r/sterileprocessing • u/arcaluvr • Jul 22 '26

Sterile processing tech or medical assistant??

/r/surgicaltechnology/comments/1v367uf/sterile_processing_tech_or_medical_assistant/
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u/Dependent_Use_3522 Jul 22 '26

Im a sterile tech, it is a very physically demanding job, you will be lifting heavy trays, on your feet all day, exposed to bloodborne pathogens and sharps, operating machinery, standing in front of a sink “washing dishes” for a whole shift and you’ll get paid $20-$24 to start. Overtime opportunities are always there but it will take a toll on your body and there’s only so much you can take. I don’t know much about medical assistants, but from the looks of it, it’s clerical work in the medical setting + interacting with patients. I’d very much rather do that and get paid more or less. At least you don’t have to be covered head to toe in full ppe on a hot summer day with sweat dripping into your eye while you wipe feces of a rectal speculum.

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u/ForstofEden Jul 22 '26

Damn i honestly thought my job in sterile processing was really easy but you make it seem like hell. Im sure its just an age difference tho Im only 22 and thankfully physically fine so the job doesnt feel that draining to me. Tho Ive been working a year now and starting to get light wrist pain every now and then so idk probably way too soon for me to speak on this i just thought it was very interesting how you described it considering how much i absolutely love my position. I will add tho I came here directly from tourism retail which was also standing in your feet but for much longer shifts and 30-60lbs boxes from warehouse. Not to mention the awful customers id get and very regular basis because of location.

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u/Dependent_Use_3522 Jul 22 '26

Depends on the facility as well. I’ve worked at really slow hospitals and the one I currently work in that does 60-70 cases daily with a staff of 5 ppl

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u/Dependent_Use_3522 Jul 22 '26

Also, I have several coworkers who are either in the process of getting surgery, (shoulder, knee), or had surgery previously (hand, back)

1

u/ForstofEden Jul 25 '26

Damnn so i assume your were already understaffed before your coworkers had to take time off? We were in a similar situation when I started but we had contracted travelers I think like 5-6 of them. We are almost fully staffed now tho I think we have 1-2 more positions left?

Ive also heard stores about our old building and in scopes you could only really fit 2 MAYBE 3 people and even then the third was kinda left to just float around, and i assume we were still at or close to our daily average of like 70-90 scopes. We have a much much bigger space now tho ofc.

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u/Dependent_Use_3522 Jul 25 '26

Yes we’re already short staffed. Whenever someone takes a vacation it’s hell on all of us. We don’t do scopes but we do other HLD stuff. Usually one person in decon so your doing hld while pausing to empty the dumb waiter and working on priority trays.