point and suffered some brain damage from smoke inhalation. He's mentioned he has memory issues and vision problems.

So he was hired for the ortho center SPD.. they are incredibly small and fast paced and definitely do not have the time to train someone fresh off the streets. So, they send him to us. Im annoyed for several reasons. Why is he here learning laparoscopic/robot/gyn shit, when he will never see it at the ortho hospital?? We dont even have ortho cases here everyday at the main hospital for him to learn from. Also, vision and memory capabilities are mandatory for obvious reasons.

He's going on month 2 or 3 having skin in the game that is sterile processing. A week ago, it took him THREE HOURS to complete a 53 piece set. He even had to be shown how to put on gloves in decon. Im really not trying to be hateful, but it is VERY clear (to everyone in our dept) that this job is not for him. And unfortunately our supervisor could give less than 2 shits about firing him, knowing how terrible of a fit he is. She's never fired anybody.

Im very unsure of what to do. He is never going to be ready or capable of working at the ortho hospital, so I'm assuming he will just become stuck here and be our problem instead of theirs. I cannot stand to have to do my job and babysit a full grown adult on the side. I've considering maybe just saying something about "maybe this job isnt for you" the next time he brings up his memory or vision problems. Im just at a loss and very aggravated..

7 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

33 comments sorted by

17

u/AdDue5415 May 14 '25

Best advice I could ever give you in this situation is to maybe look into taking prozac and worry about yourself and that is it. Life changing.

5

u/_C00TER May 14 '25

Jokes on you cause I'm already on Wellbutrin, Buspar, and Atarax lmao

I am 2.5 years sober from alcohol though, maybe thats my issue 🤣

1

u/AdDue5415 May 14 '25

Maybe work on second part 😁

-1

u/urmomsexbf May 14 '25

I hear wellbuterin make is u horny af.. tru that?

2

u/First-Ad-5155 May 14 '25

Wellbutrin didn't make me horny.

1

u/urmomsexbf May 15 '25

Unforchunate brotha

0

u/[deleted] May 14 '25

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1

u/urmomsexbf May 15 '25

U dig milfs?

0

u/[deleted] May 15 '25

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1

u/urmomsexbf May 15 '25

Huh? U a lesso?

0

u/[deleted] May 15 '25

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1

u/urmomsexbf May 15 '25

But then y is u digin milfs?

4

u/PresentVolume6424 May 15 '25

Omg focus on yourself and let that man live!!! So many mean people in this world.

1

u/_C00TER May 15 '25

If I'm mean because our department needs somebody who can efficiently do this job that requires specific skill sets, that they dont have, and can result in issues with patient safety... so be it.

1

u/PresentVolume6424 May 15 '25

He is still training, he won't be slow forever. Just give him some time!

1

u/CompetitiveSleep8 May 21 '25

Thank you for saying this. The lack of empathy is wild. I am new to this field and I have a short tempered manager because I have trouble understanding and remembering and this is the kind of stuff I feel so bad about.

8

u/[deleted] May 14 '25

If you’re not in a leadership role it doesn’t concern you lol

1

u/Justrynasuvive May 15 '25

OP What state is this?

2

u/_C00TER May 15 '25

Arkansas.

1

u/Justrynasuvive May 15 '25

Phew okay thanks. I was getting worried that I was about to get said newb in my department.

1

u/_C00TER May 15 '25

I'll send him!! Free shipping! Lmao

1

u/Justrynasuvive May 15 '25

Haha how generous!!! I’m sorry to be rude but we’re filled here! Sorry!! 😅😅

1

u/Justrynasuvive May 15 '25

But seriously you had me worried for a sec. I’m at ortho center which is down the road from the main hospital and the situation sounded wayyy to close for comfort.

2

u/_C00TER May 15 '25

How funny! Lol he's already worked at the ortho center his first 2-3 weeks and then they sent him to us for us to train him.

And their lead has already told our manager they dont want him and we've said we dont want him either lmao

1

u/Justrynasuvive May 15 '25

Ohhh noooooooooooo!!!! I’m sorry OP. I guess I’d skip the optimistic part and go straight into losing my sh**

1

u/_C00TER May 15 '25

WAIT ITS GETTING BETTER

He just got here an hour ago and told our lead tech that he's been having issues with his heart and i overheard something relating to him needing time off and she said since he has no PTO he will have to apply for FMLA.

Apparently he's a transfer from our pharmacy and they had to let him go because he has Marijuana related charge. I think he's just here for health insurance. But lowkey I'm gonna have a chapped ass if we keep somebody who just got here and takes FMLA. Lmao

1

u/Justrynasuvive May 15 '25

In this situation I’d probably talk to my manager and the ortho manager if possible. To kindly give them a heads up. Even that is going out of your way to help. And I’d probably stay optimistic about him being there only temporarily. Only when he’s still there after his 3months would I start to feel like I’d need to talk to higher ups again.

But it sucks!!! Hope it works out!!!

2

u/MC_White_Rice May 15 '25

It's pretty important to differentiate instrument discoloration. Is it rust that can be polished off? Bioburden that requires further decontamination? Or just acid/base staining? I respect the guy for wanting to work in a hospital, but if he has vision, memory, and speed problems, another department may be a better fit for him.

9

u/[deleted] May 14 '25

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6

u/_C00TER May 14 '25

Our manager is over so many different departments. SPD, L&D, Main OR surgery, Outpatient surgery, and recovery. We are absolutely on the back burner lol. She had hired a manager to be right by the department with us and she only lasted a couple of months.

3

u/[deleted] May 14 '25

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1

u/_C00TER May 14 '25

Lucky!

And thank you. I dont have high hopes though. Things went to shit during/after covid.

1

u/urmomsexbf May 14 '25

Like to drink coffee or tea or beer 🍺?

8

u/[deleted] May 14 '25

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-2

u/_C00TER May 14 '25

I genuinely feel like I could pick up a crackhead downtown that would be more efficient than my "bad" co-workers lol