+ Position Summary

+ Advocates best practice for patients’ health and safety in Sterile Processing Department. Performs the work of a sterile processing technician. Helps to monitor compliance of department policies and procedures. Ensures all actions taken in carrying out responsibilities support patient centered care. Under general direction of Supervisor, assigns and coordinates activities for specific service line.

+ Position Responsibilities

+ Unit Specific Position Responsibilities

+ Employs strategies to promote health and a safe environment for the sterile processing staff.

+ Safety and Practice

– Practices ethically.

– Employs strategies to promote health and a safe environment for sterile processing staff.

– Maintains professional competence.

– Integrates evidence and research findings into practice.

– Practices in an environmentally safe and healthy manner.

+ Set up and operate all equipment used in Sterile Processing arena.

+ Communication

– Communicates and collaborates with interdisciplinary team

– Communicates with OR and SPD staff to ensure coordination of supply and instrumentation needs.

– Communicates effectively in all areas of practice.

– Communicates with OR, SPD staff, and Surgeon to ensure coordination of supply and instrumentation for scheduled procedures.

+ Education

– Continually reassesses competencies and identifies needs for additional knowledge, skills, personal growth, and integrative learning experiences

– Participates as a preceptor and mentor while providing education / orientation to staff, students, and others.

– Is a resource for unit specific core competencies.

– Assists Clinical Resource Nurse with department orientation goals

– Helps ensure compliance with regulatory agencies in meeting or exceeding Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) and Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrument (AAMI) Standards

– Ensures adherence to standardized sterilization procedures

– Ensures readiness and availability of instrumentation and products for scheduled procedures and urgent

– Maintains OR and SPD sterilization records and reviews monthly for compliance

– Reports sterilization data to Infection Control Committee on a quarterly basis

– Collects sterilization usage data and sends report to Surgical Services Leadership on a monthly basis

+ Inventory

– Helps maintain OR sterilization records and reviews daily for compliance

– Participates in annual/bi-annual inventory

– Completes Inventory count information of supplies, implants, and instrumentation in SPD

– In collaboration with Surgical Services Leadership, evaluates opportunities for supply standardization and inventory control

+ Leadership

– Demonstrates leadership in the professional practice setting and the profession.

– Evaluates staff assignments based on acuity of patient, procedure length, complexity and staff experience.

– Monitors time and attendance in Kronos. Schedules staff in Kronos.

– Cross trains as needed in other functions of surgical services.

– Performs other assigned duties as needed

+ – Collaboration

– Cooperates as a member of the perioperative and overall hospital team.

– Participates in quality improvement activities and shared decision making teams.

– Ensures all instruments are loaded and maintained in CensiTrac.

– Collaborates with McFarland Clinic sterile processing staff regarding instrument reprocessing procedures

+ Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience

+ Required Qualifications (Including any licensure, certification, education):

+ Certified Surgical Scrub Technologist or,

+ Registered Nurse or Associate degree in a clinically-related healthcare field

+ If Registered Nurse, must have Current Iowa nursing license.

+ CRCST certification within 1 year of hire

+ Member of AAMI (Assoc. for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation)

+ Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers training, or within 90 days of hire and must maintain throughout employment.

+ Organizational Requirements:

+ Maintain stroke education per regulatory requirements.

+ Preferred Qualifications:

+ None Specified

+ Required Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

+ Two (2) years current Sterile Processing experience or two years of current Surgical Services experience

+ Proficient in communication skills.

+ Ability to pursue and foster a sense of team and partnership across all disciplines.

+ Ability to operate and handle many kinds of complex equipment.

+ Innovative, with the ability to think “outside the box.”

+ A strong service orientation

+ Excellent interpersonal skills; a positive, optimistic “can-do” approach to problems

+ Able to interact effectively with people at all levels of the organization

+ Ability to identify trends and resource data

+ Strong written, verbal and listening skills

+ Able to balance employee advocacy with Mary Greeley Medical Center’s needs

+ Able to mentor staff and develop their strengths

+ Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

+ Surgical Services Leadership experience