Celebrating Sterile Processing Week: Unsung Heroes in Veteran Care
By Mary Bauer, RN Sterile Processing Service Educator
“Veterans are unlike any category of patients that I have taken care of. They are down-to-earth, appreciative of the care they receive, and most of them love to share their story. I speak the same language and find comfort being around them, all of which is very fulfilling as a nurse."
Veterans come in and out of procedure rooms all day and night but they never get to meet the mighty crew of 35 employees who are essential to patient safety and positive outcomes.
The Minneapolis VA Sterile Processing Service (SPS) team is responsible for processing surgical instruments, supplies, and equipment; serving in settings throughout the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and the Northwest Metro Community Based Outpatient Clinic.
They are the heart of all activity required for operating rooms, endoscopy suites, clinics, and Veteran care areas. The entire team works diligently to meet the high demand for sterile instruments. They know that behind every instrument, there is a Veteran who relies on its perfect condition for a successful procedure.
Interestingly enough, a quarter of the SPS team are Veterans themselves! During Sterile Processing Week, we asked a few of them about their service and why they chose to work in SPS.
“I take great pride in the process we do here in SPS to ensure that we clean, inspect and properly process the equipment for every Veteran. I’m so thankful, as a Veteran, to be able to provide this service to Veterans,” said Bernadene Bohemier, a medical supply technician and a retired Navy counselor chief.
“I feel honored to lend my hard work and skills to provide services to my fellow Veterans,” said Antoinette Couteaux, Navy Veteran and medical supply technician.
“My grandpa was an Army Ranger during WWII. When he found out that I had enlisted in the Army, he was so proud to have a granddaughter in combat boots,” said Zara Luing, a medical supply technician. “To me, working in sterile processing as a Veteran is my way of giving back to all the Veterans who have served or are serving.”
“I had the honor and privilege to serve in the U.S. Navy onboard USS Iwo Jima LHD-7 for four years as an enlisted Machinist Mate (with an additional six years in the Navy reserves). At the end of my active-duty enlistment, I attended Winona State University to obtain my bachelor’s degree in nursing. As a registered nurse, I got my start in the sterile process setting while working in the surgery department,” said Jay Koepp, assistant chief nurse of SPS.
“Veterans are unlike any category of patients that I have taken care of. They are down-to-earth, appreciative of the care they receive, and most of them love to share their story. I speak the same language and find comfort being around them, all of which is very fulfilling as a nurse. After completing my active duty and joining the local Air Force Reserve unit, I pursued a position at the VA as an operating room nurse,” said Chief of SPS Terri Louey. “As a VA nurse leader, I see my role as one that continues to serve Veterans. Sterile Processing has such a vital role that affects most of the facility and patient care areas. The SPS department ensures all reusable medical devices are properly reprocessed in a timely manner and available any time. This takes a team that is dedicated, detail-oriented, and supports the VA mission. I am honored to work with this SPS team and continue to care for our nation’s Veterans.”
Melba Armstead, an Army and Navy Veteran, has served in many different positions at the Minneapolis VA since 2006. She landed in SPS over seven years ago as a medical supply technician and hasn’t looked back. “I wanted something different but still wanted to serve my fellow Veterans,” she said. “Sterile Processing gave me that opportunity. It is still patient care, just a different aspect of patient care. I am still taking care of my fellow Veterans. Still caring for my very large extended family.”
“Working for the Department of Veterans Affairs means a lot to me because I come from a line of service members,” said William Lundgren, a medical supply technician. “SPS represents not only a job for me but an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our brave Veterans every single day. It brings me joy knowing that I am playing a part in something much larger than myself, even now as a Veteran. The chance to contribute to the well-being of those who have valiantly served our nation fills me with an incredible sense of pride and responsibility. It is also a privilege to be part of a dedicated team that works hard to ensure that our Veterans receive the high-quality care they absolutely deserve.”
SPS Week is more than just a celebration—it’s an acknowledgment of the unsung heroes who, through their expertise and commitment, make a positive difference in the lives of our Veterans every single day.