Traveling Techs : The Ups and Downs of Contract Work in the SPD
By Kelly M . Pyrek
From a “ gig economy ” embraced by younger generations to one bearing the scars of what has been dubbed the “ Great Resignation ” at the end of the pandemic , the workforce has endured significant change . As people pursue professional goals and chase personal dreams , they are becoming more mobile than ever before . And while traveling nurses and other migratory occupations have long existed , traveling sterile processing technicians are gaining recognition for helping fuel a move toward contract and transitory employment in the healthcare sector .
A veteran traveling professional who recently accepted a full-time sterile processing department position , Norm Thompson , MBA , CRCST , CER , CHL , notes that job prospects have fluctuated of late due to market forces , the pandemic , and other factors .
“ The job market for the traveling tech seems to fluctuate because of COVID-19 ,” Thompson confirms . “ The market also reflects this ‘ Big Quit ’ trend that has forced facilities to increase the use of travelers . This combination of events has also increased
The job market for the traveling tech seems to fluctuate because of COVID-19 . The market also reflects this ‘ Big Quit ’ trend that has forced facilities to increase the use of travelers . This combination of events has also increased employment possibilities for traveling techs .”
— Norm Thompson , MBA , CRCST , CER , CHL employment possibilities for traveling techs .”
Traveling technician Kymm James , MS , BS , MAT , CRCST , CIS , CHL , says much of the work available consists of crisis-response contracts . “ These increase the weekly pay , but they are not country-wide so really it depends on the traveler if this is good or bad . Most of these contracts are on the West Coast ( California , Oregon , and Washington ) with a few in Massachusetts . So , if these are not areas of interest , then it doesn ’ t really change the job prospects .”
Bringing fresh skill sets and a new pair of eyes to old problems , traveling techs are easily demonstrating their contributions to the SPD .
“ Traveling techs can bring a new perspective to any facility ,” says Natalie Lind , CRCST , CHL , education director for the Healthcare Sterile Processing Association ( HSPA ), acknowledging the benefits of hospitals hiring traveling sterile processing techs . “ They have often seen more sterile processing systems than the employees at the facility and can share good ideas they have seen in other departments . The
www . healthcarehygienemagazine . com • april 2022
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