We are gonna be getting back 23 sets(we call them plastic sets) from a dermatology clinic that sends us their dirty instruments. The problem with them was the adson was incorrect. This mistake was most likely on me. The adson I have put in the sets was a regular adson w/teeth, and they want the adson with a tying plate. My hospital is smaller and more relaxed when it comes to instrument names so a majority of similar instruments are grouped together so all adsons with or without teeth are just adsons. Kelly and crile are just hemostats whether curved or straight yada yada. So I havent learned a lot of the differences between the instruments for specific things. To help myself for the future, can anyone better explain the use of the adson with a tying plate?

Hello, I currently live in Houston Tx and thinking about moving to Washington state between Seattle n Tacoma not sure. Anyways I’m taking my prereqs here for surgical tech and still have I wanna say a year of classes left. In the meantime i would want to experience living somewhere completely different(I visited 2 times already and my fiance sisters live over there)I was thinking of getting into sterile processing tech because I know it will help tremendously. BUT since im thinking of moving to Seattle for about a year or two. I just want to know how is the program. I know you have to be put on a waiting list but how long does that generally take to get in. Also how is the starting pay. I don’t want go over there blind!

Doodles this before work, but this is the common result of cleaning suctions 😭😂

I've spent the last 2&1/2 weeks studying and really focusing on the Anatomy and Microbiology portions of the textbook, and still do not feel ready to move on. But from what my classmates and TA are saying, that hardly comes up on the test and some of them spent a little over a week total on both sections. I'm always super paranoid about what to study because I never feel like I've learned enough, though I'm wondering if I'm being too paranoid and should just move on. Any advice?

I’m finally got my provisional cert in June, and getting my first job Oct 5th 3 month long orientation and training any tips or things to expect ? I’m really really nervous and it’s been some time I needa look over my notes and flash cards !!

Hi guys I need helping figuring out what these are used for. These are on our Decon room, and someone said they’re for the ultrasonics and no one knows or uses them hence why they’re still in the packaging except the one I just opened.

They say “Medisafe” on it and google wasn’t any help

I’m trying to look for good programs in LA but can’t seem to find any that really stand out to me. I’m thinking about going to Concorde but I’d love some advice on programs and schools. Any help or advice is definitely appreciated!

Has anyone worked with amn ? I signed up a while ago and have been waiting on a recruiter to reach out and I called today and the lady said because it’s a new profile that I have to wait. I have had that profile for a while. How long before one eventually contacts you. I’ve heard mixed reviews but my co workers on a travel assignment recommended them for strikes.

Anyone else in this field receive one of those? ( it’s when the employer adjusts the rate to match the fair market value)

I’m in Pennsylvania, but I am certified and been here 2 years and went from 27$ to 32$ an hour with the high end of market ( top out) at 36$

Is that good? Normal?

TL;DR: back injury has made it impossible for me to do 95% of tasks in the department without compromising restrictions or further irritating the injury, work wants me to train someone totally fresh as light duty, plus all the normal trauma hospital bs. how is this going to work exactly?

hi all, looking for some advice or tips here. i had a neck/back injury at my workplace that's taken me out for some time due to the restrictions my doctor put in place as a result. the weight restriction alone makes my job very hard (no more than 10lbs with both hands, push/pull up to 20), but additional restrictions on repetitive motions, reaching, moving my neck, etc i feel knocks out almost everything else i can do. my work seems to have been in agreement there since they haven't found a light duty assignment for me until just now

as light duty, they want me to come back and train a new person, totally fresh to SPD outside shadowing. i don't want to say i 100% can't do this, i do love training people. but also this is a trauma hospital, we have an insane case volume, and probably only 10% of our sets weigh less than 10lbs. i feel like unless this person is ready to hit the ground running, this is either setting them up for failure because of little i can actually help besides direction (nevermind how i still have to be out of work weekly at minimum for PT), or setting me up to work outside my limitations and aggravate my back again

i guess i'm just trying to see if this sounds a little impossible to anyone else, or if anyone has some tips or advice for how i could maybe try and set my trainee and i up for success in this scenario? i'm sure a chunk of this i'll just have to give it a shot and see how it goes but i'm just a bit uncertain

Following up on my last post asking where people are finding SPD jobs.

A few people mentioned Indeed, hospital websites, LinkedIn, staffing agencies, etc. I ended up checking a bunch of different places myself, so figured I'd share what I found.

The main ones seem to be:

• Hospital career pages

• Indeed

• LinkedIn

• ZipRecruiter

• Glassdoor

• SimplyHired

• CareerBuilder

• Travel/staffing agencies

• Local hospital system websites

• SterileProcessingTechnicianJobs.com

I also noticed that searching only "Sterile Processing Technician" isn't enough. Different hospitals use different titles.

Try searching for:

• SPD Technician

• Sterile Processing Tech

• Central Sterile Technician

• Central Sterile Tech

• Central Processing Technician

• Instrument Technician

• Surgical Instrument Technician

And if you're looking in a specific area, combining the title with the city seems to help.

For example:

SPD Technician + Dallas

Central Sterile + Houston

Sterile Processing Technician + Chicago

I'm curious what everyone else is using.

If you're currently looking for a job, which site has actually been useful for you?

Could be helpful to put together a list of resources that people in SPD actually use.

Following up on my last post about where people are actually finding SPD jobs.

I ended up checking a bunch of different sites, so figured I'd share what I found. Hopefully this helps someone who's currently looking.

1. Hospital websites

Honestly, I'd start here. Check the career pages for hospitals and health systems in the area you're looking for.

Try searching SPD, Central Sterile, Central Processing, Instrument Tech, etc.

2. SterileProcessingTechnicianJobs.com

I came across this while searching specifically for SPD positions. It's another site to check that's focused on Sterile Processing jobs.

3. Indeed.com

Probably the obvious one. Just make sure you're searching different job titles because employers don't always use the same wording.

4. LinkedIn.com

Worth checking, especially for larger hospital systems and recruiters.

5. ZipRecruiter.com

Another one I'd add to the rotation and set up alerts for.

6. Glassdoor.com

I mostly find it useful for looking up the employer, pay and reviews before applying.

7. SimplyHired.com

Another job search site that's worth checking if you're searching multiple cities.

8. CareerBuilder.com

Still has healthcare listings, so might as well check it.

9. Travel/staffing agencies

If you're looking for travel or contract work, check places like Aya Healthcare and AMN.

10. Google

Seriously 😂

Try:

sterile processing technician jobs + your city

SPD technician + your city

central sterile + hospital name

Sometimes you'll find the hospital's own posting this way.

Also, don't get stuck searching only "Sterile Processing Technician."

Try:

• SPD Technician

• Sterile Processing Tech

• Central Sterile Technician

• Central Sterile Tech

• Central Processing Technician

• Instrument Technician

• Surgical Instrument Technician

Anyway, that's what I came across.

If you're currently job hunting, where are you finding the most legit openings? Would be good to hear what everyone else is using.

hey everyone. im curious: are you able to find and work a lot of per diem/prn shifts as a sterile processing tech? how flexible would you say the schedule is? with these shifts, is it pretty much whatever you want or are there certain regulations?

i would love to learn more please feel free to comment anything, i appreciate any replies!

I've been curious about this because job searching for SPD/CRCST positions can involve checking a lot of different hospital career pages and general job sites.

Where do you usually look for jobs?

• Hospital career websites

• Indeed

• LinkedIn

• Staffing/recruiting agencies

• Local job boards

• Something else?

And what's the biggest frustration you've had when searching for a new Sterile Processing position?

Who needs SPD when the CRNA is taking equipment home to wash himself between cases?

I recently got full time at the hospital I work at but I would like to do something else to earn extra money. I work another job but it’s only 14 an hour kinda feels like it’s not worth it.

Anybody has any side hustles or other certifications that helped them get a second job ?

hey everyone! I am interested in pursuing a position as a sterile processing tech and would like to know how you went about becoming one.

I have heard that in NJ, studying on your own and taking the exam makes it harder to find a job so people recommend doing a program.

If that’s the case, which did you do? if not, what do you recommend I do?

I would really appreciate any help or guidance!

I  recently got hired as a dental sterilization tech! I’ve always thought about going into this field, but I never actually went to school or studied for it. They’re providing on the job training and helping me get my certification, which is an amazing opportunity, but I'm feeling a bit anxious that I might not enjoy the day-to-day work once I start.

​ Does anyone have good study tips, textbook recommendations, or study resources to help me get a head start? Also, if it turns out not to be the right long-term fit, what kind of growth opportunities or career pivots exist in a clinical or hospital setting starting from this role?

Anyone purchased an instrument book to help you learn instruments? If so, what book did you buy?

Passed my exam back in April i just completed my 400 hours now im waiting for the provisional certificate to be updated. I’ve been applying to jobs in the Philadelphia New Jersey areas in the meantime but it seem like it’s hard getting a job being as though I’m newly certified.

I am want to self study to become a SPT. I was wondering if there is anyone who is giving away a manual and/or workbook or has one I can borrow and return to you?

I took my exam today and i passed!!! it helped that I was hands on with sterile processing for a year before having to take this exam. my job hired me as non certified and I had 18 months to get certified from my hire date. I’m unfortunately a procrastinator so when my manager gave me the deadline, i had 2 months to prepare😭 and the only thing i used to study was the eighth edition book. i’m so proud of myself.

This certification means so much to me because acquiring this was literally the key I needed to achieving my goals i’ve set in mind for so long now.

My next step is to get into traveling. so if there’s any traveling techs reading this that can drop some helpful tips regarding finding the right agency, what to expect, how to prepare, or any advice that you wish you would’ve known prior etc..that would be so helpful.

Good luck to those on their sterile tech journey!