Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment Podcast
Welcome to "Sterile Processing Empowerment Podcast, the podcast dedicated to elevating the field of sterile processing and surgical services! In an industry where precision and care intersect, we believe that knowledge is power. Our mission is to empower, encourage, and motivate every professional engaged in the transformative world of healthcare.
Join us each week as we delve into enlightening discussions that shine a light on best practices, emerging innovations, and the critical role sterile processing plays in patient safety. Whether you're a seasoned expert or just starting your journey, our panels and expert guests will provide invaluable insights through engaging conversations and real-world stories.
From the nuances of instrument handling to the latest in sterilization techniques, we cover it all. Expect thought-provoking interviews, educational segments, and motivating content designed to inspire you to elevate your craft. Together, let’s foster a community that champions excellence in surgical services and celebrates the unsung heroes of healthcare.
Tune in to where expertise meets passion, and every episode empowers you to make a difference in the operating room and beyond.
Sterilization Station: A Sterile Processing Empowerment Podcast
Igniting Your Passion In Sterile Processing
Ever felt that moment when the trays pile up, you're short-staffed again, and somewhere between the prep and pack, you forget why you even started this journey in sterile processing? This raw, energizing episode tackles the silent epidemic of burnout in SPD departments head-on while offering a powerful antidote: reconnecting with your passion and purpose.
Through 25 compelling reasons to stay passionate about sterile processing, we explore how your work directly impacts patient outcomes, surgical success, and hospital reputation. You'll discover why seeing yourself as a "sterile scientist" rather than just a technician transforms your approach to daily challenges. The episode dives deep into how passion becomes contagious, elevating not just your performance but your entire department's culture and the profession itself.
From reminding you that "lives depend on you" to exploring how "passion transforms monotony," this episode serves as both a wake-up call and a celebration of the critical role sterile processing plays in healthcare. You'll hear powerful insights about building your legacy, inspiring confidence in the surgical team, and becoming the positive force that shapes departmental standards.
Whether you're feeling the weight of burnout or simply need to reconnect with your purpose, this episode provides the spark to reignite your professional flame. Remember: you're not just processing instruments—you're protecting someone's life. The world needs your passion, your focus, and your fire.
burnout happens, the trays pile up, the shift feels longer than it should, you're short-staffed again and somewhere between the prep and pack the, the sterilizer logs and the turning over of trays, you forget. But what did you forget? You forgot why you're even here. But I want to remind you today, on Sterilization Station. Let's talk about two powerful words today passion and why. Passion is not just excitement, it's not hype or hustle. It's deeper than that. Passion is purpose in action. It is the fire that fuels your success, even when no one's watching, even when no one says or stops to say these two small but yet big words thank you. It's your commitment, even when you're tired. And what is your why? Well, that's your reason, right? It's the moment you decided sterile processing was where you wanted to be to help people, to grow, to provide, to be part of something greater. That is what is your anchor in sterile processing, and if we lose the why, we lose the fire. So today I'm going to give you 25 reasons why your passion must never fade in sterile processing, and each one of these quick truths will help you reconnect, refocus and reignite. And let's get into it.
Speaker 1:So, number one lives depend on you. Every tray you touch could be the difference between healing or harm, and even the tiniest mistakes can change someone's life. Right, and you may never meet the patient, but you protect them every day. Right and number two you start the healing process. No surgery can begin without your work. It was you that came in to run those tests. It was you that made those trays sterilized and made sure that all the instruments were functioning at full capacity. Right, so you're a part of that healing process for that patient. Right, you're fighting against infection. Right, and the chain of care, it starts with you, not the OR, not the doctor, not the nurse. It starts with you, that sterile processing technician. You're not just behind the scenes, you're also at the beginning of the process, and so your job is so important. Do not lose your. Why Do not lose your? Why Do not lose your passion. Number three the OR team trusts you. Right, your trays are used without hesitation. That trust is built on your consistency. You're a part of the surgical team, even if you are never in the room. Right and number four infection prevention begins with you. You are the first defense against hospital-acquired infections or HAIs, and sterile isn't just a suggestion, it's a promise, and your diligence keeps patients safe.
Speaker 1:Right Number five passion is contagious. I want to say that one more time. Passion is contagious. The energy you bring affects your team. Right? New techs are going to say that one more time. Passion is contagious. The energy you bring affects your team. Right. New techs are going to look to you as models. Students are going to look to you to be the trailblazers as they're growing in the industry, and your passion will become your legacy.
Speaker 1:Right Number six you elevate the profession. Sterile processors. Elevate the profession. Right. The more committed you are, the more respect sterile processing is going to gain.
Speaker 1:Now, there's a lot of people out there. There's a lot of negative people out there in sterile processing, and that's why I wanted to start this podcast is to encourage and inspire and empower those in sterile processing. So many times, people have a negative connotation and a lot of times it's well deserved. Right, because people get burned out, they get tired, but we don't. I don't fault the technicians, I fault the leadership. I fault not having the resources, not having enough staff, not feeling appreciated enough right, but when you elevate your passion, the more committed you are, the more respect we're your passion. The more committed you are, the more respect we're going to get in the industry. You are showing the world sterile processing matters right. We do matter. Everything we do has a direct impact on patient health, patient recovery, successful patient outcomes and excellence will always speak louder than words. It's not what we say, it's what we do. So make sure we're doing the right things that can help us to gain that respect and to elevate the profession of sterile processing.
Speaker 1:You know, in sterile processing, when I first got into it 20 years ago, I really didn't understand what I was getting into. Did I understand? And, of course, through the pandemic, we've had a chance to grow socially, social media and some people never had a chance to get to these conferences, right, the annual HSPA conferences and stuff like that, which are great, such great networking events, such great opportunities. But you know, what's so important is that there are a lot of people who don't understand the job, who talk down about it, who talk down about it. But there's so many people I mean well-respected people that are really they don't. Sterile processing is like they're so passionate about it. You know, you look at. You look at like I love Beyond Clean, right, I love what they've done in the industry, how they have disrupted the medical industry and how they're constantly asking the questions and bringing educational content. Maybe you don't have someone on your job of that caliber, but there are people who really know their stuff. I mean Hank Balch and Lindsay, and you think about Justin Poon all these people that are there that are working for this organization. They know their stuff and they're bringing you in contact with people that really know their stuff. There's people out there who who, like you, think about, like Jameed Billingsley, right, you think about people like Sarah Cruz and people like Randall Harlan. All these people like Jesse Lopez, different people that are out there. They're. They're putting forth the effort to make the industry better.
Speaker 1:I remember Patty Conker from HSPA. She mentionedored me for years. I never physically met her. I used to call her mom, right, because she was always available. I was a young technician. I didn't know a lot about what I was doing, but when I came in contact with her, how she assisted me and how she made herself available to me, right, you got different educators and people that really know their stuff that are trying, right. You think about Maricel Nguyen, right, she's a sterile processing educator at a school in the Bay Area. How she is passionate.
Speaker 1:So don't let the people out there who to sterile processing is just a job to them, who are decreasing and tearing down the industry, but let yourself be elevated in the profession that you do. You're a superhero without the cape. How you're changing lives. You're saving lives, one trade at a time. Don't let them bring you down, don't let them discourage you. Be empowered.
Speaker 1:Today there are people out there that know the science behind sterile processing. Sterile processing is not about pushing a button. It's about a scientific approach to destroying microorganisms that are going to create great outcomes for patients. And I'm sorry I got a little fired up there, but listen, there are people out there that really know their stuff. Those are people I salute. Right, we're just coming off of an Amy conference where they're reviewing standards, and there's people that are flying over the country, around the country, to me to make sure that all of the that we have as much information that we can do the job the best. These people I salute them in the industry. They're passionate.
Speaker 1:Right, my friend francis that would say I'm a sterile scientist because he says he's creating sterile goods, he's reprocessing sterile trays, he's creating sterility. He said we're sterile processing scientists. Are you a sterile processing scientist or are you just a button pusher? Do you even understand what's happening inside of the sterilizers? I mean, I'm sorry, but so many people tear down sterile processing. I've been in sterile processer for 20 years. Sterile processing has you know, and I believe in God. I know he has opened all the doors. But listen, this job provided for me and my family and there's people out here who are very passionate about what they do. So don't let anyone tear you down to make you think that sterile processing is second-class citizens in health care. The nurses cannot do anything without us, the doctors. No matter if they come back to say thank you, they could have never performed those surgeries.
Speaker 1:Single sterile processing error could cost trust and money. One error could shut down a hospital. One error could cause problems and, you know, cause joint commission to come through there and want to flip your department upside down One error. Be committed to the reputation of your hospital. Be committed to the reputation of yourself. Right, think of yourself. Your consistency will reflect an entire system. Maybe the CEO doesn't know your name. Maybe you talked to him on the way to the coffee shop. Maybe you're walking with him on a break. Maybe he doesn't remember your name. Listen, he's over thousands of people. But I guarantee you, when you put that badge on such and such medical system, you guys are on the same team and what you do reflects the entire system.
Speaker 1:Think about the human body right. You have the toe, you got the kidney, the liver, the brain, the heart. All these different pieces work together. These body systems work together as a unit. I applaud my environmental services workers. I applaud my anesthesia techs. I applaud that chef in the kitchen that puts together that healthy meal so that me, someone who's not eating processed sugar no more, can come down there and get a healthy meal. I salute you from the kitchen. Everybody has a part and clean work means a clean name. We're not just about cleaning instruments. We're trying to keep a clean name right. I'm very passionate about sterile processing and I'm passionate about making sure that the reputation of what we do is heard. What we do is important. This is important.
Speaker 1:Don't let no one take away your passion. Don't let them take away your why? So you're short-staffed? Okay, let's work on it. So you have a leader that's insecure and you don't feel like you're appreciated? Okay, Is that person gonna break you? Are you gonna let them break you. No, you're not gonna let them break you. You remember that you're there for three things no-transcript. That's why we exist. Our why has to be about the patient. Any other issue we can work through with the teamwork that's going to make the dream work right. Un sueno, un equipo, objectivo right. One team, one dream, one team, one dream.
Speaker 1:Number eight precision is power. You're not just processing instruments, you are mastering a craft. Detail is your superpower and passion will sharpen your skills. Make sure you stay passionate, just like that powered instrument that's got a function, probably just like that sharp met scissor, or just like that you know that Jorgensen scissor, or just like that that Westcott or that Castro Viejo. Make sure that you're you're sharpening your skills. Make sure your, your passion is sharp. Is your osteotome can get dull, but is your passion dull? Make sure your passion is not impacted by the problems in your department. Don't let the problems impact your passion. Your why must be stronger than the culture. Your why must be stronger than the issues in your department. Stay passionate about what you do. Remember you're there to make a difference. We can always work through the problems, but when your passion is gone, when your fire is out, what do we do? We got to get it lit back up. Hopefully, this episode of the day will relight your passion and relight that fire.
Speaker 1:Number nine patients deserve passion. Every patient deserves someone who cares, even behind the scenes. You know we don't get a lot of exposure to the patients, but listen, my patient is a doctor. My patient is a nurse. My patient is the vendor. My patient are all those that I serve. They are my patients. Maybe the patient can't have a bad situation with me, or maybe the patient you know can't tell me how they really feel, but the doctor can. The doctor can tell me how unhappy he was. The doctor can tell me how, you know, things didn't go as well. So that's my patient. My patient is a person that has the opportunity to share with me that they're not appreciating something that I'm doing. That's the patient. A patient is our customers.
Speaker 1:Number 10, you earned this role. Remember passing your certification. Do you remember that first tray? Do you remember that first compliment? This field chose you and you chose it back. Don't forget how far you've come. Don't forget how far you've come. Don't forget how far you have come. Don't forget all the times you overcame those challenges.
Speaker 1:Number 11, you can be the change. Remember leadership doesn't require a title, it just requires effort. Speak up, share ideas, improve systems. The right person in the right place changes everything. Number 12. The field is evolving New scopes, new technicians, new outcomes, new automation.
Speaker 1:Spd is not standing still. Stay curious, stay excited. Are you excited about being a sterile processor today? Stay excited about being a sterile processor. Maybe it's a stepping stone, but be passionate. Your energy fills the room. When you show up, does the team say Jane is here, Bob is here, hank is here? Right, jesse is here? When you step into the room, people should feel your passion, feel your energy. Passionate people are the ones who adapt and thrive.
Speaker 1:Number 13, you are a mentor and someone is watching how you handle pressure. Teach by example, with heart, teach with your heart. Pass down pride, not just protocol. Overcome the pride. You're more than a title. Number 14, you're more than a title. You're a patient advocate, a safety specialist, a protector. You deserve to see yourself as more than just SPD. Remember passion helps you own your value. Number 15, growth comes from passion. Seek new roles, cross-train, ask questions. Maybe your passions died because you're not interested in growing. Has it become a job where you just come and do a task or is it a career? Seek new roles, cross-train, Ask questions, share your passion with someone. Don't settle for autopilot. Passion will push you into purpose. Number 16. Your work makes history.
Speaker 1:Each tray is writing a patient's story. You're writing a patient's story. I've had four surgeries in my life. My mom's had surgeries. My wife's had a surgery. You know, every tray tells a story.
Speaker 1:What story are you leaving? What is your legacy? Are you going to be known as that tech that just didn't care? Put trays up, didn't care? What's your passion? If there was a passionometer, what would you be? Are you at zero or a hundred percent? I want to stir up your passion. Stay passionate about what you're doing.
Speaker 1:You make transplants, deliveries and miracles possible. Did you hear that you make transplants possible? Someone passed away and their organs are going to go to save someone's life. A good friend of mine had a kidney transplant. A good father figure in my life had a liver transplant. But look at deliveries of children Miracles. Without you, there's no progress.
Speaker 1:Don't lose your passion. If you lost your passion, that's your everything. Don't lose your passion. Don't lose your. Why they? If you lost your passion, that's your everything. Don't lose your passion. Don't lose your why. Remember why you signed up when they gave you your badge in it and you got your scrubs for the first time and you were so excited. And now you allow culture. You allowed short staff. You allowed no tracking system. You allowed not having certain things to affect you. It has its part, but don't let it take your passion.
Speaker 1:Number 17, respect follows passion. People remember those who deeply cared. The more you invest in your work, the more people take notice. Passion is powerful. It earns trust and admiration. Stay passionate, keep that admiration and that trust growing. Number 18, ways to make sure you don't lose your passion. You get to serve with integrity. You get to serve with integrity. Spd is about doing the right thing even when no one's watching. Your why must keep you aligned with that mission. You are on a mission, the mission of sterility. You are in an army, the army of sterile processing. Don't lose your passion. Don't lose your zeal. Stay strong, stay encouraged, stay uplifted, stay empowered. There's honor in doing quiet, life-saving work. You're doing something that's saving lives.
Speaker 1:Number 19, your mental health needs purpose. Passion gives you a reason to push through tough days. Passion it helps you manage stress with clarity. What is clarity, the who, what, where, when and why of what you do. Understand those things. Anytime someone asks you what is your why or what, or when or how, you should be able to answer that. And purpose fights burnout better than any policy.
Speaker 1:Number 20, you must set the standard. The new tech mirrors your habits, good or bad. If you're not passionate, you're setting an example. You're a tree and they're eating off the fruit, the bitter fruit of burnout, the bitter fruit of discouragement. Don't be that fruit. Let those new technicians pluck that fruit off your tree, the fruit of power and passion and understanding your why, your work ethic becomes the culture. If you lost your passion, you might be complaining about the culture, but maybe you're actually creating the culture because you've lost your passion.
Speaker 1:Find your passion today. Today is find your passion day. Lead with heart. What is heart? That's the core, the desire of who you are. Lead with the heart and others will follow. Make that change, be the change you want to see, be the passion that you want to see. Maybe you might say, bill, but no one's passionate here. That's why you're there, to be the planter of passion. Don't lose your passion, folks. Let's keep our passion, our number 21,.
Speaker 1:Passion creates community. When you love your work, it builds bonds, the passion that builds a community. Teammates fill your energy and they rise to match it. Have you seen the passion of Carol? Have you seen the passion of Hank? Have you seen the passion of John man? I want to be like that. I wake up every morning at 4 o'clock to do my devotion and Hank Balch is already posted. He's passionate. He's passionate. A stellar nursery is the environment in space where stars they explode and how the fragments left over they create this environment and how space pulls the energy together to create stars. Are you a black hole? Are you burnt out, or are you that stellar nursery, right? That stellar nursery, that nursery that's creating stars? Thank God for his creation and the things he's put there to remind us how wonderful he is. A passionate SBD team is a powerful force. He makes feel your energy.
Speaker 1:Number 22, passion transforms monotony. The trays may look the same, but the impact never does. I've done thousands of general trays. I've done hundreds of thousands of laparoscopic trays, right, but the impact, the passion every time. Making sure you're protecting those instruments with the tip protectors, making sure you're thinking is this instrument going to be damaged in the way I'm creating my, you know, loading my tray, that's passion.
Speaker 1:Making sure you stay for that biological to pass before you go home, that's passion. Making sure your workstation is clean before you leave, that's passion. Making sure you switch shifts with your coworker who has situations in their life, that's passion. Being an encouragement in the department, giving a word of encouragement, that's passion. Every shift is a chance to protect someone new. We're almost done, folks. I'm almost done. Stay with me now.
Speaker 1:23, you're building a legacy. Years from now, your fingerprints will be on every improvement, every success. The fingerprint of passion. Passion turns work into something worth remembering, leaving the department better than when you found it. When they leave they say I sure remember that guy Bill. He was a sterile processing liaison and he was in the OR and he was passionate about what he did. Making sure you're leaving the footprint of passion. You know you got the footprint in the sand. You know analogy of someone that was carrying someone. But if we were to go through the operating room and we could see the microscopic level of footprints, did you have a footprint of passion or were you a footprint of discouragement, negativity, toxicity? Make sure you're leaving the footprint of passion wherever you go.
Speaker 1:Number 24,. You inspire confidence in others. Nurses and doctors and patients rely on your commitment. Your passion reassures the entire care team. People feel safer when they know you are behind the scenes.
Speaker 1:You know I'm so thankful for sterile processing. You know I just got my life together 2001, 2003. Went through a program and got my life together. Got put back on the street, call straight, but you know what it's given me opportunities where people can feel my passion, and you want them to feel your passion. Let your passion be felt. I'm so thankful, just so thankful, number 25. Let this resonate with you. Let this sink deep past the outer ear to the middle ear. Let it get down to the inner ear of who you really are. You are the heart of sterile processing.
Speaker 1:Sterile processing is not the machines, sterile processing is not the policies, but you are sterile processing. You are what gives sterile processing life. Don't let that fire go out. The whole system needs your flame In fire. There is what ignited it, there's what's being burnt, there's the fuel for that fire, there's oxygen, all these different parts to the fire. And when you lose your passion, when you lose that flame, you let something get in the way. Something broke in that triangle of fire. Well, today, here's a little lighter fluid in a match. Let that passion get reignited.
Speaker 1:Think about why you came into this. You didn't choose sterile processing just for a paycheck. You chose it because something inside of you said I want to be a part of something bigger. I want to help people. And maybe the shifts are long, maybe the days are hard, but your passion still matters. Your why matters.
Speaker 1:So take a moment today tonight. Wherever you are in the world, people listen to this podcast globally. Ask yourself the question what is my why? Why did I sign up for sterile processing? Why am I still here? Write it down, tape it on your locker, tape it in your car, your dashboard, put it on your mirror. But don't let it fade. Don't lose your passion. You're not just processing instruments. Remember, you are protecting someone's life. You're not just working on a job. You're fulfilling a mission. Our mission is sterility. Our mission is excellence. Remember, you're fulfilling a mission and the world needs your passion. The world needs your focus and the world it needs your fire. So thank you so much for listening in today.
Speaker 1:If this episode lit something in you, share it. Tag a coworker who inspires you. If this episode lit something in you, share it. Tag a co-worker who inspires you. Pass this on to a student, a technician, a manager. Let's keep the fire burning together Until next time. Stay sharp, stay focused and never forget your why.
Speaker 1:And if you're out there and you need a word of encouragement, please send me an email. You need a word of encouragement? Please send me an email SterilizationStation at Outlookcom. You can find me on LinkedIn, bill Rochelle. If your fire is out and you need some encouragement, reach out to me. I hope this encouraged you and inspired you. Guys, I was excited today because passion is so important. Before I get started, all over again, make it a great day. Don't lose your passion. Remember you're amos. On amos, we're saving lives, one trade at a time. And remember what you do has a direct impact. You can change the culture. You can survive being in an environment with a not so good leader, but remember, if you lose your passion, you've lost it all. Please like, comment and subscribe to sterilization station, an empowerment podcast for sterile processing. This is your host, bill Rochelle. God bless, you. Have a great day or a great evening, and I hope to see you soon. Stay passionate.