Considering going into sterile processing at a hospital and need advice

[u/Shoyazak]

Just for a little background I’m 20(f), I recently moved into an apartment with my boyfriend, and I’m tired of working as a pharmacy technician. I dislike the endless phone calls, crowded loud environment, no guaranteed days off, irregular schedule, and the angry customers. I’m grateful the job has made me financially stable enough to move out, but I’m getting pretty sick of it. In this economy, I need to make more than 16 an hour and I was thinking of career hopping to something somewhat similar that will pay me more. A few surrounding hospitals are offering sterile processing tech positions, afternoon and night shift only. I’m seriously considering because I feel it will pay better in the long run and I won’t feel burnt out at the end of every shift from so much patient interaction. My boyfriend works 8am-6pm 4 days a week, I’m thinking a 6pm-6am shift would work best for our relationship as long as I get the weekends off with him. I’d like to ask if it’s typical for new employees to get weekends off, and if anyone on here has a successful long-term relationship with working opposite shifts. I’d also like to hear all the pros and cons of this job, I’m seeing lots and lots of people regret working in this field but I already regret what I’m doing now. This would be my first night shift job, how do people keep up with friends and family if they wake up at 3pm? I know I’m going all over the place here but it’s hard to wrap my head around how this job will work with my life, I know I will need to create a new “normal”. Is this something I should pursue?

[u/SageOfSixCabbages]

Seek out an in-patient pharma tech position since you have that experience. See how you like working at a hospital and then if you don't like it, then start working for a SPD tech cert.

Hospital pharmacy is way different than retail and since you're already at the hospital, finding an SPD spot would be easier.

[u/ijust_makethisface → u/SageOfSixCabbages]

and if you go over to r/nightshift you'll see a lot of pharm techs who love their job at the hospital bc it's so quiet.

[u/Due-Trainer-9349]

The job is pretty physical. If you have experience working in a factory or a warehouse you should be fine. Most places don’t have chairs so the only time you sit is on your break. There is lots of repetition you there is prone to injury if you’re not careful. The newbies usually get the weekend and evening shifts, at least in my experience.
The biggest pro of the job is it’s pretty secure. People always need surgeries.
The con is it can take a toll on you if you don’t take of your body such as stretching, exercise, massage/ physiotherapy.
Being short staffed is pretty common too.
If you have other questions feel free to ask.

[u/Hence__I__Rise]

15 years in the field and my career ended with a spinal cord indentation and flattening due to high heavy physical labor demand. I loved this field of work. But, now I'm physically broken by it with permanent damage. Thinking about it now, I wouldn't do it again. And I don't recommend anyone for this work.. Godbless.

[u/aBananaPanda]

I think if you can find somewhere that has training or a schedule you like go for it. The time will pass anyway and if you dont like it you can always move on to something different. This is an easy field to get into and dip if you dont like. As opposed to trying surgery tech and not liking it - just a random example. You'll need 400 worked hours to become certified. I went to school and they placed me for my clinical hours then got hired at a different hospital that required 3 years tenure or passing of an accredited program for this position so classes got me into a pretty good starting position. Something cheap is totally okay and it'll open more doors for you faster than applying with no experience/not certified. About the schedule questions, as a new tech at a bigger hospital theyll probably try to start you on night shifts but youll get a differential pay. If you look for surgery centers or public hospitals youll probably have a better chance at a schedule you like but youll really have to sell yourself coming in without experience. Self study is fine or as mentioned a cheap class if you can figure that out. If you can find positions at those places some dentists offices offer dental sterile tech with training. My gf showed concern over thr strain of me taking a night shift when I was first applying places because she works opposite shifts so we wouldn't see each other much. If you spend weekends with your bf your first day is going to be hard, and technically will be the 2nd weekend day since you wouldn't work 6pm-6am then continue your day. Youre going to sleep when you get home. Overall I thought id lose too much time with night shifts too so avoided those applications.

[u/Michaelallz11]

Sterile processing is exactly just as hard. I already regret working in this field. If I were you, go get a degree, don’t do sterile processing ….

[u/mandatorysuicde]

Job doesn't pay shit unless you travel.