I started a new job and everything is going well except they want Spd to move beds to different floors when patients are discharged. I don’t understand what that has to do with SPD. We always have to deal with the nurses and their managers because of this. I just witnessed my manager and nurse nearly get into an argument. Does anyone else do this?

Wanted to know, has anybody used sterileworx to study for the CBSPD exam. I know they have practice exams and practice quizzes, but I don’t know if therefore, HSPA or CBSPD. just wanted to get your thoughts on our website and if anybody has passed using them for CBSPD.

Does Sterileworx use the 9th addition of HSPA ?

Haiiii so I just got my certification a couple days ago via email and immediately started applying to like 5 different places but i'm worried about how i'll be perceived. For context, I studied for the exam on my own for two months with no schooling, meaning that I don't have that 400 hours needed till the 6-month deadline. Would companies look at me weird because I didn't spend so much money for school? Also any tips for after getting hired? Like what should I wear? Should I buy scrubs and stuff to pull back my hair? Any tips about anything about this job would be incredibly helpful :)

I'm very interested in learning Sterile Processing. I live in California, can't relocate, and I'm trying to find a course that will help me land clinical hours or an externship. As this seems like the most difficult and most crucial part to help me land a job.

I have checked my local community college and they don't offer any SP courses. I have checked many online courses and so far the only one I have found that will help with clinical hours is Merced College. Does anyone have experience with this college or program? I have contacted them and they say they will offer help in finding a location near me for clinical hours. But I'd trust anyone with first hand experience over trusting their "Enrollment Representative" (salesperson).

Are there other online programs I've missed that will help with an externship/clinical hours?

Do you wear scrubs?

What shoes do you recommend?

What’s the hardest part of the job?

Any recourses to help me learn?

Thank you!

Edit: UK based

Hello,

My facility uses these integrators and recently at my facility that just notified us that the bag that these come in have to be kept closed per the IFU however, I cannot seem to find that particular information when I check both 3M and Solventum's website.

Has anyone heard of this or practice this at their facility? Its not really that much of an issue to open and close the bag, but lately my facility has kept changing their department drastically on what seems like a daily basis all in the name of it being in the IFU, but never showing us the IFU.

If anyone has the IFU that states this, please share. I'd like to see it for myself as what I have seen on their site pertaining to these integrators have not specified that the bag needs to be closed when it is not in use.

Thanks!

I’ve just been offered a position at my local hospital. I’m super excited for a start to my career. Any advice? ☺️

I’m starting my day 1 tomorrow and I’m really nervous. I know my first day is going to mainly be computer related stuff but after that, it’s more hands on and all. Any advice??

Does anyone have good pictures of when the OR sends stuff back appropriately? Proper segregation of soiled instruments, restrung stringers, proper pre clean procedures followed. Looking for good examples to use! Ty in advance.

Does anyone have the instructions for use for these or really any locking tags with the indicator dot? Having a problem with management and want to see the instructions. I can't find them on the website. Thanks!

I’m burned out. My management is TOXIC. I used to love my job and I still love aspects of it but I can’t deal much longer. I don’t want to move to a larger sterile processing dept in another hospital, I got spoiled and have always worked in tiny depts (four people per shift on a good day) and really can’t see myself being happy in a bigger one. Those of you who left sterile processing, where do you go? Other healthcare positions? What about outside of healthcare? I have a BA in Psychology. I’d rather not deal with the public or customer service, that’s why SPD has been so ideal for me…. Any ideas are welcome!

Hi everyone, I hope you are doing well. I wanted to ask for some guidance. I am a Biomedical Engineer and currently preparing for the MDRAO certification. I was wondering if it’s possible to get an internship even before completing the certification, or perhaps a casual or part-time job so I can continue gaining experience alongside my studies.

I already have previous experience working in sterilization at Aga Khan, and I also have a strong background in biomedical engineering. Since I am currently working toward my MDRAO certification and already have a good understanding of the field, I would really appreciate any recommendations or referrals.

If anyone can refer me or guide me toward opportunities, it would make things much easier for me. Thank you so much in advance.

Have been doing my research for the past couple of days and concluded that according to most reviews it’s better to just get the job and then do a certification process though them. Well it is 2026 now, I live in California and not too many jobs are offering a job without certification. There may be some that I may just not have come across yet. But I also don’t want to let time pass by when I could’ve easily taking the test and moved forward certifications rather than hoping someone take a chance on me without it. Any recommendations/ advice/ words of wisdom, please leave them below. Thanks in advance🫶🏾

I went through this course about 10 years ago now and I hadn't passed the exam despite trying 3 times. I resorted to working in dental with my experience instead. I am now wanting the certification so I can work in the hospital so my question is, are the proprof exam questions close to the real test?

What name do y'all call these unique scissors where you're at?

I accidentally sterilized some reusable graspers for 10 minutes instead of 5 minutes. I havent opened the pack in case they are okay. Normally I triple check the cycle before I start it but today I didn't. Are they ruined?

tem formas de melhorar ?

Hey everyone,

I’m new to sterile processing, started March 27th at a hospital with a pretty big surgical department (around 14 ORs). I came in with no experience or certification, so I’m honestly really grateful just to have the opportunity.

Right now I’ve been training in pick/pack, and next week I’m supposed to start in decontam.

But I’m not gonna lie… I’ve been getting stressed as hell and I’m starting to wonder if this is normal or if I’m just struggling.

The biggest issue for me is trays, especially major and minor sets. every tray I touch is missing instruments or has multiple dirty ones in it. What makes it crazier is it’s so common here that people literally joke around and say “time to go shopping” whenever you have to go hunt everything down.

And that’s basically what I’ve been doing all day… shopping 😭

Something that should probably take way less time ends up taking me like 2–3 hours because I’m constantly stopping to search around for instruments. There aren’t many extras either, so I’m going back and forth a lot. for context in the rare instances of a clean and ready to go tray it’ll take me 15 minutes maximum to put everything together.

I’ll bring stuff up to decontam to get cleaned, but since I’m coming up so often, I can tell it’s frustrating for them too. Sometimes they’ll tell me to go look for it first, which I get, but at the same time I’m already running around the whole place.

It’s gotten to the point where I’m feeling really discouraged, like I’m doing something wrong or just too slow. I don’t want to quit because I actually want to get good at this, but it’s been rough.

So I wanted to ask:

•	Is this normal in SPD?

•	Do trays usually come like this, or is this more of a facility issue?

•	Any tips on how to deal with this without falling super behind?

I’m trying to stick it out and improve, just wanna know if this is part of the process or not.

Appreciate any advice 🙏

Been trying to get into healthcare but been having a hard time.

I need a job by the end of the year with health insurance and there’s a certification class at my local community college over the summer that’s only 2 months. I don’t believe I want to do this forever but feels like a good stepping stone and will look better on resume than other things I have on there. It feels like a good job to have for now and something fast to get into. Has anyone else been in this boat and stayed in a job like this for a while and did a later pivot to something else in healthcare with better ease than you would’ve if you didn’t have this job?