Career Center

Summary

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist performs independently on a wide variety of specialized nuclear medicine procedures - including diagnostic imaging - therapy with unsealed radioactive materials - radio assay - in-vivo or in-vitro cell labeling; evaluating abnormal results; performing and monitoring quality control; working within guidelines from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Department of Transportation - National Health Physics program - Occupation Safety and Health Association among others.

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.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Be a citizen of the United States
• 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: Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program - OR 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
• Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety - instrumentation - clinical procedures - and radio-pharmacy - as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB
• 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: GS-11 Experience: For assignments above the journey level - the candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• Experience includes: ability to document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment
• knowledge of medical events requiring documentation and the ability to properly document them and make recommendations to the radiation safety officer (RSO)
• ability to communicate orally and in writing post iodine-131 therapy radiation safety precautions
• ability to troubleshoot gamma camera and auxiliary equipment problems
• and ability to analyze computer generated data for technical quality and artifacts and initiate corrective measures
• Assignments: For all assignments above the journey level - the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope - complexity (difficulty) - range of variety - and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• NMTs at this level are fully functional as an advanced NMT and carry out their assigned tasks independently
• NMTs at this level serve in advanced assignments and will have varying assignments - including special and complex imaging procedures - advanced therapies - clinical instruction - and quality management duties within the program
• Advanced therapies may include - but are not limited to - yttrium-90 - radium - and palliative bone pain therapy
• Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment - the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge - skills - and abilities to perform at this level
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results
• Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome
• Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings
• Ability to obtain - assess - and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose
• Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures
• Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce
• Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions
• Preferred Experience: Minimum of three years' experience preferred
• Demonstrates expertise as a Certified Nuclear Medicine Fusion Technologist - with proficiency in hybrid imaging modalities such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT
• Strong background in advance imaging techniques - radiopharmaceutical preparation - quality control - and radiation safety protocols
• Additional experience in post-processing - quantitative analysis - and multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize patient outcomes is highly desirable
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting (15-44 pounds) - moderate carrying (15-44 pounds) - use of fingers with both hands - walking (4 hours) and standing (4 hours) with both legs
• Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• Near vision correctable at 13' to 16' to Jaeger 1 to 4
• Hearing (aid permitted)
• Mental and emotional stability required
• See VA Directive Handbook 5019.

Duties

• Duties may include but are not limited to: 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 knowledgeable regarding possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals and other medications - such as Lasix - Sincalide or captopril (not all-inclusive list) to be administered
• Take immediate action to remedy any noted side effects
• Receive patients - explain procedure - answer questions relating to the procedure - position patient 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 - as well as interviewing the patient and/or family
• Move wheelchair and litter patients safely using ergonomic methods of patient transfer
• Operate nuclear medicine equipment such as SPECT/CT gamma cameras - well counters - GM survey meters - thyroid uptake system - and dose calibrators (to include quality control functions) for various patient procedures
• Understand 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 - single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) to include (SPECT/CT) and quantitative procedures
• It is expected that general nuclear medicine technologists be willing to cross train via on-the-job training into PET/CT - based on local requirements
• However - technologists will be expected to maintain both skill level and work skills in both general Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT as this is accomplished
• If a technologist has prior PET/CT experience - formal evaluation of skills will be performed to complete competency checklist
• Analyze procedure images for quality
• Obtain additional images when necessary
• Be able to trouble shoot procedures and exams depending on patient and equipment factors
• Be knowledgeable in two and three dimensional anatomy
• Correctly administer radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients
• Utilizes necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification
• Perform radionuclide therapy in collaboration with the Nuclear Medicine Physician
• Receive and assay prescribed therapeutic doses
• Fill out appropriate forms and administer dose with the nuclear medicine physician
• Instruct patient - family and nursing staff in radiation safety 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
• Prepare studies for nuclear medicine physician's interpretation by ensuring completeness of all forms involved in the procedure
• Record appropriate data and related information on the proper patient worksheet and images
• 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 his/her scan - i.e
• NPO - follow certain dietary restrictions - 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 ALARA principal - maintaining radiation exposures as low as reasonably achievable
• Assures 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
• Initiates contact of Supervisor - Radiopharmacy and/or the Radiation Safety Officer if needed
• Work Schedule: TBD: Monday - Friday 6:30am - 3:00pm
• 7:00am - 3:30pm
• or 8:00am - 4:00pm based on service needs
• On-call Rotation
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 54227-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized