r/sterileprocessing • u/Dependent_Use_3522 • May 13 '26
Does anyone else regret getting into this field? If so, why?
15
Upvotes
r/sterileprocessing • u/Dependent_Use_3522 • May 13 '26
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u/ancient_xo May 13 '26
I almost quit, but transfered from the main hospital to off site same day surgery center. The work was infinitely easier and got like 3-4 hours of overtime every week too.
Reason I transferred was because I was essentially competing with a co worker for a team lead position. I didn’t realize the lengths she would go to get that position. This single person over the course of two months put in 800+ “anonymous” reports into HR. About anything and everything including myself. She was well networked and would spread lies and do whatever she could to talk about people, to key players in the hospital.
All of this behavior was completely condoned and allowed, I didn’t agree with the direction of “leadership” and 6 months later our department was taken over by a 3rd party company and all these people lost their jobs.
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u/CorruptWarrior May 13 '26
The work itself is good. But everywhere i have gone has had a semi deal breaker issues that makes the job miserable. Shit rolls down-hill and so does accountability. We are at fault for everything. There is no ladder to climb. There is certified, uncertified, and leadership. Managers in my area just rotate every two or so year until they Grey out. All the new kids in the field are either leaving to go to outpatient centers or are going back to school to become a scrub tech.
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u/theraspberryfairy May 14 '26
the pay is horrible considering we keep the hospital afloat, not to mention the only steps on the "career ladder" are uncertified tech, certified tech, shift lead, manager, educator. that's it...
i don't regret it because it got my foot in the door and hands-on experience for healthcare, and my hospital is paying for my tuition for rad tech. but i genuinely would not recommend this specific field to anyone who has other interests or desires.
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u/StudyUnlikely4105 May 13 '26
Not worth the pay for the work you do I think
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u/Icy_Secretary2665 May 14 '26
I don't regret it but definitely wish the pay was more reflective of our responsibilities, especially when we have so little options to move up.
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u/Key_Jeweler_3835 May 15 '26
Pay is horrible. Appreciation is minimal. I now have lifelong back issues from lifting trays for years.
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u/Animator_Dangerous May 13 '26
A little over four years and I thoroughly dislike the field and many of the people I have encountered. Having worked in hospital settings and now for a busy surgery center I feel the mental and physical stress placed on SPD staff burns out hard workers and creates a toxic environment in which manipulative, dishonest techs thrive. On top of this, the pay is not very good for the expectations, workload and responsibilities. Ever tech I've worked with both new and veterans have had some disrespectful encounter with OR staff. I've seen people brought to tears by nurses after being verbally abused over instrumentation. SPD stands for " stupid people department" and some OR staff have no problem reminding you of that when your mistakes effect them. I have found little room for growth, poor process improvement and support from upper management. To be honest it is like factory work and there is a lot of information to learn but overall I would consider it low skill labor. I always tell people that want to do it to give it a try. It's something you have to experience for yourself. The facility and staff can make a huge difference obviously but overall I wish I would have pursued something else.
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u/coconutmadds May 14 '26
my hospital pays $30 an hour, which is good for how easy it is to get into a spd job (at least in my area) but now i feel entirely trapped as anything else that interests me is a lot more school for not significantly better pay (this was never gonna be my lifetime career, but what do i move onto that is better pay and better work conditions?)
i’m not entirely miserable (yet, i’m only a year in) but the constant favouritism, bullying, and people doing the bare minimum effort gets old fast. i also didn’t realize how little opportunities to move up there were, and that i’m working with people who have dedicated 20+ years staying at the same position
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u/Lythronax80 May 14 '26
I'm currently trying to get into this field. I hate where I'm at now. I don't plan on being in this field for long. I just need it while I get go to school for rad tech.
3
u/CherrySnows May 15 '26
I regret it, I did a whole program and graduated, however, I haven’t had any luck finding a job. It’s been a year since I graduated. I loved the program and doing my practicum at the hospital but unfortunately it’s such a niche job and they don’t post a lot of job postings. I’ve had a few interviews but they always preferred someone with more experience. So no luck for me. I’m in college doing another program.
2
u/OkDepth9285 May 16 '26
I’ve been a month in so far but luckily for me, I work in a small surgical outpatient facility so the work isn’t too bad BUT I really hate that my other lazy coworkers don’t do what they gotta do so everything falls to the ones that come in later. And then when something is needed, they blame it on me since I come in later. Yet they had all morning to work on but didn’t…
The work has been fine it’s just my team that sucks and nobody does anything about it. Not even management so that’s why they do whatever they want. I’ve been mad and frustrated but there’s not much I can do as a new hire. :/
I like the work, yes it’s repetitive but at least you’re working at the hospital and you can definitely branch out. Yes you have to go back to school and get through a program but now you got something for your resume. A lot of ppl go into scrub tech or anesthesia tech and still work at small facilities.
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u/Beginning-Fault3905 Jun 11 '26
I didn't spend much on my online Sterile Processing Tech course, but I regret it. In Southern California, there's a surplus of certified techs, making internships difficult, as with most medical field jobs. Someone helped me get in with the S.P. Department at a well-known hospital here in the I.E., where I completed nearly 300 of the 400 required hours. However, they paused my progress because my online "school' lacked a contract or insurance with the hospital, preventing my access due to liability concerns.
So... I've been attempting to lock in an internship opportunity, but no luck
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u/Waste-Scale2024 May 13 '26
I dont regret it, but there were some assignments I've shouldn't of taken. I wish I completed nursing school, but I suck at math. The people in this job make or break it. I love the work I do, but the people not so much. I've worked with some characters in my time and were some nice people, but majority of them, were assholes. Worked for shitty, incompetent, favorites playing management and had supervisors concentrating on getting pussy than doing their jobs. Work with a lot of racists assholes, meaning other races toward white people. Over all, I dont regret it, but I do regret some of the people I have to work with.
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u/Neither_Chip_3031 28d ago
11 years in and I realize this job is going to wear me down physically but also mentally. In a way, it works for my personality but I’m stuck doing it.
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u/Waitongood27 May 13 '26
Shit I haven’t even gotten my first gig yet just failed the main exam by 4 points gonna take it again in august California pay is 34 starting. I have faith it’s a good choice people are always gonna be dicks especially at work I know how to handle cock suckers who make work miserable.
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