PROFILE
The Instrument Room is a non-patient care service unit located within the main operating room.

UNIT FOCUS
The responsibility of this unit is to decontaminate, assemble, and prepare for sterilization, all surgical instruments for a 37-room operating room. It provides all instruments necessary to support a very active surgical schedule. It also offers an outsource repair and sharpening service.

PATIENT CARE DELIVERY MODEL
The model is designed to support the surgical team to provide high quality patient care.

TEAM MEMBERS
The team is comprised of 23 sterile processing technicians with varying experience. There is a RN teamleader on evenings and a RN Clinical Service Coordinator oversees the department.

SCHEDULING PRACTICES
The staff schedule is driven by the need to provide 24 hour, seven day a week service. Each of shifts have permanent employees who will rotate is necessary.

STAFF ORIENTATION
All staff attends one day of hospital orientation and a half-day of Department of Nursing orientation. Unit orientation is preceptor based with comprehensive competency guides designed by the clinical service coordinator to assess progress. This orientation is open ended and may take several months

EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Mandatory retraining is required of all employees on a yearly basis. This is done with a packet, which has been prepared specifically, for the unit needs. Besides this retraining, inservices are given on a routine basis by various invite speakers and experts. All advanced employees have the option to enroll in a Sterile Processing Certification Program at a local university.