Nuclear Medicine Technologist

VA Loma Linda is recruiting for a Nuclear Medicine Technologist to work in Diagnostic Imaging Service where small amounts of radioactive materials are used to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases including many types of cancers, heart disease, brain disease and bone disease.

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: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Certification: Certification 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.

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements above, the following criteria must also be met:

Experience: One (1) year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled, AND

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:

1. Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results.
2. Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome.
3. Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings.
4. Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose.
5. Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures.
6. Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce.
7. Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions.

NOTE: Experience that meets the KSAs above must be described in your resume in order to receive credit for this position.

Preferred Experience:

• Certification by the CA Dept of Public Health in Nuclear Medicine in all scopes defined in Section 30533, Plus Venipuncture
• Extensive PET/CT experience to include recent cardiac, neurology, and cancer imaging. Ability to utilize and understand advanced PET applications to include TOF, misregistration of images, beam hardening, metal artifact, etc.
• Experience adjusting/rewriting prewritten protocols on Siemens computers.
• Theragnostic experience with I-131 thyroid therapy, Ra-223 Xofigo, Y-90 Thera Sphere, and Lu-177 Pluvicto.
• Extensive experience in USP>825>radio pharmacy. Understanding and ability to perform USP <825> compliant testing for self and lab. Experience preparing radiopharmaceuticals from bulk 99mTc. Ability to perform all QC to assure radiopharmaceuticals purity. Experience with 99Mo generators.
• PACS experience.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G19, "Nuclear Medicine Technologist Qualification Standard"

Physical Requirements: Able to lift and carry moderately heavy objects 15-44 pounds, able to use both hands, all fingers, able to walk and stand a minimum of 4 hours. Able to use both legs and engage in repeated bending for 4 hours. Vision in both eyes, able to distinguish basic colors, able to distinguish shades of colors, hearing with or without aids, able to rotate trunk side to side and able to sit 50 plus minutes.

Responsibilities:

As a Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) you will be responsible for administering, under the direction of a physician, both diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals and adjunct medications. You will be responsible for the safe use of ionizing and nonionizing radiation for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research purposes. You will also review patients' medical history to understand the patients' illness and pending diagnostic or treatment procedure; instruct the patient before, during, and following the procedure; evaluate the satisfactory preparation of the patient before beginning a procedure; and recognize emergency patient conditions and initiate lifesaving first aid when appropriate. You will acquire, process and transfer the imaging study for review by the Nuclear Medicine physician. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Receiving/interpreting requests
• Securing patient confidence/cooperation
• Preparing radiopharmaceuticals for patient administration
• Performing and monitoring specialized tests and/or studies
• Managing protocols for new tests
• Assisting in, or performing, exposure pattern studies
• Assisting in, or establishing, radiation safety policies
• Utilizing computerized systems in networking and processing

Work Schedule: Intermediate
Functional Statement #:000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Salary : $114,831