Factors to Learn About Being A Sterile Processing Technician
Discover the essential factors of being a sterile processing technician. Learn about the skills, training, and responsibilities required for this vital healthcare role.
Various individuals are now recognizing the significance and benefits of a sterile processing technician (STP). Hence, experts perceived that this position is projected to grow from 10% to 14% between 2016 and 2026. The reality of becoming one can be challenging, though. Of course, students must study what they need to know and earn an SPT certification . These factors are highly significant since they will help a person easily get a job in the medical field.
Fortunately, there is an online sterile processing technician course available. This program is one of the most difficult curriculums. Studying them virtually would help them explore them more in the comfort of their home or other places they find solace, which makes them learn them more effectively.
One of the common factors SPT students will learn about is all the medical terminologies available. For many individuals, this is a demanding thing to keep up with. It can be confusing to familiarize and memorize these factors. Apart from the numerous information, it tends to become bewildering because of the used terms, such as:
ETHYLENE OXIDE STERILIZATION (ETO)
This substance is a colorless, flammable, and explosive gas. It is effective in sterilizing sensitive medical instruments and devices to heat and humidity with four parameters called operational ranges, including:
- Gas concentration (450-1200 mg/l)
- Proportional moisture (40-80%)
- Exposure duration (from 1 to 6 hours)
- Temperature (37-63degC)
These factors efficiently impact ETO sterilization.
DECONTAMINATION
This treatment makes the medical device safe to handle. The chemicals combine chemical or physical means to destroy bloodborne pathogens from an object’s surface. This prevents them from transmitting more infectious particles.
GEOBACILLUS STEAROTHERMOPHILUS SPORES
This factor’s biological indicator is the one that monitors the sterilization process’ lethality. It is a well-known resistance to spores, which are far more durable than bioburden on medical devices.
Individuals need to know these are the common medical jargon if they want to be sterile processing technicians. To learn more about the other well-known terminologies, continue reading the article below, created and designed by Martinson College: