CRITERION. What s Inside

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1 CRITERION JULY 2008 The Official Newsletter of the CBSPD, Inc. VOLUME 13, ISSUE 2 A Message from the Executive Director By: Nancy Chobin, RN, AAS, ACSP, CSPDM Happy Summer everyone! This year the CBSPD continues to promote certification and re-certification around the US and the world! The CBSPD exhibited at the Association of peri-operative Registered Nurses meeting in Anaheim, CA in March. This was the 13 th year of exhibiting there. In May the CBSPD exhibited at the IAHCSMM meeting in Reno, CA. As you know the American Society for Healthcare Central Service Professionals was acquired by the IACHCSMM, which has resulted in one Sterile Processing/CS membership organization. There was quite a bit of activity at the CBSPD booth. DISPELLING THE RUMOR MILL!!!!! A CLARI- FICATION OF CBSPD CERTIFICATION Despite the CBSPD mailing letters to all certified personnel and a message posted on the CBSPD webpage, we have received numerous communications that CBSPD certified personnel are being told they must transfer their certification to IAHCSMM. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Where this misinformation is coming from, we do not know. However, the CBSPD is in NO WAY affected by the merger of the ASHCSP and IAHCSMM. The CBSPD has always been an independent, non-profit certification board with over 16,000 certificants. The CBSPD is NOT a membership organization but ASHCSP and IAHCSMM are. The CBSPD does one thing: certification. Also note that the CBSPD is the only sterile processing certification program accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies! This is a commendable achievement, which requires exhaustive documentation of the processes used by the CBSPD. Do not let anyone intimidate you. You can be a member of IAHCSMM and still be certified by the CBSPD (I have been an IAHCSMM member for over 5 years and am certified by the CBSPD). Also note, as an accredited certification, we are not permitted by NCCA Guidelines to accept other certifications by reciprocity. This was permitted one time, which the CBSPD did about 5 years ago. Anyone who transfers their certification to IAHCSMM cannot transfer back to the CBSPD. You will have to sit for another exam. There is also a rumor that the CBSPD certification is not international. The CBSPD is an international certification; the CBSPD has tested in over 19 international countries! Just because our name does not have the word international does not mean our exam is not recognized internationally! Furthermore, the CBSPD certification is more cost effective because the $115 fee includes 5 years certification. With IAHCSMM it costs $105 just to take the exam then $40 to recertify each year. So, make sure you are getting accurate information. Always check with the CBSPD for any matters concerning your certification! UPDATING THE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT PROCESSOR EXAM. As is required by the NCCA, the CBSPD will be updating the Job Analysis for the Certified Surgical Instrument Processor examination. This process occurs every 5 years. A group of surgical instrument processors will be convened to review the exam content and make any recommended changes. After the data is tabulated, the question bank will be reviewed, revised, and re-referenced. It is anticipated the revised test specifications for the surgical instrument exam will be implemented in May or August Candidates will be advised prior to implementation of the changes and the Surgical Instrument Processor Study Guide will be revised and updated to reflect the changes. AAMI UPDATE: The AAMI Committee is still working on updates to ST-79 (Steam Sterilization and Sterility Assurance in Healthcare Facilities). AAMI will publish yearly updates to keep this document current. The long-awaited water quality document (Technical Information Report TIR-34 Water for the Reprocessing of Medical Devices) is now available. This document recommends the water quality for cleaning, rinsing and sterilization. Extended Cycles - The Biological Indicator and Chemical Indicator working groups have been meeting to discuss how to monitor all the extended cycles facilities are now faced with. There is also an impact on the packaging material used since packaging materials were not designed for extended cycles either. It is important to check with your packaging manufacturer to see if any testing was performed on extended cycles. SGNA - The CBSPD exhibited at the Society for Gastroenterology Nurses & Associates meeting in Reno, Nevada in May. This was the first exhibit for the CBSPD at the SGNA meeting. The enthusiastic response to the CBSPD s new Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor exam was overwhelming! Nurses and associates crowded the CBSPD booth to get information and to thank the CBSPD for making this exam possible! The first Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor exam was given in February 2008 with the second exam given in May. We are proud to announce the very high pass rate for this new exam including nearly 100% for the May exam! Have a safe and health summer! SPS Medical Scholarships The Board of Directors of the CBSPD want to congratulate everyone that was awarded scholarships in February and May from SPS Medical. A list of all winners is posted on our website on the CS Scholarships page. SPS Medical will continue to offer their scholarships for all of the CBSPD exams. An SPS application can be obtained on our website or by calling SPS at ITEM REVIEW REPORT By: Sue McManus, RN, CEH, CSPDM Karen Swanson, LPN, CSPDM It has been a busy year. Sue McManus and Karen Swanson have Continued on Page 2 What s Inside AAMI Update: Front Cover Continuing Education Report: Pg. 2 Technician Board Vote News: Pg. 2 Pre-Approved In-service by Nancy Chobin: Pg. 3 Summer Salary Survey: Pg. 6 February/May 2008 Exam Stats: Back Page

2 Item Review Continued spent most of the year trying to get the Item Banks in order and updated to reflect current information and references. It is a mammoth job and we continue to update the questions to meet the demands of modern technology and changes in regulations or recommendations. The inaugural examination for Flexible Endoscope Reprocessors was administered the first week of February, The pass rate including the May exam was an amazing 97%! The credential is called "Certified Flexible Endoscope Reprocessor" or "CFER". The Role Delineation study (Job Analysis) which was performed in the summer of 2007, identified 10 content areas (domains) with a total of 58 knowledge areas. We now write questions and maintain banks for six certification programs. The GI Endoscope Reprocessor, Technician, Supervisor, Manager, Surgical Instrument Processor and Ambulatory Surgery sterile processing technician. The CBSPD takes extraordinary measures to ensure our exams meet and exceed all standards for competency-based testing. We will be meeting to review new questions in July CBSPD Board of Directors Executive Commissioners (Non-Voting) Nancy Chobin, R.N., CSPDM, Executive Director Teckla Ann Maresca, L.P.N., CSPDM; Co-Chairperson, CEU Review Committee Nora Wikander, R.N., CSPDM; Co-Chairperson, CEU Review Committee Bobby Osburn, CSPDM, Veteran s Affairs Representative Martha Young, CSPDT, International Liaison Representative M. Eleanor Reilly, R.N., CSPDM, Board Member Emeritus Margaret Ryan, R.N., CSPDM, Board Member Emeritus Sue McManus, R.N., CSPDM; Test Development Committee Chairperson Liaison Karen Swanson, L.P.N., CSPDM; Test Development Committee Co-Chairperson Liaison CBSPD Voting Board Representatives Nyla "Skee" Japp, R.N., PhD, CSPDM, Manager Angela Joyner, CSPDS, Supervisor Cindy Buell, CSPDT, Technician Jeanette Bakker, CSIP, Surgical Instrument Processor Vacant, Ambulatory Surgery Tech. Barbara Aldeman, CSPDT, Veteran s Affairs Technician Nancy Schlossberg, BSN, RN, CGRN, Interim GI Flexible Endoscope Re-processor Paul Letersky, B.A., J.D., Public Member Continuing Education (CEU) Column By: Teckla Maresca, L.P.N., CSPDM Nora Wikander, R.N., CSPDM Staying up-to-date on the new technologies in our industry is one of the main reasons to continue your education after certification. Earning contact hours in order to re-certify is a way for you to stay up-dated. Being professional requires all of us to make the effort to find the time and resources to attain the knowledge that makes us a valuable resource to our institutions. July 2008 There are many ways to obtain the required contact hours for re-certification. Multiple pre-approved journal inservices are reviewed by the CEU Committee members before printing. In-services written by experts in our field allow all of us to keep up-to-date on the new technologies and the changes in recommended processes. Researching and developing departmental in-services on the new products/instruments being used in your institutions is also a good way to keep yourself knowledgeable as well as gathering contact hours. Attending seminars, both local and National are other ways to obtain the new knowledge we need as well as contact hours. Many of our manufacturer s are offering many educational programs that can be given in your institution, over the internet or printed programs. Contact them and they will be happy to assist you in finding appropriate learning experiences. Gaining the contact hours is not the only reason to learn. We all need to take the knowledge to our workplace and practice the correct ways to do things. This is how our profession will grow and gain the respect we deserve. We realize that money is tight but spending the $20 per year ($100 for a five year re-certification period) is an investment in your future and the future of our profession. Remember: Start out the New Year by completing at least 1 (one) hour in-service a month you will have more than enough credits for your re-certification and will be able to keep up with the new trends and changes in our profession. New Board Member Elected We are please to announce the newly elected Technician representative to the CBSPD Board of Directors: Cindy Buell of Aloha, Oregon. Please join us in congratulating Cindy and welcoming her to the Board! Cindy is from Oregon and has been employed at Providence St. Vincent Hospital for 19 years in SPD. She currently holds four of the CBSPD s certifications: CSIP, CASSPT, CSPDS and CSPDT. In addition, she has served on the CBSPD s Ambulatory Surgery Technician Cut Score Workshop and the Item Review Committee since Cindy graduated from Portland Community College with 3 dental assistant certifications: Certified Dental Assistant- General Chair side and Radiation Health and Safety; Certificate of Radiological Proficiency; and Certified Expanded Function Dental Assistant. She describes herself as an organized, flexible person who is a team player. She has conducted departmental inservices and trained and given competencies for new employees in Sterilization and other areas. This makes her a very vital resource within the department. Cindy s Manager, Lisa Murphy feels she is a great candidate for the Technician Board representative position. The CBSPD wants to thank EVERYONE for their time in the voting process! Please join us again as we are looking to elect new Ambulatory Surgery and GI Scope board members. We will be accepting nominations until August 15, NOTE: The person nominated must be working in that area where there is an open board position (i.e. they must be working in a surgery center to be eligible to be elected for the Ambulatory Surgery position). Please be sure when contacting our office by mail or by (cbspd@att.net) that you include some information about the nominee that we can put on the official ballot. 2

3 Need. July 2008 PRE-APPROVED IN-SERVICE Education + Training = Keys to SPD/CS Excellence By: Nancy Chobin, RN, AAS, ACSP, CSPDM We are all aware of the continual changes in healthcare. We have been downsized, re-engineered and re-worked ad nauseam. There is a growing shortage of Registered Nurses making the need for SPD/CS to assume more non-nursing duties to permit the nurses to do what they do best, take care of the patients. However, the increased workloads and responsibilities have led to high turnover rates in SPD/CS. High unemployment rates make recruitment difficult (some SPD/CS personnel are making minimum wage and hospitals cannot compete with industry). With budgets being trimmed repeatedly, one of the first categories to be reduced or eliminated is education. Most SPD/CS departments do not have a formal educator to develop and provide on the job training and continuing education. Everyone agrees that SPD/CS is the heart of the hospital. The critical services provided; decontamination, preparation and packaging, sterilization, sterile storage, inventory control and supply distribution; all impact on safe and effective delivery of healthcare. This in-service will discuss how to improve the training and continuing education to SPD/CS personnel. Definitions Training is a process of aiding employees to gain effectiveness in the performance of their duties as they are presently understood, or in any future assignment, through development of appropriate habits of thought, action, skills, knowledge and attitudes. It is through the vehicle of training that attempts are made to communicate skills and attitudes. 1 Training consists of all functions that go on day-to day Motivation is an important part of training Education is defined as a process of acquiring knowledge whereby individuals learn to think and reason. 2 Learning needs is the gap between a learner s current level and some desired level of knowledge, skills, attitudes or performance. This is generally stated as a problem or issue. For example, excessive back injuries to employees were found to result from employees lack of knowledge about ways to correctly lift heavy objects. 3 What are the Benefits to Training? Employees who are properly trained have increased productivity and higher work quality. Better trained employees have a better chance of being promoted. If employees are happy in their work there is less chance they will leave so turnover rates are lower. Regulatory agencies require documentation of training (JCAHO). (Note: usually when a gap exists in technical ability it is the result of poor training). Employees have improved job satisfaction (studies have shown that a major reason for leaving a job is lack of training). If employees are doing a better job the result is improved customer satisfaction; surgeons, nurses, patients. Needs Assessment In the SPD/CS profession, there are very few vocational training programs. However, employees can learn on the job and be successful. Their success is ultimately dependent upon the quality and nature of the training program provided. Frequently complaints are made about inconsistencies in training (i.e. Mary said I should fold the wrapper this way but Carol said it really didn t matter how I folded the wrapper who was right )? A study conducted in 1997 regarding the cost for training for SPD/CS personnel 4 revealed that the length of time an individual was trained could range from 3 weeks to 18 months. Some of the survey respondents indicated they had a fixed time frame for training, i.e. 6 weeks and everyone had to fit the time line. The average time to train a CS/SPD worker is months. This is not realistic for several reasons. First, not everyone learns at the same rate. Second, with cultural diversity in our workplaces, there may be a learning curve based upon language barriers. When Managers expect all employees to fit a specific time frame for training, employees who cannot fit into the time frame will become frustrated and leave. Key indicators that additional training is needed include: Inability to rotate staff due to lack of training/experience Large number of employee grievances, excessive turnover, unacceptable levels of disciplinary actions Complaints from customers about the services provided Inability to function within budget; excessive overtime Poor staff morale It is frustrating to all CS/SPD personnel when there are open/unfilled positions because the workload continues despite the under-staffing. We often have to assign overtime and while every effort is made to distribute the overtime, it usually falls upon the shoulders of a select few. Most often this is due to the fact that not all of the employees have been trained in all jobs in the department. A new employee gets hired, they get trained in decontamination and then due to other staffing issues (i.e. vacations, illness, etc.) the training goes no further. This presents two problems; 1) the employee must remain performing decontamination until they can be trained in another area and 2) we cannot rotate the employee to other shifts where multiple job responsibilities are required (i.e. sterilization, preparation of instrument sets). The few employees who are fully trained can quickly get burned out adding to the department s problems. Objectives for Training It all starts with training, so how does one proceed? There are three basic objectives to training; 1) acquiring knowledge, 2) development of skills and 3) development of modification of attitudes. When a training program is being developed, these objectives should be paramount. 5 With all the discussions about medical errors and lack of competent personnel, there is still a resistance to training. Usually the resistance is based upon two factors; lack of time and lack of money. However, how can we possibly not make the time when the root cause of most quality problems is lack of proper training? Continued on Page 4 **Key to In-service Quiz:** 1:D, 2:B, 3:C, 4:B, 5:B, 6:C, 7:D, 8:D, 9:C, 10:C 3

4 CBSPD In-service Continued Some CS Managers provide formalized classroom training using the textbook or the employee can be asked to read the chapter on their own and then ask questions of the trainer. In either event, use of the textbook provides the key principles upon which good practice is based. Furthermore, good training should be based upon results, not for the process. Areas of Concentration Any SPD/CS training program should include, at a minimum, the following areas: Safety issues FDA, OSHA, EPA Expectations performance, productivity, accuracy Decontamination Preparation and Packaging Surgical Instrumentation/Procedure Trays Sterilization; steam, EtO, low temperature gas plasma, liquid chemicals High level disinfection Sterile storage/sterility maintenance Inventory control/supply distribution Miscellaneous including telephone courtesy, specialty carts, patient care equipment, etc. Continuing Education SPD Managers should be supportive of providing Continuing Education for their staff. Most of the Continuing Education being provided is the must have ; i.e. new Synthes plate set, new infusion pump. While it is important for the employee to be knowledgeable in all new instrumentation and devices, it is important to keep the employees updated on the basics including decontamination, sterilization, etc. There are a wide variety of videos and training modules available from the SPD/CS organizations and manufacturers. These provide an excellent alternative for the busy SPD/CS Manager. However, continuing education should not be performed when we have the time. If the Operating Room can dedicate an hour a week for their continuing education, why can t the CS Department do the same? The answer is to make the time. CONCLUSIONS: We are facing many challenges in healthcare today. Healthcare facilities are having difficulty attracting and retaining employees. Since SPD/CS training is mainly on-the-job, we have a vested interest to properly train our employees and to help retain them. The costs for training can be as high as $29,000 6 therefore we need to assure thorough training and continuing education to encourage employee retention! The money spent on quality training and continuing education will be paid back in customer satisfaction, improved patient care and employees who are satisfied with their work experience. Employees who are properly trained will have less re-work to do (doing it over because it was not right the first time) and less waste in products. Training cannot and should not be rushed. While this is tempting because of the workload we deal with, if we rush the training, we are accepting a lower level of competence, which is simply unacceptable and can set the employee up for failure. If we provide quality training + continuing education we not only prepare our employees for the job they are performing now but help prepare them for future positions. Don t have the time to train CS personnel? We must find the time and make the commitment! References: 1 Philips, Louis. The Continuing Education Guide & 3 Ibid 4 Chobin, N. The Real Costs for Surgical Instrument Training in Central Service. Surgical Services Management. August, Phillips, Louis. The Continuing Education Guide Chobin, N. The Real Costs for Surgical Instrument Training in Central Service. Surgical Services Management. August, POST-TEST July 2008 Education + Training = Keys to SPD/CS Excellence This Pre-Approved In-service is worth 1 CEU with a Passing score of 70. Your manager must generate a certificate or letter of completion on facility letterhead with your name, signature of your manager, date of test, title of test, and name of journal (Criterion). You will keep this with your re-certification records until it s time to re-certify. 1. The heart of the hospital is A) Materiels Management B) Finance C) Operating Room D) Central Service/SPD 2. Training consists of all functions that go on A) Hour to hour B) Day to day C) Week to week D) Month to month 3. Objectives to training include all of the following EXCEPT A) Development of skills B) Acquiring knowledge C) Ability to be promoted D) Modification of attitudes 4. An important part of training is A) Salary B) Motivation C) Attitude D) Memory 5. Which of the following is NOT an indication that additional training is needed? A) Inability to rotate staff due to lack of training/experience B) Compliments from customers about the services provided C) Large number of employee grievances D) Poor staff morale 6. The root cause of most quality issues is A) Money B) Time C) Lack of proper training D) Lack of sufficient staffing 7. An employee s success on the job is dependent upon A) The person performing the training B) Length of training program C) Their intelligence D) The quality and nature of the training provided 8. The average amount of time to train a CS/SPD worker is A) 3-6 weeks B) 3-6 months C) 6-12 months D) months 9. Continuing education for CS/SPD personnel should focus on A) Instrument sets B) Stress management C) The basics D) Materiels Management 10. A major cause of an employee leaving their job is A) Money B) Workload C) Improper training D) Working weekends 4

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6 July CBSPD, Inc. Salary Survey - Summer 2008 Copyright - CBSPD, Inc All Rights Reserved ****Survey Ends September 30, 2008**** Please mail your completed survey to our office at: 2 Industrial Park, Suite 3, Alpha, NJ, 08865, or fax it to us at (908) The CBSPD will publish the results on our website immediately and in the next issue of the Criterion. State you live in: Title: Years in this position: Years in CS/SPD: What level(s) are you certified at?: How long have you been certified?: What is your hourly salary?: Does your hospital require certification for Sterile Processing Technicians?: When you became certified, did you receive a salary increase?: If you received an increase, what amount was the increase? Please be specific. Cents/hr: Dollars/hr: Dollars/yr: Other: What was the main reason you became certified? Required by hospital: Self/personal professional growth: Other: When you became certified, did your job title change?: Does your facility permit you to use your credentialing initials after your name (CSPDT, CRCST, CSIP, CSPDM, etc)?: Do you feel that the CBSPD certification has made a difference in your work performance?: If so, how did certification make a difference?: Have you re-certified yet?: Is the CBSPD s requirement for re-cert points too high? If you re-certified, how did you re-certify? Continuing Education: Re-examination: If you didn t re-certify, please explain why (was it because of the amount of CBSPD points required?): What would help you to re-certify?: Would you like to pay for your certification exam with your credit card?: What about your re-cert fee?: How many years would you prefer your CBSPD certification to be valid for? 1 yr. 2 yr. 3 yr. 4 yr. 5 yr. How many beds does your hospital have?: Have you visited the CBSPD website?: Did you find it helpful?:

7 Back Page October 2007 CBSPD Re-certification Stats (Newly Re-certified members listed on our website) April 2008 not available at this time but will be posted on our website and in next Criterion. Manager: Total Eligible = 3; Total Re-certified = Zero Supervisor: Total Eligible = 13; Total Re-certified = 5 (38%) Technician: Total Eligible = 688; Total Re-certified = 236 (34%) Surgical Instrument Processors: Total Eligible = 45; Total Re-certified = 12 (27%) February & May 2008 CBSPD Certification Exam Stats (Passing names listed on our website) Technician: Total Sat for Exam = 1,053; Total Passed = 476 (45%); Total Failed = 577 (55%) Manager: Total Sat for Exam = 17; Total Passed = 3 (18%); Total Failed = 14 (82%) Supervisor: Total Sat for Exam = 15; Total Passed = 10 (67%); Total Failed = 5 (33%) Instrument Processor: Total Sat for Exam = 62; Total Passed = 26 (42%); Total Failed = 36 (58%) Ambulatory Surgery: Total Sat for Exam = 29; Total Passed = 20 (69%); Total Failed = 9 (31%) GI Scope: Total Sat for Exam = 30; Total Passed = 29 (97%); Total Failed = 1 (3%) Sterile Processing University, LLC... NEED CONTINUING EDUCATION POINTS? NEED TO GET UPDATED IN STERILE PROCESSING? WANT TO LEARN ABOUT STERILE PROCESSING BUT THERE IS NO SCHOOL NEARBY OR YOU DO NOT HAVE TIME TO ATTEND SCHOOL? The on-line Basics of Sterile Processing course has been completely updated for 2008 with more information and modules to conform to the expanded second edition of The Basics of Sterile Processing. NOTE: Working in an Ambulatory Surgery Center? SPU now offers an on-line Ambulatory Surgery Sterile Processing Technician course! NOW AVAILABLE The new, expanded SECOND Edition of The Basics of Sterile Processing. The textbook has been updated with 29 more photos, more charts and an additional section on table-top sterilizers for Ambulatory Surgery Centers. Get your copy now! Visit: for all your sterile processing education needs. Quality education at affordable prices! July 2008

8 CBSPD, INC. 2 INDUSTRIAL PARK SUITE 3 ALPHA, NJ PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit # 6 New Brunswick, N.J. Upcoming Certification Exam Windows in 2008 (within the U.S.) Exam Window 3 AUGUST 4-9, 2008 Application Deadline ALREADY PASSED Exam Window 4 NOVEMBER 3-8, 2008 Application Deadline OCTOBER 6, 2008 **Reminder to All Upcoming October Re-certs** Why retake the exam when after working full time for 5 years, you only need 10 points of education per year to re-certify (except for Supervisors/ Managers)? If you were originally certified on 10/16/93, 10/17/98 or 10/18/03, you are due for recertification in October Please have your completed re-certification packet with payment of $100 into the CBSPD office no later than 10/31/08. The CBSPD mails out re-certification packets 6 months before you are due to expire. If you have not received your packet yet, please contact our office to update your address and/or print one out from our downloads page at sterileprocessing.org.