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Discussion

Sterile Processing Tech or Server while in Nursing school? Advice please!!

I have an opportunity to pursue a Sterile Processing Tech position at a local hospital. In my state they do not require a prior certification and will train you on the job. I am currently in nursing school and start clinical in the Fall. The position is an overnight schedule. I am currently working in the service industry, which helps me maintain a flexible schedule with decent pay. I do not have experience working in a hospital setting, so I am wondering if it would be beneficial to take advantage of this Sterile Processing position? I’m a little worried about the hours, but I do think it would be beneficial to obtain hospital experience. If anyone has insight or advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

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    • Experts

    By all means, take the hospital job. Foot in the door at the hospital should you wish to work there once you become a nurse.  Learn to grin and bear it as far as the night shift goes.  You can scope out how you will feel about night shift nursing.

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    • Admin

    In addition to what caliotter3 said, getting into the hospital setting can also open up the opportunity for tuition reimbursement. Just keep in mind that you won't be having any patient interaction, but if you intend to work in the OR after graduation, you will have a bit of a head start with knowing instrument names.

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    11 minutes ago, Rose_Queen said:

    In addition to what caliotter3 said, getting into the hospital setting can also open up the opportunity for tuition reimbursement. Just keep in mind that you won't be having any patient interaction, but if you intend to work in the OR after graduation, you will have a bit of a head start with knowing instrument names.

    My dream specialty after graduation is to end up in some form of critical care nursing, so OR isn’t the exact direction I will be heading in, at least initially. I will be taking a pay cut working in the hospital, which will mean I will also have to work more hours- so these factors are what is determining my hesitancy. 

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    • Experts

    I was a central supply wench for a Summer in college and I learned a ton of useful stuff even without patient contact. Agree with the foot-in-the-door concept too. 

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    You said service industry - you did not say server.  Servers can make bank and you can typically determine when you work if you have been with the company for any period of time.  I do agree with all the above stuff - BUT - if you are a server - keep that job one day a week - preferably on a weekend when you make bank.  I could easily make $300 a week on 1 full day shift serving.  It depends on how much that service industry job actually pays....

    Night shift is hard.  I worked night shift during my last semester of school.  On the "night" you work, you lose the day because you mostly sleep.  Then on the morning that you get off - you lose at least part of that day because you sleep as well.  This means if you have class Monday morning and you work Sunday night - either you go to class without sleep and sleep after class - or you don't work Sunday nights.  It is worth it to get your foot in the door - but night shift working and day shift school/clinicals can be difficult to manage.

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    On 5/28/2021 at 3:27 PM, Smokey1129 said:

     

    My dream specialty after graduation is to end up in some form of critical care nursing, so OR isn’t the exact direction I will be heading in, at least initially. I will be taking a pay cut working in the hospital, which will mean I will also have to work more hours- so these factors are what is determining my hesitancy. 

    I'm not a nurse, but I've been observing the doctors and nurses during my shifts. I'm not a master of anything, but I think that  OR experiences will help you in critical care otherwise ignore my input. I'm not a nurse. 

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