Five important questions to ask SPD candidates during the interview

Excited for a career in healthcare, perusing post-secondary education or certification, or looking to move out of mom and dad’s house describe common candidates for positions in Sterile Processing departments across much of the country.  In other areas, notably the West Coast and those states prescient enough to make Certification into law, local college programs train persons for the important work of sterile processing.  These regions enjoy educated applicants to choose from.  In both cases, the interview is a crucial and exciting third step in building the best care team to serve your patients.

Many healthcare facilities do not require education or experience for Sterilization technicians upon hire; training and certification come on-the-job.  John Strothenke, Manager of the Sterile Processing Department at Fairbanks Memorial Hospital/Denali Center notes, “We typically do not have a pool of fully qualified candidates that apply from Fairbanks and a majority of the people we hire have little or no experience in SPD.”  Likewise, in the upper Midwest post-secondary courses in Sterile Processing are few and far between.  Amy East, CFER, Endoscopy Support Specialist for the Central Region for Olympus America, relates that most of the facilities that she visits are, “starting to ask the question about certification.”  She feels that facilities in her territory are just starting to put Certification into play.

Conversely, there are markets where Certification is common and expected.  Vahini Kuppa, CRCST, CSPM, Manager of the Sterile Processing Department at Seattle Children’s Hospital, related a story about a time that she hired an uncertified applicant.  Vahini said that the applicant worked out well, but that it was an unusual step for her to hire a person who had not been through a certification course.

Whether you hire from of a pool of educated and certified persons, or you must choose from among the willing but inexperienced, there are a few questions that are good indicators of future success in your department. So, what are some good indicators of an applicant who will be successful in your department?

Sterile Processing and Materiel Management are stressful, fast-paced jobs.  However, an ambush interview is not the best way to get an applicant for this work to open up and give honest answers about themselves.  Healthcare Inventory Control is not the Chicago Board of Trade.  Eric Toone, Operations Supervisor CPU at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle Washington believes that asking simple questions of interviewees, such as their favorite sports team, makes them relax and give a more honest interview.

This question gives educated interviewees a chance to show off the knowledge that they have gained in their studies.  The educated, certified person should be able to speak to the lessons that they took in their studies in a clear way, and participate in general (not manufacturer-specific) discussion about the equipment and varied work of the CS/SPD department.  A well-educated candidate should be able to discuss basic microbiology, standards and regulations, and inventory systems, along with sterilization methods and instrument manufacture.

Applicants without education in sterile processing have a real chance to shine on this question.  When a candidate has spent time researching the job they have chosen to apply for, it shows initiative and a genuine curiosity about the work.  A great candidate will have researched the specialized work of sterile processing and inventory management.  They will have watched videos on the internet, or talked with friends who work in the field.  Having done some research into the work indicates a strong interest in the profession, and is a good indicator of a person who will work to learn the job completely.

Good interviewers ask this question of every candidate.  If during the interview you have set a relaxed tone and encouraged open dialogue, the interviewee will be forthcoming about their plans.  Some will be looking to open a door to a career in healthcare, frank about their plans to progress into other disciplines in the facility.  Others will indicate that they are looking for a solid job with reasonable pay and benefits.  If the candidate is educated or experienced, they may talk about Preceptorship or Leadership. Encouraging honesty in this phase of the interview allows all parties to know what to expect of the potential team member.

This question often catches candidates off-guard.  Interviewees frequently sit back, look at the ceiling and smile, remembering a well-liked supervisor.  When an interviewee is asked a question in this vein, it puts them in mind of successful work experiences, and elicits an honest answer as to their work habits and personality.  One job of a manager is to help their employees work to their best potential; here is when they see what that potential is.

In the world of many CS/SPD managers, this telling question lets them know where their most important avenues for recruiting are.  In regions that are not favored with accessible college courses, HR should be given feedback about where successful interview candidates receive information about their open positions.  Interviewers can help Human Resources to create the widest possible pool of applicants by asking a question like this.  Patients win in the end by having the best people working in each aspect of their care.

Selecting the right candidates to interview is the second step in building your Central Supply or Sterile Processing department; good managers rely on a mix of experience and instinct in this process. By asking interviewees where they heard about the position for which they applied, Managers help their Human Resources departments in the first step, to identify the most effective places to advertise positions in their facilities. Then, following the interview and successful negotiation with a solid orientation program makes the successful applicant into a successful partner in the care of our patients.  By setting the right tone, and asking the best questions, Central Supply and Sterile Processing departments can be assured that they are providing the best possible care.