STERILE PROCESSING
current model. We need invested work- ers to improve the locations and improve patient care, but then that goes back to paying better.”
Nicholson said the opportunity to travel changed her life and she encourages other SPD professionals to pursue a travel career, stating:
“I was working for a hospital in my home-
town making minimum wage when we hired a traveler, and she told our team about opportunities to advance our education and careers. One by one we each took steps to become certified and take on travel posi- tions. As a young person, I found myself traveling across the country, which really set off my career. In those first three years, I doubled my income each year.” Nicholson added that it is not just young,
single SPD professionals who are benefiting from the travel trend but also more experi- enced individuals and those with families. “I see moms and dads traveling to make money to send back home. But there are disparities when you compare travel oppor- tunities for nurses with those for SPD. For example, nurses are typically provided room and board as part of their travel con- tracts and even the opportunity to fly home on weekends to stay connected with their families. Most SPD travel positions don’t offer these benefits.”
The need to nurture the next generation Those interviewed cited the need to educate students, down to the high school and even grade school level, on the sterile processing profession to help recruit and cultivate the next generation of professionals. McGlynn said one positive side effect of
the current SPD staffing shortages is that “more hospitals are actively creating train- ing programs, reaching out to younger indi- viduals through grade schools and even up to college levels.”
“The industry as a whole needs to promote the field more heavily in 10th
and 11th grad-
ers as a career path, reach out to community colleges and figure out to get a program started, not just a “read the book” course but a true hands-on approach,” said Weir.
Certification levels hold steady, with higher pay reported When asked if they were certified, 92% of respondents said “yes,” which was on par with last year at 91%, and the same percent- age of SPD professionals said they were in the process of becoming certified at 5% in both 2023 and 2022. Respondents who were already certified reported the highest aver- age annual pay at $69,120, followed by those in the process of certification at $60,254.
When asked if their employer required
certification, the response was similar to last year at 69% saying “yes” (70% in 2022). Those reporting employers with- out certification requirements was only slightly higher (28% in 2023, 26% in 2022). Additionally, 3% said their employers were considering instituting certification as requirement, compared with 4% last year. When asked whether their employers
give them higher levels of compensation for obtaining certified education units/ points, only 14% said ‘yes.’ “I believe that decision makers who
control the financial resources fail to see the true value or equity in this role,” said Perkins. “Although SPD does not generate income directly, they do so indirectly. And this department can be a preventative mea- sure to avoid negative patient outcomes. As a rule, healthcare facilities with better wages will attract better professionals and thereby strengthen the facility’s ability to court preferred physicians.”
“I believe there must be public advocacy for this position,” he added. “The last thing we would want to happen are national strikes from this department. And contrary to some popular belief, sterile processing roles, or experienced processing roles, are not easy to backfill. It would be a disaster if a national strike was to ever happen, and it would ultimately paralyze our healthcare system, nationwide.”
Respondents certified by the HSPA dropped to 67% in 2023 from 76% in 2022, which could be a leveling off from a 7% jump from 2021 to 2022 (69% to 76% from one year to the next). Those certified by the Certification Board for Sterile Processing & Distribution (CBSPD), fell as well at 25% in 2023 down from 28% in 2022, whereas in 2021, 28% of respon- dents reported being CBSPD certified. “Lately it has been increasingly diffi- cult to find a location to take the certifi- cation exams,” McGlynn commented. “In some cases, there is only one location in a major metropolitan area. Globally this is also an issue as some SPD Professionals outside the US are required to travel into the country to take their exams. There must be a better way to offer exam by proxy.” Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) certifi- cations were up at 23% in 2023, from 21% in 2022, as were those for the Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) at 10% in 2023 from 7% in 2022. Respondents with Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) certifications held steady from last year at 8%.
Shifts in reported specific certifications varied slightly from last year: • Certified in Healthcare Leadership Strategies (CHL): 32% in 2023 up from 31% in 2022
SALARY BY TYPE OF FACILITY Hospital, Standalone
Hospital, Teaching Facility IDN/Alliance/ Multi-Group
Surgi-Center / Ambulatory Center Clinic
54% $60,290 20% $82,564 14% $93,120 8% $51,234 2% $61,232
SALARY BY TIME IN SPD Less than 2 2-4 5-9
10-14 15-19 20-24
More than 25
3% $48,290 4% $51,209 17% $56,243 15% $61,908 17% $66,190 18% $67,908 26% $84,153
SALARY BY TIME AT FACILITY Less than 2 2-4 5-9
10-14 15-19 20-24
More than 25
20% $62,129 19% $76,250 26% $75,298 9% $64,870 9% $68,740 7% $54,109 10% $71,924
hpnonline.com • HEALTHCARE PURCHASING NEWS • June 2022 37
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