Managing a CSSD

By Joan M Losper

As the manager of this department, it is important to support the staff no matter what the situation is because they are not always acknowledged by some hospital managers for the hard work and technical skill that is needed to do their duties. This is a fact. They are seen as the persons cleaning the dirty, used surgical instruments. Very few staff in the hospitals where the author has worked for more than forty years are familiar with the function and importance of a CSSD.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joan M Losper
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005792367

Joan M Losper

I am a qualified Operating Theatre nurse who currently specialises in the CSSD of a private hospital. I am in the process of publishing my next book: CSSD Technicians: Know your Instruments. In this book I explain what a few basic instruments are used for during an operation and what to check for in CSSD to ensure its functionality. All instruments in a set must be functional for surgery to continue without interruption.I have also started writing my next book: Managing a CSSD: My Personal Experience. In this book I want to give guidance to the inexperienced manager/supervisor and give tips that assisted me over the past 10 years.Hard copies of my books are available on Amazon.com and Takealot.com

Book preview

Managing a CSSD

(Central Sterile Services Department)

Joan M Losper

Copyright © 2021 Joan M Losper

First edition 2021

Published by Joan M Losper publishing at Smashwords

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

The Author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the Author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

Published by Joan M Losper using Reach Publishers’ services,

Edited by Andrew Pender-Smith for Reach Publishers

Cover designed by Reach Publishers

P O Box 1384, Wandsbeck, South Africa, 3631

Website: www.reachpublishers.org

E-mail: [e-mail]

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. CSSD Manager: Professional Requirements

2. Physical layout of a CSSD

3. Flow chart: Movement between OT and CSSD

4. Summary of Technician Duties in CSSD

5. Training and Continuous Education of Staff

6. How to prevent a break in the Decontamination Process

7. Ensure Preventative Maintenance of all Equipment

8. Daily Checks and Care of all Equipment

9. Reusable Drape and Gown Requirements

10. Purchasing New Instruments and Replacing Broken Ones

11. Instrument Repair

12. Consumable Stock

13. Hospital Policies and Departmental Procedures

14. Official Meetings with OT Staff

15. Continuous Communication with OT staff

16. Loan Instruments Sets

17. Consignment Instrument Sets (if used in your hospital)

18. Monthly Reports

19. CSSD Staff requirements – Ratio per Hospital Beds

20. Annual Leave (AL), Sick Leave (SL) and Absenteeism

21. New Staff and Students

22. Ad Hoc Projects

23. Internal and External Inspections

Conclusion

About the Author

Annexure A

Annexure B

Annexure C

Annexure D

CSSD IS WHERE PATIENT SAFETY STARTS!

Introduction

As indicated on the cover of the book, this training manual is written based on the author’s experience as an Operating Theatre (OT) scrub sister of many years and more than a decade managing Central Sterilisation Services Departments (CSSD’s). Refer to About the Author at the end of this book.

Everything in this book can be applied to any situation in a hospital whether it be state or private, large or small. The idea is that this information should be used as a guideline and applied following the policies and procedures of the specific hospital where the manager is employed.

Staff Support: As the manager of this department, it is important to support the staff no matter what the situation is because they are not always acknowledged by some hospital managers for the hard work and technical skill that is needed to do their duties. This is a fact. They are seen as the persons cleaning the dirty, used surgical instruments. Very few staff in the hospitals where the author has worked for more than