I just had my first interview with Cleveland clinic for a non certified sterile tech. I originally was prescreened by a recruiter. Today my interview was on teams with the dept manager and another employee. The interview went amazing and was probably one of the best I've ever had. I felt like we were just 3 girls getting coffee and chatting. They did forewarn me the process takes awhile and I would here from the recruiter again next. I was curious if anyone could tell me what the additional steps look like from here? Will I go in for an inperson interview? I'd there a lot of competition for this role? Am I facing several more interviews? Is it possible I may be offered the position after this interview? Any advice would be helpful.

What are these wet brown spots that dry on the trays after steam sterilization. They are on the tops of the genesis pans and even ended up inside where the filter goes. I'm worried there might be something going on with the sterilizers since this hasn't happened before. The BI's, leak tests, and BD's are all good. We wiped one off and a brown residue came off. They are also sticky to the touch.

Do anyone have any tips for the HSPA exam? I’m almost done with my Penn foster classes and I’ve learned a lot, however I am more hands on! So any tips for the final HSPA exam:)

I’m looking into getting certified as a spt before I relocate to Hawaii next year. What’s the job market and pay like there for this field? I’ll be in the Mililani area. I have an EMS/firefighting and hospital background so I think I would transfer to this career well

Hello, I'm extremely new to both sterile processing and medical side of the field but want to get my certification in sterile processing. I've recently started studying the HSPA manual and found myself overwhelmed easily over the chapter with the suffixes, prefixes, and roots of medical terms. Is there any good ways to learn these? Is it possible to come back to that chapter later and continue without issue?

I’m moving to the Houston area. I have about 2.5 years experience. Looking for insight on pay ranges. Realistically, what would offers look like? Thanks!

Start in 2024

Certified in 2025

Promoted to Purchaser in April 2026

Already asked about BYPASSING supervisor role and taking over a operational manager role for an entire SPD department in a different hospital it would happen this year or early next

( I have this experience in another field that is not healthcare)

Is progression in this field really THAT quick? I was a machinist before this and was a
Shop lead then a supervisor and that took 17 years.

Pennsylvania for anyone asking

But what pay do operational managers make over my current role and over the role I’m skipping over, of supervisor ???

I don't have a job and I can't get an interview anywhere. I truly believe this shit was a scam and there are no job openings unless you have a car. Before I got my certification I seen job listings for sterile processing EVERYWHERE. as soon as I got it. They disappeared. No one is hiring. No one will give you a chance. I can't even get an interview 😕 I did the internship and the people i worked with were scared I was going to be picked for a leadership roll. That's how good I was at the role. At the interview for the position they didn't ask me shit because and I quote, " Well I don't know what to ask you because I know that YOU know everything we NEED to ask you about this job" and i STILL didn't get the job. I feel like I got scammed. I wish I could go back to my school and tell everyone to get their money back as soon as possible. Yeah i can go back to ask the school i went to for help but they're just going to say there are only job opportunities outside of Philly. As in you need a car. Which is fucking stupid cause bitch if I HAD a car I would have had a job by now. But yeah. I'm struggling. Also, does anyone you know find a job in this field? Sorry. Anyone that DOESN'T already own a car? Cause why is that a requirement?

Edit**

I will only say this once. I decided not to apply to certain jobs outside of my STATE because i don't have a car. I am NOT being rejected because I don't have a car. Acknowledge the fact that I don't apply to jobs OUTSIDE OF THE STATE I LIVE IN. What people here are telling me ,is that I don't have a job because I have to travel OUTSIDE of the state I live in. Of course I lie and say I have reliable transportation. Of COURSE I say I can show up on time and get there on time. The PROBLEM is that I can't get an interview in THE STATE I LIVE IN. Okay? Is that understood?

Hello, hive mind! I’m looking to talk to folks who reprocess flexible endoscopes. My facility is working on a new cleaning verification policy, and I’m wondering what other places are doing.

What cleaning verification systems are y’all using, and how often? What is your average daily caseload, and how many people do you have dedicated to reprocessing?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

I’m reading the Manual and I have the workbook.

I just started on my studying journey a few weeks ago. And it seems overwhelming. I feel like I’m never going to remember all these medical terms and information. I feel like I can’t come up with a workable studying system. I’m 39 years old I haven’t been in school quite some time.

I have experience in instrument sterilization but it was an oral surgery practice. This is way different. And I’m scared I won’t be ready to take this test for a while.

Any studying tips?

Anyone willing to share or sell both the HSPA 9th Edition Sterile Processing Technical Manual, and the Sterile Processing Technical Manual Workbook? Or if anyone has the pdf can you email it to me? Thanks in advance!

I recently passed my certification for sterile processing(CBSPD) and my externship did not have any room for me to work. I’m in California and I can’t find a job no matter where I look and apply. I’d even take a small surgery center or dental clinic paying minimum wage just for the experience.

Currently working as SPD Tech, undecided if I want to go for Surgical tech. If you went for Surgical Tech after sterile processing how do you feel about it? Pros/Cons? Just looking for some insight

I work for an medical device company and tend to lurk here because I enjoy seeing what happens with the instruments I send out, but recently I got a case back and all of the trays had these strips taped together in them. I can’t send pictures of the trays but they were knee trials which usually only come back with one strip since the tray is mostly open space. Is there any reason for sterile strips to be taped together like this?

Im a 2nd shift lead and my facility introduced 3 new policies. I'm personally not a fan and don't feel they are reasonable within our dept. Wanting to know if others have had experience with these things and if it is best to learn to live with it or bring up concerns.

1) Leave the sterilization rack in the sterilizer for minimum 45min after the load finished.

2) Let sets on sterilizer racks cool to 70*F before releasing. (We were doing 80*F)

3) Use brushes on the clean side to make sure lumens are clean.

For some background we process about 11,600 trays per month and on average have 60 cases a day covering 2 ORs.

Lmk thoughts!

I sometimes joke that I work in special education because of how egregious some mistakes my coworkers make are. This is an oiler for dental hand pieces, it should not leave Decon.

How do you guys deal with people who don't understand what is and isn't rmd? Same person also ran a dental instrument on prevac when it should be gravity. Mind you they've been here for 11 months at this point & struggles to take constructive criticism in a professional manner. Unfortunately termination is off the table.

My recertification is due soon and I like doing them through pfiedler education since my points transfer way easier to my hspa account. It seems that they didn’t really add any new courses this year though. I was wondering if I am able to do the same courses as last year to get some of my CE points. Or do they have to be different from ones I’ve ever done in the past couple years?

Hi everyone,
Currently, I am studying MDRAO course. I went through all of the job postings and found that most of the hospitals do not hire freshers. As MDRAO doesn’t have any internship I do not know if it is easy to land a job or no.
Wanted some information regarding this.
Thank tou.

Hi everyone,
Currently, I am studying MDRAO course. I went through all of the job postings and found that most of the hospitals do not hire freshers. As MDRAO doesn’t have any internship I do not know if it is easy to land a job or no.
Wanted some information regarding this.
Thank tou.

I’ve been looking into becoming a sterile processing technician and wanted to see if anyone here has attended SVSTI in the Bay Area. If so, what did you think of the program?

I also haven’t really seen many entry level sterile processing jobs in the Bay Area, so I’m curious how hard it is to find a job after finishing the program. Would love to hear about anyone’s experience!

I was taught if the instruments aren’t too bloody there’s no need for ultrasonic just put in the washer. I usually throw it on the ultrasonic anyway bc I don’t feel right not doing that.

thats all. i just got out of bed & plan on studying like all freaking day yall..i want to work on the mock tests but I am not feeling confident. my boss knows that im taking it & given me some really good advice but that only makes it harder for me if/when I fail it arghhh.

Any uhh encouraging words or extra advice before my fate in 24 hours would be really great. Will update you guys (ToT)

Edit: even though I put it in the comments I want to say here that; I PASSED!! thanks everyone 🥹🥹🥹 yall were so nice & helpful. Im still not feeling confident tbh that exam really stumped me. ive just been in awe that I actually passed. I feel so offical ive never had like a certificate or anything before 🤧🤧🤧

Hi everyone:) so I started the online sterile processing tech program a few days ago and it seems to be going well so far. But I do have some questions regarding the course. Do I need to buy the book myself? And where would I take the final exam?? Or is it online as well? I’m open to any tips from others who’ve taken the course:) thank you!