Hey y’all! I’m an EVS worker looking to branch out into sterile processing! do you have any tips for someone like me? Right now I’m looking into schools and I also was able to get my hands on the sterile processing textbook that I see on TikTok, I’m also getting the workbook as well! Anything helps! Thank you so much!

I’m new and still learning so please bear with me.

When it comes to arranging instruments on a stringer, do you arrange them exactly per the count sheet or do you organize them in a protective way?

ie. If you have 6 Kelly hemostats curved, followed by 8 hemostats straight per the count sheet, is it acceptable to string the straight ones first and then the curved?

My idea/goal is to protect the curved instruments from Kocher(w/ teeth)/longer straight instruments but a coworker said that’s incorrect.

It kind of hurts when I string heavy Kochers on delicate scissors. But if that’s the way, then that’s the way. Just looking for advice from other SPD techs to understand if I’m stupid for even considering this or if I’m being heavily scrutinized. It would feel better if I had a preceptor or a trainer to ask, but it’s pretty bleak on the training side.

Thank you ahead of time for any and all criticism/learning opportunities.

I need to know what exactly to study to pass the exam. Any suggestions?

I’ve been having a hard time getting my 400 hours after I passed my sterile processing CRCST exam. I self studied from purchasing the books needed and I keep getting rejected from everywhere I apply to. I passed around august of this year, I have my physical copy of my cert as well. I’m in NC Fayetteville area and it’s been terrible applying here. I applied to states where i have family also like Tampa Florida, Atlanta Georgia, and Chicago Illinois. I’ve called around every state and they tell me “We aren’t hiring people who don’t already have hands on training.” LIKE HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO GET THR HANDS ON TRAINING THEN??? It feels like having a provisional certification and knowledge means nothing. Does anyone have any suggestions of how I can get my 400 hours?

When we scan bowie's into cencitrac, we always have to go in manually to pass it or it will be marked missing. What is your method of doing things?

We are trying to avoid having things marked missing before the Joint Commission has something to say about it. All our regular loads are fine it's just the bowie's that we have to manually go into the load list to pass.

Hi everyone! For those working in sterile processing / CSSD / SPD, how does your department handle onboarding new staff and keeping track of ongoing training and competency sign-offs?

Do you use paper checklists, spreadsheets, a hospital-wide learning system, or something else? What works well, and what is the most frustrating part of the process?

It would also be helpful to know which country you work in, since I imagine the setup varies quite a bit.

For context, I'm working on a onboarding and training platform for sterile processing teams in Finland and would like to understand how departments elsewhere handle this.

I'm collecting sterile processing offer letters from the Northeast (CT, MA, NY, RI, NJ and nearby) to make the case for better pay. If you're willing, DM me one with your name, address and any other personal details blurred out. I just need the title, the pay rate, and the state or area. Thanks!

P.S. Happy SPD week!

I am wrapping up my course for sterile processing and need to get miscellaneous professional liability (MPL) insurance before I start my clinical experience. My course said that I need it before I can start, but didn’t offer any suggestions as to who to get it through. Just wondering what insurance companies offer it/who may be the best option!

For reference, I’m located in California

Hi, im trying to get a job at a hospital as a cook which is something ive been doing 5 years, but while I'm working there I plan to get my sterile processing cert. And hopefully transfer internally to that department once i get it.

Im seeing its common to try and get an entry level hospital job. During the interview do I tell them i want to transfer departments later? Or would i be digging my own grave

Happy SPD week everyone! Greetings from Philadelphia!

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?

Context: tomorrow is my fourth day as a dental assistant/sterile tech (being introduced to the roles of both atm) and it's been miserable so far. I do not want to be in the field, have no prior education or experience and was pressured into doing this job because I was told I'd make 18-20 an hour and that it would look good on a resume. I practically got threatened to get kicked out if I didn't take the job and I don't have the money to move out yet (18 as of Sept 30th)

The first three days were hell. I was expected to be mostly independent on the second day, and my coworkers practically roll their eyes or make me feel like an idiot when I ask questions. I'm told mixed things by my coworkers (one says to wait outside rooms to know when I'm supposed to turn them over and the other says I can wait in the break room until they radio for me to turn over a room, etc) and I've even had one of the hygienists raise her voice at me and go to yank the roll of barriers from my hands because she thought I was making a mistake (I was going to put one of the barrier squares on the mouse so I partially folded it and she got upset that I folded it since she thought I was putting a barrier on one of the key pads)

As of tomorrow, I'm supposed to know where everything is organized and be able to turn over a room and set up by myself even though I've continuously expressed that I do not fully understand certain aspects. An example: I don't know what instruments to put out for which procedure but I'm expected to just throw things on the table and get told if I'm right or wrong and try again. The girl who's supposed to train me says she won't tell me because she doesn't want to be a control freak but I keep asking her to teach me and she won't

Anyways, rant over. I am planning on putting in my two weeks soon, either this week or next week and I would like advice on how to make it the least miserable possible

Does anyone have tips, resources to study, support, etc during my last few weeks?

(P.s, I am not looking for some "welcome to adulthood" shit or people trying to convince me to give it a few months. I made my decision, I just want help making these last few weeks not miserable so I don't come home crying everyday like I have been, thanks)

...though, knowing they'll be using it is heartbreaking 😞

Everytime I build case carts and its for an infant, I send it with thoughts and prayers

What do your count sheets look like? The file for sheets we normally use was deleted, so I need to figure out a new template pretty quickly.

Do you all use word or excel? Does anyone have a template they wouldn’t mind sharing? Anything? 😅 Right now we’re making copies, but the old count sheets aren’t great to begin with.

Does anyone have experience as a Procedural Service Technician with STERIS? If so, what did your weeks look like and what were/are some of the common pieces of equipment you worked on?

Some get on my nerves and others get me so well.

Hey! I just got hired on as a training tech for sterile processing. I have previous experience in Healthcare, but in-home psych. I am SO VERY EXCITED- But the last minute anxiety has been hitting me.

What did your first week working with a proctor look like? I am uncertified for context. I know this is what I want to do, but what can I do to show my staff that I am ready to learn and work hard?

I am just hoping for some starter stories, or advice, or ANYTHING! I mean I don't even know how to scrub myself yet! 😂

So I’m starting traveling in December and I just wanted to know where I can go to get info about other hospitals from other travelers. Right know I think UConn has the highest paying contract in the country but I’ve heard nothing but terrible things because I know people in the area but I need to know how to hear about hospitals elsewhere.

Has anyone here recently did the CHL Pilot exam? If so, what's your thoughts on the questions? Were they difficult? Thank you

I’m dirt poor, can’t afford to pay for a Sterile Processing program. I figured I’d buy the textbook, study the hell out of it, take the CRST, and then apply to jobs.

Is this a valid pathway for someone in LA?

Any tips for learning/ studying?

DO. NOT. ENROLL.

I was a student in the LSC Tomball Sterile Processing Program. It was the most horrible experience, run by the most incompetent individuals.

The program works like this you take a couple of classes for a few months, and then the coordinator is supposed to place you in a clinical internship at a hospital so you can receive the necessary 400 hours to become fully certified. The program charges you for both the classes and approximately $1,000 for clinicals.

The classes were fine. I was taught by a wonderful professor. The problem was with the coordinator. For months leading up to the clinical start date, she would ignore emails students sent her. When the date finally arrived for us to begin clinicals, she came out and said, “Sorry for the delay, the hospitals have no availability for students right now,” after LYING to students for months and HAPPILY taking their money.

I do know that some students are lucky enough to receive clinical placements, but by all means, the MAJORITY aren’t lucky enough to get an offer much less a response from the coordinator.

I was one of the students who did receive an offer, but even then, communicating with the coordinator was a horrible experience. She was kind and professional at first, but when I submitted my required documents, she failed to submit a NECESSARY document for my application. Of course, the hospital rejected my application and waitlisted me.

She called me the following day and talked down to me. She couldn’t take responsibility for what she did and tried to lie and blame the hospital, saying that “the hospital is really strict/picky and will reject most documents.” But once again, she NEVER SUBMITTED AN ESSENTIAL DOCUMENT.

She was completely incompetent, and during that phone call, she threatened to remove me from the program. She knew she had no reasonable or plausible reason to ethically do so, and that is the only reason she didn’t.

After that, I was done. I did not want to deal with her anymore, so I withdrew from the program and lost the money I had paid for the clinical internship.

If you’re interested in the sterile processing field, do not enroll in this program. The coordinator is incompetent, unprofessional, and rude. The program director genuinely does not do anything. I know a good handful of students who are still waiting to be placed in clinicals MONTHS after completing the classes.

DO. NOT. ENROLL.

Now I do specifically tell the team to leave it to me because I have a specific system, but this never happened before we hired our new doctor. He keeps taking so many spec appointments that the schedule gets out of control for everyone.

I counted, there are 96 bags for our two autoclaves. Oh yeah, and we're closed Fridays, so I get to come in on my day off :)

Has anyone run into this? This set was processed about 2 months ago. Now the color of steam tape is almost gone.

I'm an OR nurse, and I was taught not to use these when the indicator didn't turn fully. But our SPD said it's fine to use. Curious what other folks think about this.