By Tony Thurmond, CRCST, CIS, CHL, FCS, Central Service Manager, Dayton Children’s Hospital
Regardless of how long employees remain in the Sterile Processing (SP) profession, one fact must always be prioritized: it’s not enough to go through the motions or do the bare minimum in the role, ever. Maintaining professionalism and practice excellence is vital for patient safety, service quality, effective teamwork, and positive procedural outcomes.
When I was a high school student in the 80s, a teacher gave me the book “What Color Is Your Parachute?” to help me determine my desired career path. It was my first self-help book, and it provided an excellent starting point for my journey. Although it did not inform me that my career would be in Sterile Processing, it did help me realize my sincere desire to serve others.
That interest in serving initially led me to meet with an Air Force recruiter. I took the Armed Services Vocation Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which helps determine which vocation is best suited to one’s skills. The results determined I was most qualified for Surgical Technologist or Air Traffic Controller. I chose to become a surgical technologist and was reminded early on that my success would depend on the level of effort I provided and how much I learned along the way.
Aiming higher
The success or failure of any career or business falls primarily on the individuals doing the work and providing the service. If we want to be our best, we must reach beyond our comfort zones and strive for excellence and a commitment to knowledge growth and skill development. In the SPD, we benefit from many opportunities to develop ourselves professionally and aim higher in our careers. Attaining certification is one of the best ways to grow professionally and promote quality within the department.
The Healthcare Sterile Processing Association’s (HSPA’s) Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) serves as the introductory certification. This certification program is designed to recognize entry-level and existing technicians who have demonstrated the experience, knowledge and skills necessary to serve competently as an SP technician. It also serves as an essential and sturdy foundation for secondary certifications, such as the Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) and Certification in Healthcare Leadership. The multiple-choice exam questions align with the material in the Sterile Processing Technical Manual, and are carefully reviewed by subject matter experts, with guidance from HSPA Certification Director and a member of Prometric, HSPA’s testing service provider.
Some healthcare facilities require SP certification upon hire, while others allow a grace period such as within six months or a year after the hire date. Other facilities may not require certification at all; if you work for such a facility, I strongly urge you to seek certification on your own and then inspire your teammates to do the same. Although holding a certification does not guarantee that all tasks will be performed completely and correctly, it does demonstrate one’s job knowledge and lends assurance that they can recognize and understand foundational concepts and appropriate practices and processes, as well as appropriate resolutions to address certain scenarios and challenges. Consistently completing tasks with accuracy and focus is ultimately determined by one’s personal commitment to service excellence, ongoing learning and experience with mastering tasks.
Overcoming test anxiety
Many SP professionals delay becoming certified due to test anxiety and fear of failure. Peer pressure can also contribute to those pressures and lead some individuals to question the depth of their knowledge and assume they lack the understanding and experience to attain certification. Grand expectations from SP leaders can also push anxiety levels higher. I assure you, however, that if you have the will and dedication, you can pass your certification exam—even if you tend to not test well or have failed the exam previously.
Stepping confidently and deliberately into the path of certification is the best way to achieve success in the future. This can be achieved by being dedicated and focused throughout the journey and leaning on your SP leader and most competent colleagues to help guide and support you. Some facilities offer in-department certification education and study groups for technicians on all shifts, which is an excellent way to learn, ask questions, and understand the science and reasons behind the processes and content. If your facility does not offer this, I recommend asking the departmental educator (if your department has one) to assist you. In the absence of a dedicated educator, you can request a supervisor or manager’s assistance.
It is important to read each chapter of the technical manual with the intent of mastering the material (ask for clarity if questions arise). After reading each chapter, I recommend walking around your department to observe whether departmental practices align with the best practices and standards identified in the manual. If not, look to see how you can make the necessary changes to do it the correct way (it will be helpful to discuss the issues with the supervisor or manager). Such checks can help greatly with test taking because as one reads the question or scenario on the exam, they will be reminded how the material directly applies to everyday practices and processes in the SPD.
When reviewing chapters in the manual, it can also be helpful to develop multiple-choice questions to test yourself, especially on subjects in which you may have limited knowledge or experience, or certain tasks that you may struggle with in the department. Review the questions and reread the chapter to gain a clearer understanding of the content and what could be asked on the exam. Additionally, think of the scenarios as you review the chapters. Write them down and determine if you can come up with responses that may be similar yet not entirely the same. This will help you assess and approach exam scenarios and questions more thoughtfully.
Attaining certification can increase one’s hourly pay, prepare technicians for future opportunities within the department. Above all, it will help demonstrate an employee’s commitment to serving as an effective, proficient contributor to promote quality service and patient safety. Those who work on attaining certification now will be a step (or more) ahead when opportunities arise for promotions and other professional advancements.
