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Sterilizing Technician I-Operating Room Full Time Evenings

Northwestern Medicine · McHenry, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Oct 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 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.

About your past

This is a 3pm to 11:30pm schedule with on-call and holiday commitments. How does that work for you?

What they are checking: Whether they can reliably cover evenings, call and holidays that the department depends on.

Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work that could have affected someone else. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they report errors honestly, which matters when a missed step can reach a patient.

The posting prefers CSPDT certification. Do you have it, or what is your plan to earn it?

What they are checking: Whether they are invested in professional standards for sterile processing.

What would you do

You find bioburden on an instrument that already went through the washer. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they refuse to pass along a dirty instrument and send it back through the process.

The OR needs a tray urgently for a case, but it has not finished its full cycle. How do you handle the pressure?

What they are checking: Whether they hold the line on sterility standards even when surgeons and staff are waiting.

About the work

Walk me through how you take a contaminated instrument tray from decontamination to sterile storage.

What they are checking: Whether they know the full reprocessing cycle in order and understand why each step matters.

What quality assurance tests do you run on sterilizers, and what do you do if a biological indicator comes back positive?

What they are checking: Whether they understand sterilizer monitoring and the recall steps that protect patients.

How do you inspect instruments for damage or wear during assembly?

What they are checking: Whether they check function and condition carefully, since a broken instrument can hurt a patient in surgery.

What personal protective equipment do you wear in decontam, and why?

What they are checking: Whether they take their own safety seriously around blood, chemicals and sharp instruments.

How do you dispose of biohazardous waste and chemicals safely?

What they are checking: Whether they know proper handling of medical waste and chemicals the posting lists.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

Scheduling need: 3pm-11:30pm M-F, on-call and holiday commitments. The Sterilizing Tech I reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Receives, cleans, distributes, and stores medical instruments and equipment. Responsibilities: • Cleans, disinfects, decontaminates, and sterilizes medical instruments and equipment using appropriate methods, substances and equipment. • Receives, stocks, packages, and distributes medical instruments and equipment. • Performs and documents required quality assurance testing and inspection on stock. Inventories and reorders supplies. • Properly disposes of biohazardous substances, chemicals, medical waste, and unusable equipment and supplies. Required : • High school diploma or equivalent • Basic Computer Skills Preferred: • Certification as a Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician (CSPDT) • Two or more years of experience. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Click on or copy and paste URL to your browser to view detailed benefits information NorthwesternMedicine Career Page https://jobs.nm.org/benefits Please refer to the Benefits Eligibility by Employment Classification to determine benefits eligibility for job postings. If sign-on bonus is included in a job posting eligibility is as followed: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign-on bonus. Exception : New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position as a Registered Nurse at NM may be eligible.

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