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Sterile processing technician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Sterile processing technician example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical sterile processing technician skills. We ranked the top skills for sterile processing technicians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 18.1% of sterile processing technician resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a sterile processing technician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 sterile processing technician skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how sterile processing technicians use patients:
  • Performed decontamination, assembly and sterilization methods of the facility medical tools and instruments to be safely reused on patients.
  • Demonstrated the ability to establish effective working relationships while communicating effectively and understandably with patients, customers and physicians.

2. Sterilizers

Here's how sterile processing technicians use sterilizers:
  • Operated, maintained sterile surgical equipment though operation of steam sterilizers, Hydrogen Peroxide sterilizers, Ethylene Oxide gas sterilization systems.
  • Completed instrument sets are then wrapped with non-woven disposable Kim-guard and placed into appropriate sterilizers depending on sensitivity of the item.

3. IAHCSMM

Here's how sterile processing technicians use iahcsmm:
  • Accumulated over 400 hours needed to take and passed the IAHCSMM Exam and became a Certified Registered Central Sterile Processor.
  • Maintained Standards set by AAMI and IAHCSMM.

4. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how sterile processing technicians use customer service:
  • Maintained standards of work performance and methods of operation for department.customer service computerized record keeping.
  • Provided immediate customer service and processed request for the Peri-Operative department.

5. Medical Terminology

Here's how sterile processing technicians use medical terminology:
  • Utilized knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy, as well as commonly performed surgical procedures, and the instrumentation utilized.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of medical terminology and corresponding surgical procedures.

6. Cleanliness

Here's how sterile processing technicians use cleanliness:
  • Prepared equipment by ensuring its cleanliness and correct temperatures were reached and maintained to prevent contamination.
  • Disassembled and reassembled instruments, equipment and various items to ensure cleanliness prior to sterilization.

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7. Medical Equipment

Medical equipment refers to apparatus for use in medical procedures.

Here's how sterile processing technicians use medical equipment:
  • Interpreted and monitored biological and chemical test results to ensure quality and consistency for decontamination of instruments and medical equipment.
  • Assigned full performance duties of decontaminating, preparing, sterilizing and distributing surgical instruments, hospital trays and medical equipment.

8. AAMI

Here's how sterile processing technicians use aami:
  • Maintained proper documentation according to AAMI and hospital procedures.
  • Assure OR flash loads are documented accurately according to AAMI and all information needed on the sterilizer printout is legible.

9. OSHA

Here's how sterile processing technicians use osha:
  • Implemented established infection control practices according to the Joint Commission and OSHA standards, and safety measures.
  • Monitor and adhere to departmental activities/procedures according to guidelines established by OSHA, AORN and JCA.

10. Sterrad

STERRAD is a specialized sterilization system. It stands for Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Gas Plasma Sterilization. It is a method for utilizing an exclusive gas plasma technology to remove hydrogen peroxide residual from instruments and objects. STERRAD is commonly used for the decontamination of respirators that are exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogenic particulates.

Here's how sterile processing technicians use sterrad:
  • Followed department standard operating procedures to sterilize surgical instrumentation via STERRAD and Steam Autoclave.
  • Perform all functions of Sterile Processing department from decontamination, assembly, sterilization and Sterrad.

11. Surgical Procedures

Surgical procedures include the list of tasks that are done while doing surgery. Usually, a surgical procedure involves an incision with instruments, performed to repair damage or heal the disease in a living body. Surgical procedures are performed by trained individuals such as surgeons, doctors, and nurses.

Here's how sterile processing technicians use surgical procedures:
  • Sterilize surgical instruments*Clean and maintain instruments*Stocking*Packaging and preparing surgical procedures*Sterilization and maintenance*DistributionCNA - Certified Nursing Assistant
  • Facilitated timely completion of the surgery schedule by ensuring the proper supply of instrumentation and equipment for each surgical procedure.

12. Patient Care Equipment

Here's how sterile processing technicians use patient care equipment:
  • Decontaminate used patient care equipment and prepare for sterile re-use by medical personnel.
  • Decontaminated, assembled, and sterilized patient care equipment and surgical instruments.

13. Sterilization Equipment

Here's how sterile processing technicians use sterilization equipment:
  • Perform quality control through routine testing and cleaning to assure sterilization equipment and instruments are functioning properly; document sterilization cycle.
  • Perform terminal sterilization activities according with established procedures utilizing steam, plasma and related sterilization equipment.

14. Autoclaves

Here's how sterile processing technicians use autoclaves:
  • Operated and maintained special decontamination equipment like automatic washers, autoclaves and other equipment used to sterilize surgical instrumentation.
  • Utilized specialized equipment for sanitation such as: washer/disinfectant machines, and steam autoclaves.

15. Infection Control

Infection control describes the principles and practices used in hospitals and other healthcare facilities to control and minimize the spread of infections with the aim of lowering rates of infection. Infection control refers to the process of detecting and controlling pathogens in order to reduce their spread.

Here's how sterile processing technicians use infection control:
  • Assisted with maintaining established departmental policies and procedures as well as with safety and environmental and infection control standards.
  • Initiated daily review of sterilization records enhancing sterile processing infection control report to incorporate greater metrics and standards.
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List of sterile processing technician skills to add to your resume

Sterile processing technician skills

The most important skills for a sterile processing technician resume and required skills for a sterile processing technician to have include:

  • Patients
  • Sterilizers
  • IAHCSMM
  • Customer Service
  • Medical Terminology
  • Cleanliness
  • Medical Equipment
  • AAMI
  • OSHA
  • Sterrad
  • Surgical Procedures
  • Patient Care Equipment
  • Sterilization Equipment
  • Autoclaves
  • Infection Control
  • Compassion
  • Departmental Policies
  • Medical Instruments
  • ETO
  • Sterilization Techniques
  • IV
  • Inventory Control
  • Sterile Storage
  • Surgical Equipment
  • Ethylene Oxide
  • Medical Devices
  • Surgical Cases
  • PPE
  • Good Interpersonal
  • Sterilization Procedures
  • Crash Carts
  • Quality Improvement
  • SPM
  • Reusable Surgical Instrumentation
  • Data Entry
  • Defective Equipment
  • Pathogens
  • Urology
  • GYN
  • GI
  • Equipment Functions
  • Equipment Maintenance

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Updated January 8, 2025

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