Sterile Processing & Surgical Technologist

Overview

Surgical and Sterile Prep Technicians are members of the surgical and support teams working under the supervision and authority of the surgeon within the scope of practice of state law and hospital policy. These surgical team members help prepare the operating room by setting up sterile surgical instruments, equipment, supplies, and medications. They check to ensure that all equipment is in the proper place and working properly. They also assist the surgeon in donning PPE as well as transport the patient to the OR, position and drape the patient for the specific procedure, prepare the skin for the procedure, and assist the surgeon as needed during the procedure. The sterile processing part of the job requires workers to perform and participate in decontamination, cleaning, assembling, packaging, scanning, sterilization, storage, and distribution of reusable surgical instrumentation and equipment. 

This course covers the following key areas and topics:

• Operating room roles and responsibilities
• Medical terminology, human anatomy, physiology, and medical conditions.
• Proper infection control procedures and practices for patient care
• Sterile surgical environment
• Surgical instruments, equipment, supplies, materials, and medications for general and specialized surgical procedures.
• Preparing the patient for a surgical procedure
• Caring for the patient during a surgical procedure
• Caring for the patient after the surgical procedure.
• Preparing the surgical environment for specific procedures.
• Selected surgical procedures including the role of the surgical technologist.
• Medical laws and ethics related to surgical procedures
• Effective communication and patient care strategies
• SPD functions and safety precautions
• Health and safety regulations, standards, and guidelines that apply to the processing of medical devices and instrumentation
• Anatomy and physiology relate to the work performed in the sterile processing department
• Basic factors in disease transmission and defenses against infection
• Regulated medical waste and non-infectious waste
• Bloodborne pathogens
• Quality decontamination processes
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) as it relates to OSHA regulations and employee safety and health
• Chemical disinfection functions
• Disinfecting agents used in the decontamination process
• Disassembly, cleaning, disinfecting, inspecting, reassembling, testing, storing, and distributing movable patient care equipment
• Instruments sets, preparating basins and textile packs