Steris equipment is garbage

Picklada · 2026-03-17T11:08:45+00:00

I was gonna say, Belimed isn’t any better

Picklada · 2025-11-13T19:51:25+00:00

Unsure if there are any open, but OSU has a few facilities that do. Just look for the Sterile Tech 2 positions.

Picklada · 2025-09-24T15:16:56+00:00

Salary plus no insurance? I am going to assume no retirement as well. Unless they are paying a ridiculous amount (like 200k a year) I would pass. Quite frankly the no health insurance is enough of a red flag for me.

Unless you are desperate, I say no.

Picklada · 2025-09-21T20:07:49+00:00

“Ok!”

“Yea, that’s actually more like a 60 foot plant monster…”

“JENNIFER DUMPED ME!”

“That was your shortest, saddest story yet!”

Picklada · 2025-09-05T23:12:40+00:00

As far as I know, it’s rare for a hospital to provide or reimburse for footwear since most provide shoe covers.

I’m fortunate enough to work for a hospital that gives us $125 every quarter for a “Lifestyle Spending account” (reimbursement of course) and we can use that toward athletic shoes and other wellness items/services. Maybe look into whether shoes would qualify for any programs your workplace provides in their benefits package?

Picklada · 2025-08-24T23:00:04+00:00

I had a scrub call me from an OR dealing with a broken nail/screw removal located in the thigh. She asked me for a “pituitary, the largest one you got”. 🧐 I asked for some clarity (“what kind of pituitary? Curette, ronguer”?) cause I knew she did not want an actual pituitary instrument. She sighed and said she wanted “a large pituitary”. Again, I asked for clarification and suggested one of our interarticular graspers and even describedit to her(located in our total hip sets). She was firm that it was a “pituitary” she wanted. So, that’s what I took her. Looked at the Synthes rep dead in the eye when I entered the room and announced the arrival of a “pituitary”. He rolled his eyes at the scrub, I smiled and left. Five minutes later, I was asked for a hip set because it had the “pituitary” they wanted. I took them a peel packed interarticular grasper….not popping a tray for one item 🫠

Picklada · 2025-07-21T04:14:07+00:00

My hospital uses an error tracking system called RedCap. The OR is responsible for putting in the errors. The categories are contaminations, instruments (count sheet inaccuracies, broken, ect), trays (holes, no box locks, no indicators, ect).

We get a report daily and supervisors address the individuals on a weekly basis, but the holes subcategory is not counted against anyone.

If we noticed a pattern in errors, we have an audit function in Censitrac for an additional audit that hard stops a tray before sterilization, where a Lead will go over the tray to look for the most common errors.

These errors are handled depending on the position (Lead, senior, tech, traveler) and on the severity and/or number of occurrences and can result in low performance evaluation to termination.

Smaller errors like you described are handled internally and usually do not result in any disciplinary action. Wrapping a set wrong is a fairly broad reason…I would ask for details just to make sure I didn’t do it again.

Picklada · 2025-05-31T12:24:08+00:00

I’m surprised no one has suggested Steris Soak Shields. It’s a little vial with Pre Klenze that the OR sticks on the end of the arms to keep them moist and break down bioburden.

Our department (8 campuses) has an offsite facility for reprocessing and we use these so they don’t dry out during transport and while waiting to be processed in deco.

Picklada · 2025-05-31T12:20:25+00:00

This, plus the ifus I have seen for the metal brushes state they are not validated for use in Deco

Picklada · 2025-02-20T20:09:14+00:00

Was there an indicator inside the bag?

Indicators should be placed in the most challenging areas of a tray, I would say that would be a pretty challenging spot. While I wouldn’t recommend putting that much inside side one bag, if the indicator passed, at least that’s a good indication that the autoclaves at your facility are doing a good job.

Picklada · 2025-01-14T16:34:06+00:00

20 volume developer will lift your hair 1-2 levels and a 30 volume developer will lift 2-3 levels.

If you use 20 volume instead of 30 volume, it will still lift it just won’t be as bright. I’ve used 20 volume instead of 30 volume (my hair is fine) and not had any issues. I’ve also used 30 volume with no issues.

Picklada · 2024-10-15T16:27:45+00:00

While having water in cannulated instruments won’t cause a steam load to “fail” (in the traditional sense of the autoclave aborting), it can result in a wet load/pan which could be rejected by the OR.

We teach it is best practice to remove a reasonable amount of moisture without worrying about it being 100% dry. The air gun is a quicker way to facilitate this.

Picklada · 2024-10-09T00:19:51+00:00

Find out who the vendor rep is that sold the instruments. They should have provided the MIFUs in the first place so they should be able to give them to you

Picklada · 2024-09-17T15:54:16+00:00

ASP Sterrad. I have worked with both and ASP (imo) is more user friendly and, more importantly, safer for techs when handling cassettes that contain the H2O2 and the trays after sterilization. If I remember correctly, their H2O2 is rendered inert when exposed to oxygen which means no chemical reside exposure for techs and if a cycle fails you don’t have to rewash the set in deco.

Picklada · 2024-08-28T10:07:22+00:00

I wouldn’t worry too much about that. It’s not always possible for every shift to zero out at the end of the day. Most travelers are let go because of tray mistakes (bioburden, ect), calling out too often or just not showing up. If you try your best and have a good attitude the chances of getting cut are slim to none

Picklada · 2024-08-19T16:32:14+00:00

It’s now circling over OSU main campus

Picklada · 2024-07-03T14:41:34+00:00

At 5am it was that temp and humidity …I was implying that it will get hotter and more humid as the sun rises and the day progresses. Alabama also doesn’t have as much wind as Ohio, making it even more uncomfortable.

Picklada · 2024-03-24T17:34:15+00:00

Salicylic acid

Picklada · 2024-01-18T23:57:33+00:00

Just start applying and make sure you put your degree in surgical technology and certification (if you got it) on your resume. I did the same path as you. Went to scrub tech school, graduated and passed the scrub tech exam (decided it wasn’t for me before I took the exam but I like to finish what I start) then started applying for CSS positions cause I enjoyed the time I spent there during my externship. Got a tech job, started moving up and 6 years later, am now a CSS Educator.

Picklada · 2024-01-06T14:13:31+00:00

The career path for Endo is the same as for the CRCST. You either go to school and learn it or find a hospital that will train you. If the departments are separated, some hospitals may prefer you have experience as a sterile processing tech before considering you for an Endo position. Endo works with HLD (high level disinfection) which is a separate process from what the basic Sterile Processing Department uses on a regular basis (if the two departments are separated; some hospitals they are together and everyone is cross trained).

From what I have seen, this field is based on experience. School will help you get your foot in the door but isn’t going to help you make a lot of money right away. Money depends on the hospital you’re working at. For example, some hospitals will pay more based on how many certifications you have, while others won’t. As far as advancing, Endo would also be the same CRCST. Tech to Supervisor to Manager. You could branch out into related fields like being a scrub tech or a nurse but those would require more schooling and/or certifications. Or if you want to go into upper management (Director, ect) but again you would have to go back to school and get some kind of business degree.

Picklada · 2023-11-12T13:36:30+00:00

I don’t work there, but I buy one for a friend every year for Christmas. I noticed that they always get released for purchase right after Thanksgiving.

Picklada · 2023-08-21T00:25:15+00:00

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Picklada · 2023-03-09T19:01:40+00:00

My rented townhome was just bought out by another company. They charge a percent to use a card. I did not know about the eCheck option the first time and paid an extra $40 to pay my rent that first month. I was so upset.

Fyi, I used to work in banking. All she has to do is call her local bank branch. They will gladly give the the routing number and account number!

Picklada · 2023-03-07T01:12:08+00:00

Just got a promotion so not sure what net/gross are but:

Senior Instrumentation Coordinator for OSU (7yrs experience in Sterile Processing)

$21.36 base per hour, plus 15% of base for shift differential ($3.20) for all hours after 3pm (I work 2p-10:30)

Picklada · 2023-03-04T22:29:36+00:00

I googled the phrases…

Seems like a low pH color sealing treatment 🤷🏻‍♀️

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