Sterile Processing Technician II
Posted Sep 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026
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.
Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at Advocate Health from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.
Practice this out loudThe full job description
As published by Advocate Health.
Related jobs
Sterile Processing Technician (SPD)
Posted Sep 17 · Verified Sep 20
Physical Therapist (PT) - Acute Care and Emergency
Posted Sep 19 · Verified Sep 20
Medical Assistant (MA)/LPN - OB/GYN
Posted Sep 19 · Verified Sep 20
Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant - Family Medicine - Full Time
Posted Sep 19 · Verified Sep 20
Registered Nurse (RN) - Orland Park
Posted Sep 18 · Verified Sep 20
GI Scheduler
Posted Sep 18 · Verified Sep 20