Summary

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist has the responsibility for providing a wide range of specialized and complex Nuclear Medicine procedures - including emission imaging for diagnostics; therapy with unsealed radioactive materials; using and maintaining emission counting and imaging equipment; setting up and monitoring of quality controls; and working within guidelines of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

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
• English Language Proficiency: NMTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a
• 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
• 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: Nuclear Medicine Technologist - GS-11 Experience: Completion of 1 year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-9) level directly related to the position
• Demonstrated Knowledge - Skills - and Abilities: The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs
• Ability to produce and assess high quality and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results
• Knowledge and skill in the 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 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: General Nuclear Medicine - Nuclear Cardiology - PET/CT - Bone Densitometry - and Nuclear Medicine Theranostics Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005/125 Part II Appendix G19 The full performance level of this vacancy is 11
• Physical Requirements: The incumbent usually works standing and has patient contact involving occasional heavy lifting - and/or assisting patients
• This can be particularly severe when patients are combative and uncooperative
• The computer area of the in vivo section calls for long periods of working around loud noise - prolonged concentration and long periods of sitting - while working under pressure of a deadline to produce accurate patient test results
• They must have full manual dexterity and keyboarding skills
• Must be able to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken and written word
• Must be able to view and read information on computer screens.

Duties

• Major duties include - but are not limited to: The Nuclear Medicine Technologist has the responsibility for providing a wide range of specialized and complex nuclear medicine procedures - including diagnostic imaging - therapy with unsealed radioactive materials - radio-assay - 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 INRC) - Department of Transportation (DOT) - National Health Physics Program - Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) among others
• Calculate - prepare - assay - and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection - inhalation or ingestion as prescribed - which includes the compounding of cold pharmaceutical kits with the required radioactive agent under sterility requirements
• Proficient in introducing intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals and/or pharmaceuticals
• Calculate the required pharmaceutical dosage for procedures
• prepare pharmaceuticals for injection - such as sincalide - lasix - captopril - adenosine - dipyridamole - regadenoson - and dobutamine
• and administer the pharmaceuticals with the Nuclear Medicine Physician and/or the Nuclear Medicine Physician Assistant
• Operate nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras - well counters - multi channel analyzers - GM survey meters and room monitors - thyroid uptake systems - and dose calibrators for various patient procedures
• Operate bone density systems and analyze images for bone composition comparisons
• Receive patients - explain procedure - answer questions and evaluate the patient's medical condition and tolerability for the procedure - position patient for all necessary imaging steps and tend to their comfort for the duration of the procedure
• 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 - dual-modality (SPECT/CT and PET/CT) - and quantitative procedures
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of personnel requiring film badges
• Read and understand the film badge exposure report
• 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
• Analyze procedure images for quality and obtain additional images when necessary
• Correctly administer radiopharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals to patients
• Utilizes necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification
• Obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient - electronic chart - requisition - and interviewing the patient and/or family
• Recognize potential radiation contamination by visual and mechanical method
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - Rotating and on-call Monday - Friday and weekends Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 5968F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized