What are the responsibilities and job description for the Nuclear Medicine Technologist position at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?
Summary
The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will function in Imaging Service.
Qualifications
Basic Requirements:
The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will function in Imaging Service.
Qualifications
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: All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT)
- NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following: graduation from an educational program in nuclear medicine technology accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation
- or national certification as a registered medical technologist or registered radiologic technologist
- or a bachelor's or associate's degree in one of the physical or biological sciences - and 4 years of clinical NMT experience
- English Language Proficiency: [NMTs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - this part
- Grade Determination: In addition to the basic requirements for employment - the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: GS-11: Experience: At least one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) directly related to the position being filled that demonstrates the clinical competencies described at that level
- 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 include: 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 therapeutic safety precautions
- Ability to troubleshoot gamma camera and auxiliary equipment problems
- Ability to analyze computer generated data for technical quality and artifacts and initiate corrective measures
- In addition to the experience listed above - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSA's: 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
- References: VA Handbook 5005/125 - Part II - Appendix G19
- For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
- Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to do the following: Heavy lifting (45lbs and over) - moderate carrying (15-44lbs) - pushing - use of fingers - use of both hands - walking (up to 8hrs) - standing (up to 8hrs) - repeated bending (up to 8hrs) - ability to distinguish basic colors - emotional/mental stability
- Environmental factors include: exposure to radiant energy - slippery or uneven walking surfaces - working closely with others and/or working alone.
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists have responsibility for providing a wide range of specialized nuclear medicine procedures - including diagnostic imaging - therapy with unsealed radioactive materials - radioassay - in-vivo or in-vitro cell labeling
- evaluating abnormal results
- using and maintaining equipment
- setting up and monitoring quality control
- working within guidelines from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) - National Health Physics Program (NHPP) - Department of Transportation (DOT) - Occupational Safety & Health Association (OSHA)
- Duties 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 Test blood glucose levels in patients
- Respond properly to results that are outside normal range Be knowledgeable regarding possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals and other medications - such as Lasix and Captopril - to be administered
- Take immediate action to remedy any noted effects Order and manage radiopharmaceutical doses as required for daily patient studies
- Maintain adequate supplies of doses to perform patient studies without a delay whenever possible Receive patients - explain procedure - answer questions relating to the procedure - position patient for 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/family Operate nuclear medicine equipment such as SPECT - SPECT/CT - and PET/CT - well counters - GM survey meters - thyroid uptake system - FDG dose injector - & dose calibrators for various patient procedures Understand and perform exposure rate calculations Perform a full range of nuclear medicine imaging - non-imaging - invitro and therapeutic procedures - including highly specialized computer assisted studies such as gated - tomographic - 4D - and quantitative procedures Perform and understand a range of hybrid imaging including SPECT/CT and PET/CT
- Be knowledgeable in low dose Computed Tomography aspects including KeV and MAS settings
- Understand attenuation correction and anatomical landmarks as they relate to CT
- Also be attentive to CT safety and reducing the patient's dose to as low as reasonably possible Analyze procedure images for quality & obtain additional images when necessary
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals to patients
- Utilize necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using multiple unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification Perform radionuclide therapy in collaboration with Nuclear Medicine Physician
- Receive and assay prescribed therapeutic doses
- Record appropriate documentation and administer dose with the nuclear medicine physician Demonstrate a thorough understanding of personnel requiring film badges
- Read/understand the film badge exposure report
- Determine exposure patterns and recommend actions to reduce exposure levels to public - radiation workers and self 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 diet - bowel prep - etc
- Adjusting schedule to prevent overbooking and to prevent extended patient wait times Perform required technical procedures for safe receipt - handling - transport - usage and disposal of radioactive materials - assuring compliance w/ 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 Efficiently navigates and maintains the electronic health record (EHR) system - ensuring complete - timely - and accurate documentation of patient encounters - clinical workflows - imaging results - & departmental records Utilizes an electronic dose-tracking system to accurately document - monitor - and verify radiopharmaceutical administration in compliance with regulatory and institutional standards Maintains a high level of awareness regarding Veterans' emotional states and behavioral cues - providing compassionate - respectful - and patient-centered communication at all times Work Schedule: Monday through Friday - 8:00 a.m
- - 4:30 p.m. - on-call requirements may be necessary based on the needs of the service Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position Functional Statement #: 94205-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Salary : $107,814 - $140,165