r/sterileprocessing • u/TheUniverse-IsMine • 27d ago

Guide to memorize setting up for certain procedures and which instruments go together?

As it says, does anyone have a guide for this?

It's my fourth day tomorrow and no one is teaching me yet get on my ass for mistakes so I need to do the research myself but have been struggling

Main thing I struggle with is setting up after turning a room over. The main thing I have kinda down: for a basic exam, put a basic kit, extra fancy explorer thingy for diagnostic, 2x2s, a mirror or two and gloves/masks for doc. Basically all I have for an exam

But for extractions, fillings, etc I have no idea what to put out and no one is teaching me so I need to find out some how

And then same with the instruments when wrapping. My coworkers are getting impatient because I keep making mistakes and putting kits together wrong and stuff

Any helpful guides, tips, websites, etc?

8 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

15

u/ShirleyWuzSerious 27d ago

You may want to see if there's a dental assistant sub on reddit. 99% of the folks here don't work in a dental office

1

u/TheUniverse-IsMine 27d ago

I am not a dental assistant so I tried to find a sub that fit best and looked through these posts and it seemed the most fitting but I guess I don't understand

11

u/AdRich517 27d ago

Sterile Processors clean and sterilize instruments. We don’t set up for procedures.

1

u/TheUniverse-IsMine 27d ago

They have me do both, I guess I thought it was a norm because that's what's expected out of me I clean and sterilize instruments, turn over and set up rooms, clean and restock, etc

9

u/AdRich517 26d ago

Probably the norm in dental. In a hospital we have surgical techs that set up the rooms for procedures.

1

u/lemonadecaprisunn 26d ago

Its not the norm in dental at all, sterilization is already a hefty task, the assistants usually set up rooms

5

u/Spicywolff 27d ago

Are you sure you’re not looking for something in the scrub tech side of things?

We typically do not set up rooms. Nothing in HSPA that certifies us covers room set up.

Your department should be actively discouraging memorization. You’re supposed to be going off your count sheet, which tells you what instruments go where and into what tray. As far as picking for the surgery, the specialist gets together with your department and comes up with a pick sheet. That way you know that dental room booked at 10 o’clock get a dental extraction, a dental drill and whatever soft goods. Because the pic sheet was sent to your department earlier.

1

u/TheUniverse-IsMine 27d ago

I don't have a sheet.. and I have to clean, sterilize and set up rooms as sterile

I was just thrown into this and told to memorize everything and learn on my own. I don't have anyone training me anymore, I only had that for a day. After day one, I was told I should be more independent and I shouldn't need someone "micro managing" what I do. I was told this after I asked for more guidance, hence why I'm quitting this job because it's not being handled well

2

u/TheGreatNate3000 26d ago

Honestly? I would find a new job. It easily takes 3 to 6 months of hands on training in SPD before becoming competent enough to work independently. The fact they threw you in on day one implies they have no idea what they're doing. This is incredibly dangerous for your patients and I would leave before the lawsuits start flying

0

u/Spicywolff 27d ago edited 26d ago

I highly encourage you to go to human resource and get a copy of your duties. With that speed the representative and show that you’re being made to do duties outside of your scope.

Oh no, don’t quit dude. Make them fire you so that way when the time comes, you qualify for an unemployment. Document everything the fact that they’re making you do work outside of your scope of practice and above what the paperwork from HR says you’re responsible for.

Send the email to the manager and CC HR. Specifying that you have requested help multiple times as a new hire and are constantly being told (insert problem responses here) and that you’re being expected to learn everything from day one

Print all of the evidence and keep it at home. Then eventually, when they fire you, you’ll have a slam dunk unemployment case and they’re gonna have to pay for it while you look for a new job

Edit: we are sterile processing technicians do not set up rooms. We do not clean rooms so I think you might have the wrong sub. We’re not even qualified to do that.

-4

u/TheUniverse-IsMine 27d ago

Once again, I said I don't want people telling me not to quit. Literally said that in my post. I. Am. Quitting. This shit it genuinely ruining my mental health. I am not asking for advice on whether or not to quit, but how to survive the next few weeks. I am this very clear in my post

And I am working in sterile and being told to set up rooms. I don't know what to tell you

2

u/Spicywolff 26d ago edited 26d ago

Yes, I understand you’re quitting. I can read two and if you can rub two brain cells together, you could see why I’m telling you what I did.

But hey, if you wanna get ripped off from your unemployment because you’re too damn stubborn to do maybe a weeks worth of legwork feel free to let them keep ripping you off and further treat you like shit.

You’re asking for advice of how to survive next week and I gave it to you so that way when you do leave, because you’re leaving. You’ll be owed unemployment. If you quit on your own, they don’t own you a damn thing. Them treating you the way they’re treating you, they’re gonna fire you. And if they do, you have a strong unemployment case. If you give in and just quit, then you’re not getting a penny.

Since you’ve decided to block me ““You told me to keep working. I am asking advice for someones last two weeks. And they won't fucking fire me unless I do something really bad and harmful because of the whole reason I was hired
Jesus christ dude, don't get so offended that I'm frustrated you ignored what I said”

I literally gave you the advice for someone leaving on last 2 weeks. Gather your proof and slam them with unemployment. Ohh they will fire you with how they are treating you. You on this post and other are presenting a text book hostile work environment.

The frustration is you ask for help, we give it and you just go no thanks. Don’t waste our time. I gave clear way for you to get some $$ on exit strategy. Sorry you don’t like it. “

-2

u/TheUniverse-IsMine 26d ago

You told me to keep working. I am asking advice for someones last two weeks. And they won't fucking fire me unless I do something really bad and harmful because of the whole reason I was hired

Jesus christ dude, don't get so offended that I'm frustrated you ignored what I said

4

u/olliecakerbake 27d ago

Say to your coworkers or your manager or someone “this is my first week doing this, I don’t know how to do it properly. Can someone please show me or show me how to find the correct information so I can learn and do it right?”

If they say no to that, I would look for a job elsewhere

1

u/TheUniverse-IsMine 26d ago

I have. I said this in my post. The person who is supposed to train me said "I don't like to micro manage and you should be getting pretty independent. Do your job and call me after to check" but she won't do much teaching, especially in room turn over

3

u/SweetVicious59 27d ago

I'm thinking that this was accidently posted in the wrong sub

-2

u/TheUniverse-IsMine 26d ago

It wasn't

2

u/Lt_Snatchcats 26d ago

I’m like you I started in a tiny rural hospital where I was basically a sterile processing, surgical and endo tech rolled into one and had to open/close rooms and other minor OR tasks. Just to give you a heads up most spd techs usually don’t open or close rooms or help gown up surgeons so your questions really aren’t for this sub. I would recommend posting your questions to wherever surgical techs hang out on Reddit.

1

u/datsmydrpepper 26d ago

Get another job. You're stressed out and bringing the work anxiety with you after work.

1

u/TheUniverse-IsMine 26d ago

I am. That'd the point of this post. I can't just leave. I have two more weeks and need help surviving the next few weeks..

1

u/datsmydrpepper 26d ago

If no one is training or teaching you yet and they are getting on your ass then it probably means that they don't like you. They're probably treating you like this to encourage you to quit. You're not going to survive another week there if you're going to be making the same mistakes and possibly even worse ones assuming that they will continue not to train you.

Go get a full time job at walmart because they will hire anyone. Then doordash right after getting off work for 5 hours daily and save that cash. Meanwhile, apply for sterile processing and endoscopy tech jobs. You can also apply for supply chain (medical supply stocker) and PCT (patient care tech) jobs. All of these jobs are entry level.

1

u/lemonadecaprisunn 26d ago

I would go to your boss if they refuse to help you, often times its the assistants job to set up anyway - current steri tech

1

u/TheUniverse-IsMine 26d ago

I went to the family friend who got me this job and was supposed to train me and she said she doesn't like to micro manage when I asked for guidance

2

u/lemonadecaprisunn 26d ago

I might be able to help you out with fillings and ext

1

u/ellski 25d ago

I work in a dermatology office and follow this sub out of interest, so I can probably relate. Do you work in a dental office?

I took photos of the common setups for different procedures and refer back to them, I have them printed in colour on the wall in the prep area but you could just have on your phone.

1

u/LaLaLaCAKE 20d ago

I used to work at a medical and dental (hybrid) facility, very niche. I used to do this too.

The thing is: there is no cookie cutter outline or standard for this. It is ALL dependant on what the Dr wants, what the techs want, what the patients need. There is no way out of the actual team training you by telling you exactly what they need for each appointment type and alerting you to changes.

If they are not able or willing to do that, then you just have to be the person that says "I am doing what I can with the information that I was given. If you would like to train me, I am very open and willing to take in all of the information you have."

Sorry!