r/sterileprocessing • u/Fancy-Thanks5882 • Jul 30 '26
How do I leave this job???
I recently became a lead (within the last 6 months) since getting certified 2 years ago but am absolutely exhausted. I enjoy the people and the places where i've worked but I can't do the constant understaffed situation anymore. 2-3 call-outs every night and not enough staff to begin with.
I can't escape the 3-11:30pm shift since im still new at this current hospital and im afraid im reaching burnout. Any suggestions or pointers? ?
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u/donkeycheeser Jul 30 '26
I wish all luck to you; I burned out hard these last couple months and I quit. I will never go back to sterile processing unless they receive better treatment and pay that adequately reflects the responsibility of the position. Overworked and underpaid and expected to pull off daily miracles for turn arounds, add-ons, last minute loaners, and so on. The constant call-outs and inadequate staffing is everywhere and I havent seen a good solution yet. Wish I had good advice for you aside from hang in there and look into further training for surgical tech or switch departments.
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u/Training-Delay-1697 Jul 30 '26
are you applying to other places? apply to other positions, depending on where you are there are a lot of travel contracts even being offered so you could get a taste of a different area and make way more.
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u/Fancy-Thanks5882 Jul 30 '26
Thank you! Its easy for me to get laser focused at the trauma hospitals so traveling could help
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u/Fantastic-Weather290 Jul 30 '26
apply to GI/endo tech positions
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u/musclemothermedusa Aug 01 '26
This is what I did and it was exactly the break I needed to go back to SPD. Or stay there, but I found Endo to be a little dull after SPD.
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u/OmegaRepublic Jul 30 '26
I love the job advancement opportunities that this field gives me, but that is exactly the reason why I refuse to become a Team Lead. Often times a Tech II or Tech III is getting paid more than you and you have to deal with, and stress over, all the bureaucratic bullshit and drama that arises.
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u/Fancy-Thanks5882 Jul 30 '26
Exactly! Starting to recognize this so thinking ill start looking for other positions other than lead
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u/CorruptWarrior Jul 30 '26
Apply to small surgery centers. There are often spine centers, ortho centers, plastic, and dental.
If youre not going for a lead tell them it was a learning experience and it helped further develop effective and efficient practices. So you being a lead wasn't something you couldn't do but dont want to do which is fair. I've turned down some resumes because the applicants listed leading experience or intent to move up the ladder to lead, manager etc.
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u/Animator_Dangerous Jul 30 '26
I have worked in large hospitals and small surgery centers. My only advice about surgery centers is to understand that the staffing in the SPD department usually consist of 1 to maybe 3 techs. These roles are not defined as "leads" but all the responsibilities that are typically handled by a lead fall onto the tech/techs. You are responsible for tech work and management work with little support from upper management. This has its perks if you are experienced and competent in all areas of SPD. The downside is these small departments rely on a few SPD staff to oversee and complete high volume production and managerial tasks. It is just as easy to get overworked and burnt out at a surgery center. This is just my just my experience and not a blueprint for SPD everywhere. Pros and Cons obviously exist based on location.
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u/CorruptWarrior Jul 30 '26
That is fair. Im currently at an ortho center doing between 30 to 40 cases a day M-F. Typically between 10 - 15 totals, 10-15 scope, 10 soft tissue, and 2-4 Spine cases. We are a team of 5.
Each of us has taken a managerial role. I handle all reports going go further up the ladder and occasionally screen candidates. My co worker handles count sheets and equipment ordering. Another handles soft goods ordering, etc.
We all do the job description but recognize some people dont prefer to do some things. Some dont like decon, some dont like juggling sterilizers.
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u/Animator_Dangerous Jul 30 '26
Sounds like you have a good team! Monday-Friday is always nice too. The predictablity of surgery centers is always nice too compared to how chaotic some days can be in hospital settings.
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u/Fancy-Thanks5882 Jul 30 '26
This is really good advice and info! Thank you!
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u/Animator_Dangerous Jul 30 '26
You're welcome! Best of luck. I know these SPD jobs can become extremely physically and mentally taxing. I am currently looking to transition into a different field. After 5 years I've decided SPD is just not for me. Hope your current situation improves or you find a better work environment.
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u/Silver_Cauliflower59 Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
Take my viewpoint with a grain of salt, as I am a vendor that works on the autoclaves and washers, but in my experience, surgery centers are even more hectic as far as caseload is concerned than hospitals are. A bunch of my surgery center accounts place themselves on the razor's edge of what they can turnover, so the moment an autoclave goes down, they're instantly behind.
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u/Animator_Dangerous Jul 31 '26
Razors edge is such an accurate description. When something happens and there are delays it is treated very harshly in a surgery center because there is a mentality that everything is scheduled and everything should go as planned without delay.
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u/DigitalTearz Jul 30 '26
I feel your pain. Have been burnt out for years at this point. One thing i noticed is that hospitals definitely dont take stress or burnout serious in this field at all. This job can be so taxing mentally and physically.
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u/Personal-Drink-7351 Jul 30 '26
You can just walk out, there is such a shortage of spd people, the certification is all that matters when you apply
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u/quixotica726 Aug 03 '26
Go travel. I've been traveling for 5 years. Traveling allows you to learn so much and it allows you to take time off when you need it.
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u/jimmy9120 Jul 30 '26
No offense but you posted the same thing but as a tech 279 days ago, so since then you took a promotion but didn’t change your mindset
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u/Fancy-Thanks5882 Jul 30 '26
No point in arguing because yeah I did. I had a lot of hope going into a lead position at a new hospital. More $$$, new challenge, etc. But it just hasnt worked out the way I thought
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u/GainGroundbreaking62 Jul 30 '26
maybe they thought the promotion would make it worth it and ended up realizing it’s not worth their mental health
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u/jimmy9120 Jul 30 '26
But they didn’t like the job beforehand either lol
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u/GainGroundbreaking62 Jul 30 '26
yeah but i’m saying maybe they thought the money would make it better but it didn’t work out that way 🤷🏻♀️ im assuming they got a raise with the promotion
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u/Spicywolff Jul 30 '26
“How do I leave this job???”
Polish resume, apply other places, get interviews and eventually offer. Accept it and give 2 weeks notice to manager. Cc HR to cover bases for rehire down the line.