surgical technician wants to become sterile reprocessing technician (ontario)

[ontarionurze]

hello everyone, i'm an RPN here in Ontario working in a endoscopy clinic, i recently finished operating room course in centennial college and now im thinking of becoming a MDRD (medical device reprocessing technician), i know the salary is less than what a surgical technician makes but i kinda feel like i'm not built for the O.R. anymore, i feel like working in the background like reprocessing technicians do is what's suitable for me (i'm an introvert).

anybody here who can shed some light on how to become a medical device reprocessing technician? what will the maximum salary be? what courses should i take and does being a Surgical technician give me an edge in becoming MDRD in less time? thanks for all the replies!!

[dishes, BSN, RN]

A hospital employer may not be willing to hire you into the position of reprocessing technician because your nursing education makes you over qualified for the position. The MDRT course information is listed on the Central Service Association of Ontario website. The salary range varies (depending on the union) between $21-$24/hr.

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

Like a PP poster said, you may be overqualified. That being said, your surgical tech experience would give you a huge advantage. You would already know instruments and would just have to learn the ends and outs of the processing part.

I worked in sterile processing for 6 years before I moved to the OR and I hated it. Make sure it's what you really want to do.

[ontarionurze]

Like a PP poster said, you may be overqualified. That being said, your surgical tech experience would give you a huge advantage. You would already know instruments and would just have to learn the ends and outs of the processing part.

I worked in sterile processing for 6 years before I moved to the OR and I hated it. Make sure it's what you really want to do.

Hi there, what made you hate it? I just dont feel comfortable working beside surgeons anymore thats why im contemplating taking a step back and applying for sterile processing.. do you work as operating room nurse right now? Thank you.

[rquinn0111]

I feel Sterile Processing is the most undervalued service in the OR. They are crucial to the sterility of surgical instruments and make scrub techs job so much simpler when sets are done right. Turn over time can come to a halt if you don't have the right sterile processing system. Yet, they generally get paid the least (other than housekeepers, another undervalued profession in my opinion) and only hear the negative from doctors, nurses, and scrub techs daily. There's always something, and you'll know about it.

The pluses I have seen in sterile processing are the stable hours; often there are different shifts that you can choose from, same is true for weekends and holidays, maybe call, but I'm making a very general statement. You also are not constrained by being in an OR; if you need a bathroom break, you can just go without begging anyone; if your child is sick and you need to pick him/her up, it's easier to do. I do think there is generally less stress because you're not directly in the line of fire of a testy surgeon, and you are given more time to put a set together than a tech has to set up a case.

Sterile processors are usually surgical technicians working behind the scenes, but you will still have to communicate to people. Nurses are generally overqualified in this role, however, it is possible that if you really enjoy sterile processing, to learn about the nuances of the trade: learn your instruments, effects of detergents (what detergents work on what instruments), general microbiology (what kills microbes on what instruments), different autoclave uses, chemicals involved and functioning (you might have to trouble shoot them), and you can become a manager or director in this role, which does pay a lot more.

Good Luck!