When working in a hospital setting, someone has to do the dirty job of cleaning up the tools and other equipment. This is the most important part of the work setting that is part of our overall health. The person performing this job is known as a sterile processing technician. It’s not an easy task dealing with blood and other unsanitary hazards, but someone has to do it. Any person performing these tasks will not have to deal with patient interaction which is a good thing. Knowing that one might be cleaning up after a dead person or a victim of gunshot wounds may find that to be too much to handle.

Going To School

Going to school to learn how to clean hospital or health equipment, in general, does not take that long in school. Anyone wanting to enter this field can be done with training in as little as six to nine months. This is better than going to college for a four-year degree and still being undecided about a career. Classes are assigned after being registered for the course and it’s mostly hands on. So whoever does this job will receive the right training in being able to clean up bodily fluids or blood in a safe and sanitary way. There are probably certain cleaning products that have to specifically be used so that the items in question can be deemed sterile. Every student may have to take several tests to make sure they understand the seriousness of cleaning these items. The last thing any hospital or health settings needs is items not sterilized correctly and end up having infections everywhere. So it’s really important to understand the techniques used to make sure that all surgical and other instruments are cleaned properly. Having the right training means everything.

Getting Certified

Once a student had mastered the course, it’s time for them to get their sterile processing certification. That means finding a job position that’s open in that particular field so that a paycheck can be made. Most sterile processing techs make a great deal of money considering that they are not dealing with patients. Handling the body fluids and blood is good enough and that type of work is never-ending. While there are patients, there is going to always be some type of sanitary cleaning going on. Also, it’s best to note that this job is a fast pace because the cleaning is done continuously. When working in this position, there can be nonstop work available that keeps things from being boring.

The Pay Grade

The money attached to this position is pretty decent. Because it can be demanding, anyone in the field can make $40,000 a year or more depending on where they work. Making a living to take care of families while enjoying an exciting career at the same time is a very good thing. Only the people with strong stomachs can probably handle sterilizing equipment with blood and other hazardous fluids. It’s best to at least consider giving it a try before actually getting into this line of work to make sure it’s the right choice. A career such as this requires a constant touch of things that may not be easily identifiable.

When a person decides that becoming a sterile processing tech is the answer, they are saying that they can handle whatever pressure is coming their way. It is ok that it doesn’t involve seeing patients. The crucial tasks of making sure the hospital or dental equipment is really clean are what’s important.