Sterile Processing Technology, Certificate

Program Code: 6309

The Sterile Processing Technology (SPT) program prepares students with experience, knowledge and skills necessary to earn a nationally recognized industry credential and become a vital part of the surgical team. A sterile processing technologist’s primary responsibility is to ensure that medical equipment and devices are sterilized, operational, and packaged for procedures. Their work ensures that patients avoid infections and that doctors, nurses and allied health professionals are able to access the instrumentation and equipment needed to conduct procedures.

The SPT program is a 30 credit hour certificate program designed to prepare students for employment as central supply workers, ambulatory surgery processors, surgical instrument processors, gastrointestinal (GI) flexible endoscope reprocessors, case cart technicians, inventory technicians, processing technicians, and stock clerks.

Licensure and Certification
Successful completion of all certificate requirements may provide you eligibility to take the Certified Registered Central Service Technician exam by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA)(myhspa.org). You may also qualify to take the exam for Sterile Processing Technicians offered by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. (CBSPD)(www.cbspd.net).

If you are a student who resides outside of Florida, or plan to relocate outside of Florida, Santa Fe College has made the determination that this degree program or curriculum only meets educational requirements for professional licensure in the state of Florida. Please contact the Licensure Board in your state to determine whether this program or curriculum will meet any licensure requirements.

Requirements for Admission
The following requirements must be completed in order to apply to the Sterile Processing Technician program:

1. Achieve college-ready scores in reading, writing, and basic arithmetic at least one week before the application deadline. Requests for testing accommodations must be made in advance, prior to testing, with the Disabilities Resource Center.
2. Arrange for official transcripts from high school and each post-secondary institution attended to be sent to the Office of Records at least one month prior to the program application due date.
3. Submit online application via your eSantaFe account by the posted application due date.
    

To help protect patients and students, upon acceptance to a Health Science Program, all students must undergo state and federal background checks and show proof of certain immunizations and negative drug screenings as required by clinical affiliates. Students will be provided instructions to complete these tasks at the appropriate time. For more information regarding the application process, please visit the “Before You Apply” webpage.

For more information on program specific expectations and to view the Allied Health Student Handbook, please visit the “Prospective and Current Students” webpage.

See Application Dates and Deadlines and closely review other requirements Before You Apply.

Program Goals and Outcomes

Goal 1: Students will be clinically competent
Student learning outcomes:

1. Students will inspect instruments effectively.
2. Students will demonstrate proper packaging of instrument trays.
    

Goal 2: Students will apply critical thinking skills.
Student learning outcomes:

1. Students will prepare instruments for non-routine procedures.
    

Goal 3: Students will exhibit professionalism.
Student learning outcomes:

1. Students will demonstrate appropriate oral communication skills.
    

Program Length, Format and Curriculum
The Sterile Processing Technology program spans two semesters with courses meeting in a variety of formats to include: on-campus, online and virtually. In addition, students will conduct clinical internships at local hospitals.

The program requires students be available between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The program is a total of 30.0 credit hours.

The technical courses must be taken as a cohort in the order indicated below.

Term 1 (16.0 Credit Hours)

• STS1302 Intro to Perioperative Services (3.0 Credit Hours)
• HSC1434L Central Processing Technology Lab (3.0 Credit Hours)
• HSC1434 Central Processing Technology (4.0 Credit Hours)
• STS1301 Microbiology and Infection Control (3.0 Credit Hours)
• STS1000 Health Care Topics (3.0 Credit Hours)
   

Term 2 (14.0 Credit Hours)

• STS1300 Surgical Anatomy and Physiology (3.0 Credit Hours)
• STS1925C Endoscopy Basics (2.0 Credit Hours)
• STS2365 Professional Skills for the OR Team (3.0 Credit Hours)
• STS2947 Internship (6.0 Credit Hours)
   

Performance Standards
The Sterile Processing Technology (SPT) program is a practice discipline with cognitive, sensory, affective and psychomotor performance requirements. Based on these requirements, the following list of Program Performance Standards has been developed. Each standard has an example of activities which a student will be required to perform, with or without an accommodation, while enrolled in the SPT program. The Program Performance Standards should be used as a guide to assist applicants in determining whether or not accommodations or modifications are necessary in order to meet program participation requirements. Applicants who identify potential difficulties with meeting the Program Performance Standards should communicate their concerns to the Academic Chair for Allied Health Programs. If the concern is related to a documented disability, applicants are responsible for contacting the Disabilities Resource Center. Determination of reasonable and appropriate accommodation will be made on an individual basis in consultation with the Disabilities Resource Center. Additionally, applicants should assess their aptitude and ability to perform professional duties by reviewing the Program Performance Standards below and discussing them with their healthcare provider.

Critical Thinking
Standard: Critical thinking sufficient for clinical judgment.
Example: Handle multiple priorities in stressful situations. Exercise independent judgment. Concentrate for prolonged periods of time.

Interpersonal
Standard: Interpersonal abilities sufficient to interact with individuals from a variety of social, emotional, cultural and intellectual backgrounds.
Example: Display patience, empathy and concern for others. Deal with fear, anger and hostility in a calm manner. Work with others in stressful situations.

Communication
Standard: Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.
Example: Communicate needs in a prompt, clear and concise manner. Able to communicate the identity of items such as supplies, tools, or equipment. Accurately record/document pertinent information. Interact with general public, supply and equipment representatives, patients and health care providers in a professional manner.

Mobility
Standard: Physical abilities sufficient to safely and effectively perform skills required of a CSPT Technologist.
Example: Walk to and from departments. Maneuver nimbly in small spaces. Manipulate equipment, lift a minimum of 30lbs, exert a sustained force of 20lbs, push/pull mobile equipment weighing up to 300lbs; stand for prolonged periods of time Walk an equivalent of 5 miles per day. Must be able to reach 18” above head.

Tactile and Motor Skills
Standard: Gross and fine motor abilities sufficient to safely and effectively perform detail-oriented tasks. Must have good manual dexterity. Must possess tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and handling of supplies and equipment.
Example: Ability to grasp, hold, grip, seize, turn or otherwise work with hands. Perceive attributes of an object via touch. Must have good hand-eye-coordination.

Hearing
Standard: Auditory ability sufficient to assess equipment and interact with medical personnel and public.
Example: Detect and evaluate the sounds of advanced surgical equipment such as gas, video and cardiac monitors, power driven tools, fire alarms, etc. Able to follow verbal instructions.

Visual
Standard: Visual ability sufficient to inspect fine details of equipment.
Example: Observe and monitor supplies and equipment; work in full and dimmed light. Possess vision near acuity of 20 inches or less with clarity. Distinguish depth, color and spatial attributes of objects or images.

Professional Appearance
As a representative of Santa Fe College and the Sterile Supply Program, students must abide by specific professional appearance guidelines required by our clinical affiliates. Hair must be maintained within the range of natural color and must be conservative in length and style. Clothing and footwear must comply with standards prescribed by the program. Facial hair should be kept neat and trimmed short.