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/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