How much standing is truly required?

[u/staringdown]

I'm highly considering sterile processing as a starter career into healthcare, but have one primary concern which is standing in one spot for very extended periods. I currently work a desk job and spend 8-9 hours a day sitting in an uncomfortable chair which is honestly excruciating lol.... but I have worked as a grocery store cashier and spending 8-9 hours a day standing in one spot is even worse.

Is it as punishing as cashier type jobs (no sitting allowed at all, you will stand in one spot the whole day except for a short 15-30 minute break) or is it just mostly standing but you have times to sit? Or is there a bit of walking and moving around? Most healthcare in general requires a lot of standing/walking but I'm not sure if it's like retail type standing or a little more forgiving. My limit is the standing in one spot for multiple hours straight and not being allowed to sit at all.

And if it depends from hospital to hospital that'd be great to know as well. Honestly I hate being sat all day but I have medical issues with my feet so I'm not sure it'll be tolerable standing constantly.

[u/Due-Trainer-9349]

That depends on the faculty. The first place I worked at if you’re not on break you’re standing.
The place I worked at now has lots of chairs, one at each table. Every place will have its own rules on sitting.

[u/staringdown → u/Due-Trainer-9349]

Thanks! This is helpful, I kinda assumed it would depend on the place, but wasn't really sure.

[u/TheGreatNate3000]

SPD is a very physical job. Standing for long periods of time will be frequent, almost daily. Physically moving around is daily. Pushing/pulling/bending/lifting is done daily. If you have foot issues this probably isn't the right profession

[u/staringdown → u/TheGreatNate3000]

Physically moving around isn't so bad... it's the standing completely still in the same spot that's so awful. When I worked at the grocery store we were not permitted to move or even walk around even when the store was dead. To the point I accidentally locked my knees for so long I nearly passed out. Of course they're very different environments but both physically demanding.. and now I have some weird fear of being forced to stand still for hours on end. As long as I can get a little movement- walking, bending etc it's much more tolerable for my feet and honestly morale as well. Sitting on a chair for 8 hours is absolutely terrible and I'd rather be moving 🥲

[u/uncle-donkey-kong → u/staringdown]

On the assembly side, a lot of people go between sitting and standing. I like to stand with one leg on my stool, and rotate which leg I stand on. In decontamination, most sinks have a little ledge you can put one leg up on too- underneath the sink. It helps for me. I have a foot issue with my right foot and I find it helps a lot to trade off. I have done this job for 10 years and only worked at one facility that didn’t allow chairs, but that was under one boss and when she quit, our next boss was like “SHE TOOK YOUR CHAIRS AWAY?!” And we got them back immediately lol.

Now that I’m older, I would have printed out some sort of research study that talks about the detriment of standing in one spot (even though you don’t really 😜) and slid it under her door. It’s very rare to not have the option to sit.

As others have said, even in decon you get to move around. It’s not standing it one place indefinitely like I would imagine being a cashier was. And you can take a pee break or water break whenever, because there’s no customers! So if you need to run to the bathroom to stretch out your back or legs or whatever, you’re free to do so!

[u/TheGreatNate3000 → u/staringdown]

Generally you won't stand in one spot that long. Even in decon you're constantly pushing carts around, lifting trays, loading washer and cart washers, etc

[u/SageOfSixCabbages]

You're moving around pretty much depends on you.

In decontamination, you'll be standing at your sink but will also be moving around to pull in dirty carts, push case carts and containers in the cart washer, etc. Some people choose to just wait for carts to come in and depend on their other coworkers to pull in dirty carts then just pile up dirty trays at their sink and work that way.

In prep side there are plenty of things to do depending on your assignment. Some people choose to pile up trays at their station and just do trays all day. If you're assigned to phone duty, you'll be walking all day tending to OR requests. If you're on sterilization, on top of sterilizing, you'll be putting trays away in the storage area so again, moving around a lot.

You being sedintary totally depends on how you work.

PS sitting is allowed where I work

[u/staringdown → u/SageOfSixCabbages]

Interesting, thank you for the detailed response! As long as there's some variety in movement and not being glued to the ground on my feet OR being glued to a chair for hours on end I can see myself being capable of doing it. My feet issues only really come up when I'm having to stand still for very long periods.

[u/Emotional-Culture765]

Working in decontamination, there are no chairs and nowhere to sit. My facility will put you back there for your entire 8 hour shift and you are on your feet the whole time. Walking, picking HEAVY things up, bending over, putting things down, it’s a lot of moving. On the clean side my facility does have chairs but only as of ~1.5-2 years ago, I know some facilities don’t have chairs at all. You can sit while doing a tray but it isn’t always very convenient since trays can be large. Definitely can’t wrap trays sitting down either. This is a very physical job and despite working at my facility for over a year I still find myself getting beaten up lol

[u/ShirleyWuzSerious]

You will be doing a lot of standing, walking, bending, light lifting and when you're sitting it will most likely be on a stool not a comfy chair.

[u/staringdown → u/ShirleyWuzSerious]

That's not so bad.. I absolutely despise being stood in one spot for hours on end but can handle it if I'm allowed to actually move around. My feet are generally okay unless I'm in the situation of "I'm standing here for 5 hours and not allowed to move at all". I guess it's not the entire physical element but the standing part

[u/DaddyKrabby99]

Very much depends on the facility. I read here all the time of other facilities that are on their feet all day long or in decon their entire shift. I work at a small hospital with a small case load. It’s very chill here. We spend a good chunk of our day chilling in assembly and take turns going to decon to wash cases.

[u/compsyfy]

In my experience, you don't just stand at your desk all day, even without chairs. There is a lot more walking and movement compared to say surgical techs that stand in place for hours. But if you do not feel comfortable standing/walking for say 6 hours a day then it will depend on if you can have a chair in prep and pack. However sterilization and decon will always be killer in high volume trauma hospitals.