Traveling sterile processing tech jobs open the way for many incredible opportunities. Such a professional gets to travel to different places within the country while gaining more experience in their field. A good salary is another bonus that relates to this profession. Besides that, as you will find out below, if you plan on entering this field, you will become eligible to do so after completing a short program. That doesn’t eclipse the importance of the work the techs carry out. They may be using their skills behind the scenes, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t in high demand!
Medical organizations today and in the future require the expertise and services of sterile processing techs. After all, you will be joining the ranks of professionals who carry out work that is essential for keeping the hospitals and other medical facilities functional, safe, and efficient. The primary reason for that is stocking, cleaning, maintaining the medical equipment and devices is part of a tech’s job. They have a huge role in ensuring patients receive good quality and timely medical care.
But if you still have doubts about whether this is a lucrative field or not, we are here to put them to rest. Aside from the immense satisfaction that a tech feels from helping people stay healthy and get better, they also earn well.
Here are some things that will convince you that you are on the right path:
Are sterile and central sterile processing jobs different?
If you have just started researching this area of work, then you may face some confusion. Coming across multiple job titles will do that for any newcomer. We have listed the various titles that you might have come across during your search:
- Central/sterile processing technician
- Central/sterile service technician
- Central/sterile supply technician
- Central/certified sterile processing technician
- Sterile processing and distribution technician
- Central sterile technician
It may be true some job titles mentioned above come with additional duties or different responsibilities. But most of them are interchangeable. At times, the titles given in different medical facilities vary from each other in name but are for the same job.
What you should know is that to acquire the title, you will need to know the basics of sterile processing. The rest you can learn while on the job if you need to. Another thing to keep in mind is that these job titles branch out into other common career paths.
How much schooling will I be required to complete?
Before you take the CBSPD Exam, your studies will cover the following topics of training in a hospital, lab, or other medical facility settings:
- Preventing and controlling the spread of infection
- Keeping the equipment and devices decontaminated, clean, sterilized, and disinfected
- Handling and identifying different surgical instruments and the right way of storage
- Distribution and inventory control
- Anatomy
- Microbiology
- Physiology
- Medical terminologies
Once the theory part of your schooling is complete, you will move onto the clinical practicum section. For this, you will have to work in a pre-approved outpatient facility or hospital laboratory. Your time spent there will be passed in shadowing a senior sterile processing technician.
How do I pick an agency?
After schooling and passing your exam, your step next would involve picking an agency. You won’t lack for a choice since there are a large number of agencies, such as these, that you can choose from. Once you know which agencies come highly recommended, research each of them to find the one right for you.
Among the various things you will base your decision upon are the following:
- What kinds of jobs does the agency offer? Will you get to work in an area of your preference? What hours and shifts are available to you? How long does their contract last for?
- Do the past contractors give the agency good reviews? What about the contractors currently working with them?
- What is their customer service like? Do you have access to the recruiter whenever you require one? Or do you have to remain on hold for long periods?
- What kinds of benefits, such as health insurance, employee assistance programs, retirement account, and 401K, does the agency in question offer?
- Will you be hired at a competitive pay scale? Is there a compensation package, such as overtime, on-call, or holiday pay? How often will you get paid, as in weekly or once every two weeks? What other bonuses, such as referrals, can you expect?
How much will I earn as a traveling sterile processing tech?
A high earning potential, which amounts to $48,611 annually, awaits you when you become a tech. Here’s what Glassdoor has to say about how much you can expect to earn. Finally, different agencies will offer different salaries, but other factors might also affect your earnings. The work setting, such as an outpatient care center, will lead to a higher salary. The state you choose to work in will also influence your pay.
So, is this the right line of a profession for you? Do the benefits outweigh any concerns that you might have?