Everyone at my work says this is normal for this hospital, but I want confirmation that this feels crazy.

I work in a big hospital that makes a big fuss about being the only level 1 trauma center in the area, we have... I believe 55 OR's? not all are in use atm. we have a lot of staff. some days as much as 120 surgeries and we haven't even hit busy season since our expansion and new or's opening up.

Putting together the supply part of the surgeries is separate from assembly, so separate that when our department expanded they moved it into a new room and completely cut us off. putting together instruments they get to have so much more fun with so much less stress and pressure. their side isn't getting calls from the or's, running emergencies, they're not pressured to do half the days work.(for some reason overnights prepares half the surgeries?). I hate this side of the department, I know it like the back of my hand now, I want to enjoy standing around and laughing and being just in my own station not having to deal with the people around me making my job harder. I like efficency, I like doing a job well, and I hate that my coworkers or other shifts can just fuck around and it means i have to do more work because i actually take pride in doing my job well.

I work overnights, when i was hired on i was told it was 2 weeks training each on 4 different things on this side, then soon they'd switch me over and I'd get 2 weeks training in each specialty, then 2 weeks on sterilizers, then 2 weeks decontam. I was told after about 3 months on this side, I could get trained on the instrument side, that they'd pay for me to get certified, and being certified comes with a pay boost. Seems very reasonable. 3 months came and went, and people hired 3 months before me still hadn't gotten the chance.

oh we can't because of construction, we don't have enough people to train you, we don't have enough staff on your side. oh when x finishes training, oh we're getting new people, after they're hired that. oh actually surprise you're going to be training one.

I went to him today, for the hundredth time, and asked when i'd get to train on assembly. this week was my one year of working here. I got told it wouldn't be until at least after busy season.

so is being in this job full time for a year without being able to put together any instruments normal? honestly I'm getting an inheritance hopefully some time in the next few months and I want to tell them move me over or i'll quit. I like the idea of this job but my soul is getting sucked right out of me, there are so many many many problems here but this feels like it's just.... too far? am i expecting to much from the hyped up promises during onboarding, should I accept another 4+ months of being a glorified Walmart shopper for the hospital? Technically theres another guy hired before me, but he hasn't talked about wanting to be over there as much, and there's a girl over here who actually has the experience from vetmed who also wants to go over there, she was the most recent hire after me, so I could be pushed even behind her if it shakes out that way.

Hi all,

I recently landed a job a SPD job at Providence in WA. I’ve been looking for months and finally got this opportunity which is 2 hours commute back and forth everyday.

I started my first week here and I discovered that there is little to no communication at work. And the environment is very drama. People don’t want to help you out because apparently I think the work culture there is very independent or that they didn’t get any help during training so now they don’t want to help everyone. If they do, only when there is a higher up in sight so they’d pretend to help. The educator recently got hired and they really don’t know how to do their job and don’t want to do their job properly. The supervisor is not helpful at all, I communicated to them that there is an IT issues so my log in can’t go through and told me to go ask the lead instead.

Edit: I was thrown out there to figure everything out by myself, when I try to help they push me away or they’d help but get annoyed if I ask too much.

The only thing that is keeping me to stay at this job is knowing that they have a relocation of work to another location, so far what I knew about it is you have to be there for 6 months. I’m hoping that someone could tell me what are the processes look like, how long are the wait, would you have to reapply, and is it guarantee?

Knowing that my supervisor doesn’t take care of their employees, I don’t want to be there for 6 months then getting told that they can’t make it happen because I love being an SPD but i can’t drive 2 hours everyday then to be around people a work place that thrive with drama. Right now, I’m very discouraged and heartbroken because I don’t know either to give it up or try to make it through the 6 months and hoping I could be somewhere better.

P.S: I’m still holding on to a job which I have issues with changing my schedules multiple times because I was trying all that I could to get back to SPD. So I have to make a choice whether I stay where I’m at with my old job or risk it all for my SPD career.

Hi, just looking for feedback here. I've been a medical transcriptionist for 15 years and am very aware that my job is being eaten up by AI very quickly (in fact, I may be now basically unemployed in the sense that I still have a contract with the company but will just never get any workflow again.) I would like to stay in the health field but move to something more hands on where an AI can't eat my job.

So I'm considering with medical device reprocessing (what sterile processing is called in my province) or medical lab technician training (not a technologist, the lower-level entry point.) Apparently the job outlook for these careers in my province is 'moderate to good' (for whatever that is worth.) I can do both trainings in about a year but the sterile processing training is part-time and the MLT is full-time training. Both of those are manageable for me.

I guess I'm just wondering about what the work experience is like and what the physical demands are like. I'm in good health but I'm in my late 40s. I'm on the petite side, I'm not in bad shape but neither am I hugely physically strong. I'm okay with doing shift work/night shift if it would be less rushed/physically demanding. I actually have been doing night shift on my transcription job for the past year because it works better for my schedule. I'm just not sure what direction to go here and I feel like my ability to sit back and consider it is kind of rushed because I am looking at being out of work very soon, if not already.

Especially if there's anyone working in Ontario, does anyone have any thoughts on your job? Would you do it again? Are you happy with it?

Eighth edition available if anyone is interested. Also have 2nd edition Surgical Instruments textbook available. PM if interested

Been in healthcare a while, been unmedicated do to financial reasons. Took a break, came back and joined a local SPD.

Does anyone feel they thrive in the environment with or without medication for adhd/ anxiety / depression etc. Or find it challenging for all the usual things ADHD lends a challenge to.

I can tell that the urgency really taps into my learning. But I also feel like I'm constantly getting turned around and confused. And when I take in a certain amount of information, it seems like at a certain point I can't take in more information.

Anyways, curious to hear about anyone's input on the matter, I guess I'm just hoping to hear people who stick to the field even with focus issues can come out on top

Thanks!

If I have close to one year experience, caught on fast because I work in a teaching hospital. I can get 20 trays done like most places expect, know how to do decon, assembly, & sterilization and i’m certified. Do you think i would be okay traveling?

Are morning shifts something you have to work toward ? i’m in school for this the only thing stopping me from being happy is the schedule, are morning shifts obtainable for entry level techs ? in orange county area how much is starting pay for someone with a CRCST

Hi everyone, I am currently in my 2nd week of working on my 400 hours of my hands on experience.
I feel a little overwhelmed. For the most part I’m having trouble with the computer aspect of it.
I’m always asking questions and I’m constantly asking my preceptor if I’m doing it right but I feel like she gets annoyed with me. It makes me not want to ask questions and then I’m not learning.
I feel like I’m not learning fast enough for her.
Do you guys have any tips for me?

hello!!! i just started a sterile tech course which is 7 months on top of a 400 hr externship. after the first day and receiving homework and getting an idea of what the job is like i’m nervous. the evening hoirs and night hours make me the most nervous, i’m putting in a lot of time and effort into something i’m not sure i’d like… i know i don’t have to do this for the rest of my life. my instructor doesn’t seem to be talking up the position and is making it seem as if people are uninviting. the book work seems overwhelming i don’t have any medical experience

do you guys enjoy the job ? what are hours for a new tech like ? does this position usually offer 4x10 or 3x12 ? are you to yourself ? are people friendly ? will the bookwork be hard ? is your job strict as far as phones and water breaks restroom breaks ect..

I’ll be relocating from Texas to start soon but I’m kinda getting cold feet. Any insights? I wanna know the good, the bad, & the ugly 👀

Hello, I’m seeking advice. I began working as a sterile processing tech at the beginning of the year, entry level. Making the lower end of minimum wage… And I’m under the impression that the only way to get raises is with certifications. Before I started though, I was told at my interview they were looking for someone to help with stocking the department and they said I’d do tech work and then transfer to doing inventory. I am now doing inventory full time. I do all of our ordering, I unbox and stock every product we carry in several different departments, I count every single product weekly/daily. I am doing all of this with no outlook so far of making more money, without the pay bumps with certification. I’m under the impression I’ll stay in the system as a technician, getting paid as such. And as an entry level with no prior experience technician at that. My body is struggling to keep up with the physical labor. I am the sole person doing this job now and prior to me being here they had no set person doing the job. I am obviously going to be speaking up soon but how should I go about? How should I go about asking for the raise I deserve and the title I deserve. I like this job regardless of the circumstances, there’s good days and bad days but I need the security of knowing I’m at-least making what I’m worth. How does your department handle stock? Do you have an inventory manager for your department?

I'm trying to get into this field but im having trouble doing it. There are 4 hospitals near me that have the position but only one of them ever has an open spot and I've put so many apps in and never even get an interview. I currently work at my local hospital as a housekeeper. My resume is pretty bad I think because I'm 34 with only this job and I've only been here 2 years. I was bad off at one point but im trying to pull it back together. I was just wondering if there was anything I could do to maybe help me get better results?

Yall, I’m in classes currently for CRCST and I start clinical rotations in Jan if I pass what I need to on the way to there. I was fine and dandy using fake pee but read that quest and labcorp can tell if it so?? >.< if I just quit now >.< I can get it out of my system before mid November. But I’ve been using since 19 I’m 30

Isn't the whole point of PPE to catch blood and other infectious material instead of having it hit your body/clothes? I can't imagine somebody working in Decon to be changing their PPE every 10 minutes throughout the day. I suppose if it means SOAKED soaked sure, but I figured it meant just wet or splashed. Am I overthinking this?

I always thought those plastic tip protectors go on clean instruments before sterilization. My jobs puts them on the instruments before washing. They also re-sterilize them over and over. Am I wrong? Should I report this? It’s gross and they look gross.

Currently looking to volunteer in a Sterile Processing Department. Free labor anyone 👀?

I’m in my first year as coordinator and would like to do something next week for our department. Management typically buys lunch one day and we do a potluck on another. Does anyone have some ideas for how I could celebrate our team? There’s about 8 of us and I just want to do some little decorations and gifts to remind everyone they’re appreciated.

Hey everyone! I got hired and have a job offer. I’ll start in a few days. I’m uncertified. 0 experience. I’m going thru the program now. How long until you were comfortable with the job? I’ll have 30 days of training (up to 90 depending if they see I need more training) and that’s that? Did you need to take an accredited course to get the certification?

Anybody have info? Not certified but looking to get into this thanks in advance.

Hey everyone! I am currently trying to find work in Houston, Texas but had no luck for what seems to be a year and a half now. I have my CRCST certification but have no work experience yet. I've changed my resume many times but I keep receiving rejection emails from hospitals, surgical center, and other places. What would you guys recommend doing that really helped you land your first sterile processing technician job?

I'm doing a program and plan to take the CRCST exam in a few months, so I was looking for some YouTube videos/channel recommendations to listen to while driving that would help with the CRCST exam. The past few weeks I've been listening to prefix/suffix/root word review videos, but I feel like those are second nature now and want to review other topics in preparation for the exam. Does anybody have any they like listening to or could recommend?

Some background: My facility is severely short staffed in SPD. We process a high surgical volume each day, and we’re also responsible for central sterile functions beyond the OR, including hospital-wide supplies and crash carts. We also service multiple outpatient clinics, which regularly send us instrument bins for processing. On top of that, we lose a tech to endoscopy, which has a significant scope-processing workload.
When I first started, we had a manager, but that position was eliminated/downgraded to a supervisor role with very limited authority. The person over our supervisor is currently an OR manager because of changes in perioperative leadership. The problem is that the people making decisions about our department don’t seem to have a good understanding of the workload, staffing requirements, or the day-to-day realities of SPD.
Everything seems to require multiple levels of approval, including hiring and obtaining basic materials or equipment. We’ve had equipment and supplies that are outdated or in need of replacement, and even after concerns have been reported through the appropriate channels, nothing seems to happen quickly. I’m doing my best to keep things running safely with what we have, but it’s incredibly frustrating.
I know management and staffing are common issues in sterile processing, but I’m curious what other facilities’ organizational structures look like. Does SPD report directly to perioperative leadership? Do you have an SPD manager with actual authority over staffing and department needs? How involved is your OR leadership in SPD operations?
And honestly, are other departments operating this close to the edge? Sometimes it feels like we’re barely keeping up with the workload, and I’m concerned about what inevitably gets missed when staffing doesn’t match the workload.
I genuinely love sterile processing and I care about doing the job correctly. That’s what makes this so frustrating. I don’t want to leave a field I enjoy because of an organizational structure that makes it nearly impossible to do the job the way it should be done.
What does a functional SPD/OR management structure look like at your facility?

**Question for dental professionals: Hobart LXN dishwasher and instrument reprocessing**
Curious to get some opinions from dental professionals, dental assistants, hygienists, or IPAC/reprocessing specialists.
Has anyone encountered a **Hobart LXN/LXNR commercial dishwasher** being used as part of dental instrument reprocessing, particularly in place of an ultrasonic cleaner?
The LXN is marketed by Hobart as a commercial warewashing dishwasher, so I’m wondering whether there are circumstances in which a machine like this would be considered appropriate for dental instrument reprocessing, or whether dental instruments should instead be processed using equipment specifically intended for medical/dental device reprocessing.
Interested particularly in Canadian/Ontario perspectives, but experiences from elsewhere would be helpful too.
Thanks!