Nuclear Medicine Technologist Position

Nuclear Medicine Technologist Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to join the team at the Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. As a key member of our Diagnostic Imaging Service, you will play a crucial role in providing high-quality patient care and contributing to the success of our organization.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, assay, and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection, inhalation, or ingestion as prescribed.
• Be proficient in introducing intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals and/or medications.
• Be familiar with possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals and other medications, such as lasix and captopril, to be administered.
• Receive patients, explain procedures, answer questions relating to the procedure, position patients for all necessary views, and tend to their comfort for the duration of the procedure.
• Obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition, and interviewing the patient and/or family.
• Move wheelchair and litter patients safely using ergonomic methods of patient transfer.
• Operate nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras, well counters, GM survey meters, thyroid uptake system, and dose calibrators for various patient procedures.
• Understand and be able to perform exposure rate calculations.
• Perform a full range of nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging, non-imaging, in-vitro, and therapeutic procedures, including highly specialized computer-assisted studies such as gated, tomographic, quantitative procedures.
• Keep up to date with new imaging agents, procedures, and methods. Write imaging protocols for use within the department.
• Analyze procedure images for quality. Obtain additional images when necessary.
• Be familiar with three-dimensional anatomy.
• Correctly administer radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients.
• Utilize necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification.
• Fill out appropriate forms and administer dose with the nuclear medicine physician. Instruct patient, family, and nursing staff in radiation safety precautions.
• Perform radiation surveys, post appropriate caution signs, and distribute personnel monitoring devices as required.
• Properly monitor and store any radioactive waste for disposal.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of personnel requiring film badges. Read and understand the film badge exposure report. Determine exposure patterns and recommend actions to reduce exposure levels to public, radiation workers, and self.
• Prepare studies for nuclear medicine physician's interpretation by insuring completeness of all forms involved in the procedure. Record appropriate data and related information on the proper patient worksheet and images.
• Ensure proper billing and workload information by using accurate CPT codes for each patient study.
• Schedule patient procedures, taking into consideration camera availability, scan length, patient condition, the need for multiple nuclear medicine studies, other clinic appointments of the patient, contraindications for the test, and urgency of the request.
• Inform patient of all pertinent preparations for their scan, i.e., NPO, follow certain diet, bowel prep, etc.
• Perform required technical procedures for safe receipt, handling, transport, usage, and disposal of radioactive materials, assuring compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), National Health Physics Program (NHPP), Department of Transportation (DOT), and license conditions.
• Understand different precautions used based upon the various package types.
• Understand, utilize, and practice the concepts of As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principal, maintaining radiation exposures as ALARA.
• Assure that all Nuclear Medicine, Medical Center, VISN, and Radiation Safety policies are effectively followed.
• Recognize potential radiation contamination by visual and mechanical methods. Take necessary actions to minimize contamination and exposure to self, public, and coworkers. Contacting the Radiopharmacy and radiation safety officer if needed.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:00pm

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. Citizen.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment.
• Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

• Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.
• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N).
• NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following: (1) Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program, OR (2) Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), culminating in a certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree.
• Grandfathering Provision: May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations

• Nuclear Medicine Technologist, GS-9: Experience. Completion of 1 year of [creditable] experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position to be filled (i.e., experience that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics needed to provide nuclear medicine technology services at that level) which includes: Knowledge of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations [that pertain to nuclear medicine technology practices. Knowledge of the medical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and physics and how they relate to the cardiovascular, skeletal, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems of the human body.
• Knowledge of radioactive package types, package surveys, and radioactive materials record management.
• Ability to independently use and interpret Geiger-Mueller meter.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

Preferred Experience

For more information on this qualification standard, please visit The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.

Physical Requirements

Bending, pushing, pulling, reaching, and occasional kneeling, crawling, and squatting; lifting, carrying, bending, and manipulation of equipment; patient assistance and positioning; walking and prolonged standing; the ability to read written orders, computer screens, patient records, and equipment controls; and the ability to communicate with patients, physicians, and coworkers.

Near visual acuity to assess patient's physical condition when performing exams and evaluating images for diagnostic quality.

Must be able to speak and hear to communicate with patients; ability to make critical decisions, interact with patients of different ages and health conditions, maintain patient confidentiality, work under stressful conditions.

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