Sterile Processing Technician (SPD)
Posted Sep 17, 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 caught a problem with an instrument or tray before it went out to a department.
attention to detail and whether they take ownership of catching errors rather than passing them along
This role has you standing, lifting up to 50 pounds, doing sliding transfers of 150 pounds with a partner, and working around chemical fumes and body fluids for a four hour evening shift. What's your experience with physical work like this, and how do you protect yourself from those hazards?
realistic self-assessment of physical readiness and safety awareness, since this isn't a desk job
Tell me about a time things got busy or backed up and you had to prioritize which trays got done first.
ability to function in a fast-paced, stressful environment as the posting describes
Why are you interested in a part-time evening role with weekend and on-call rotation rather than a full-time schedule?
honesty about schedule fit and likelihood of sticking with the irregular hours
Technical
Walk me through what happens to a soiled tray from the moment it hits the decontamination area to when it comes out as a wrapped, sterile set.
whether the candidate actually understands the full decon-to-sterile workflow, not just isolated tasks
How do you decide whether an instrument needs to go through the sonic tank, the washer, or be hand cleaned?
depth of hands-on knowledge of cleaning methods and when each is appropriate
What quality assurance checks do you run to confirm a load actually came out sterile, and what do you do if a biological indicator comes back positive?
whether they know real QA protocols and won't just assume sterility without verifying it
How would you handle a laser instrument set or an orthopedic implant tray differently from a standard instrument set?
understanding that specialty and high-cost equipment needs different handling than routine trays
What do you know about medical terminology or instrument names, and how would you learn what you don't already know?
baseline knowledge plus willingness to keep learning since no experience is formally required
Situational
Say you're running a gas sterilizer and you suspect it failed a cycle. What do you do right then, step by step?
knowledge of escalation procedure and whether they'd act fast instead of guessing or ignoring it
A department calls saying a tray came up missing an instrument. Walk me through how you'd track that down and what you'd tell them.
problem-solving under pressure and communication with clinical staff who are waiting on equipment
You'd be on call every other week and covering a Code 4 with a defibrillator and backup supplies. How do you make sure you're ready to respond quickly if that call comes in?
reliability and preparedness for on-call responsibilities that affect patient safety
You open a supply box and notice a couple of items are damaged or the count doesn't match. What do you do next?
follow-through on documentation and reporting discrepancies rather than letting them slide
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As published by Advocate Health.
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