Sterile Processing
This course (HLTH 1250) teaches students to handle medical equipment and surgical instrumentation in a safe and sanitary manner in order to begin to prepare them for work within a sterile processing department.
Do you need help paying for this course? You may be eligible for GAP Assistance. Contact Heather Bloomquist at hbloomquist@southeast.edu to find out more and apply.
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Employment for Medical Equipment Preparers (i.e. Sterile Processing Technicians) is projected to grow 8% from 2018 to 2028, faster than average for all occupations.
The average annual wage for Medical Equipment Preparers in Nebraska was $34,220 in May 2018. The median hourly wage was $16.09 in May 2017.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Data for Occupations Not Covered in Detail, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/about/data-for-occupations-not-covered-in-detail.htm#Healthcare%20support%20occupations
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook,May 2017 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Nebraska, https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes_ne.htm#31-0000
- Set aside at least 5 hours per week to study and read the material in the textbook
- Be on time and prepared for class and lab
- Be an active part of classroom and lab activities
- Get plenty of rest and strive for a healthy diet
- Develop study groups or an accountability partner outside of class
- Complete and submit assignments and exams on dates due
- Be willing to critique other classmates and accept their comments to improve your performance
- Be willing to accept constructive criticism within the lab setting
- Develop a method of retaining information (notes, flashcards, etc.)
This course will:
- Define Roles and Responsibilities to include the history of SPD, the agencies that regulate it and the functions of the sterile processor and the sterile processing department.
- Discuss basic sciences of Anatomy, Physiology and Microbiology to include body systems and microorganisms. To include how they work, their need to survive and the diseases that plague healthcare facilities.
- Address Infection Control in relation to the principles, concepts and the best way to protect yourself.
- Explain Decontamination and the basics of cleaning, selection and use of detergents, various types of mechanical cleaning equipment, manual cleaning, processing of specialty devices.
- Discuss Chemical Disinfection - types of disinfectants (environmental and high level), their uses and best practices.
- Identify Patient Care Equipment - the various types of equipment, their uses and how to best process them.
- Identify Preparation and Packaging - types of packaging materials and systems, wrapping methods, care and handling of rigid container systems.
- Identify Surgical Instruments - basic instrument anatomy and uses, care, handling and testing of instruments, classifications of instruments and preparation of various devices.
- Define Sterilization - the requirements for sterilization for steam, (pre-vac and gravity displacement), ethylene oxide gas, low temperature gas plasma, dry heat, ozone and peracetic acid sterilization. Use of chemical indicators, their classifications; use of biological testing and frequency. The new formulation of ozone sterilization has been included.
- Discuss Sterile Storage - proper environmental conditions for sterile storage, transportation of sterile product. How to best protect stored items.
- Discuss Inventory Control and Distribution - the various methods for supply distribution and inventory management concepts.
- Provide basic Medical Terminology needed to better understand the course content.