JobsAdvocate Health

Sterile Processing Technician II

Advocate Health · West Allis, WI

Posted Sep 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to train or mentor a newer tech on the floor. What did you focus on

readiness for the mentoring and resource-for-others expectation baked into the Level II role

Describe a shift where the case cart schedule changed at the last minute or you got slammed with turnover requests. How did you prioritize

ability to stay organized and calm when the pace spikes, since the job explicitly calls out a fast-paced stressful environment

Tell me about a time you caught a discrepancy in a supply shipment or found damaged goods. What did you do next

reliability with inventory accuracy and willingness to flag issues rather than let them slide

Why did you decide to pursue sterile processing, and what's kept you in it if you've been doing it for a couple years already

genuine commitment to the field versus treating it as a stopgap, given the two-year experience requirement

Technical

Walk me through how you'd process a set of contaminated orthopedic instruments from the moment they arrive in decontamination to when they're ready to sterilize.

whether the candidate actually knows the decontamination-to-assembly workflow and follows sequence correctly

What's the difference between how you'd handle a flash sterilization cycle versus a routine steam cycle, and when would you use each one

depth of hands-on sterilization knowledge beyond textbook definitions

How do you use Censitrac day to day, and can you tell me about a time it caught a problem before it became one

real familiarity with the specific tracking system named in the posting, not just general instrument tracking

How do you handle high-cost items like endoscopes, laser instruments, or cardiac assist devices differently from routine trays

understanding that special handling protocols exist and knowing what they actually are

What AAMI or AORN standards do you rely on most in your daily work, and can you give an example of applying one

whether stated knowledge of standards is genuine and applied, not just memorized

Situational

Tell me about a time a sterilizer failed a biological indicator test. What did you do right away

whether they know the immediate recall and quarantine steps and won't let unsterile items reach the OR

A tray comes back from a case missing a laparoscopic instrument the count sheet says should be there. What do you do

attention to detail and whether they follow proper documentation and communication channels instead of just guessing

If nursing calls down upset that a cart is missing supplies right before a case starts, how do you handle that conversation

communication skill acting as liaison between SPD and clinical departments under pressure

This role sometimes involves patient positioning or transport and lifting up to 50 pounds. Have you done physical work like that before, and how do you protect yourself from injury

awareness of body mechanics and honesty about physical readiness for the role's demands

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 37719 Aurora West Allis Medical Center - Sterile Processing Services Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Monday through Friday 0630-1500. 1 holiday per year, and the possibility of rotating weekends. Pay Range: $21.85 - $32.80 Major Responsibilities: • Receives soiled and contaminated items in decontamination area. Sorts equipment, rinses as needed, places equipment through sonic tanks and washers, reassembles trays, performs safety checks, hangs and sorts instruments, wraps sets according to set policy, and wraps towels and basins appropriately. • Sterilizes instruments and equipment using the aerator, gas sterilizer or steam sterilizer and operates glass dryer. Packages items in steri/peel as required. Performs quality assurance testing for all methods of sterilization to ensure sterility of supplies. Hand cleans miscellaneous instruments (Baxter pump, hypothermo units, etc.) and operates the cart cleaner. • Ensures proper care and handling of high cost instrumentation and equipment to include items requiring special handling, laser instrumentation, orthopedic implants, cardiac assist devices, endoscopic and microscopic instrumentation. • May build case carts according to procedure and physician preference as specified. File case cart sheets and requisitions, responds to Code 4s with defibrillator and back up supplies, maintains CPR annies, tests autoclaves with the tests according to procedure, and changes graphs as necessary. • Checks incoming trays and follows up with departments as to missing instruments or parts. • Takes immediate and appropriate action if a question of sterilizer failure occurs. • Receives and records orders for supplies as requested by departments. Records accurate product number and assures all forms are correctly completed for proper billing. Marks, dates and stocks equipment, which may include returning to appropriate department on a timely basis. • Opens and unpacks supply boxes, checking for damaged goods and number of items received. Reports any discrepancies to the supervisor. Performs credits for unused products returned, checks stock levels, copies supply sheets, checks carts for outdated supplies, and performs general cleaning of shelves. • May performs various patient positioning and transporting duties, which require lifting and pushing/pulling, while utilizing proper technique. • Guides, mentors, and serves as a resource for Sterile Processing Technicians. Coordinates and collaborates with nursing and ancillary departments in organizing functions in SPD such as IV pumps, IC carts, SCD's. Acts as liaison between departments (surgical services, nursing, and ancillary departments). Licensure, Registration, and/or Certification Required: • Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) certification issued by the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA), or • Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) certification issued by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc. (CBSPD), or • Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor (CFER) certification issued by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing and Distribution, Inc (CBSPD). Education Required: • High School Graduate. Experience Required: • Typically requires 2 years of experience in Sterile Processing Department or Central Supply Department. Candidates to be considered may also have previous Surgical Technology experience or GI Lab Technician experience. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: • Ability to function in fast paced stressful, environment. Advanced understanding and knowledge of AORN standards, AAMI standards, and basic instrumentation. • Advanced knowledge and understanding with Censitrac instrument tracking device. Knowledge of sterilization principles and applications. • Familiarity with medical terminology. Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: • Must stand, walk, lift, squat, bend, twist and reach above shoulders various times throughout the workday. • Must be able to: • lift up to 50 lbs. from floor to waist. • lift up to 20 lbs. over the head. • carry up to 40 lbs. a reasonable distance. • Must be able to: • push/pull with 30 lbs of force. • perform a sliding transfer of 150 lbs with a second person present. • Atmosphere in work environment may contain fumes and dust. • Will be exposed to chemical hazards as well as blood and body fluids. Protective clothing must be worn as necessary. • Operates all equipment necessary to perform the job. This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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