Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Summary This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) – a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program approval – award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants are ineligible to apply. 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. 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. 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 (GS‑11): Completion of one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS‑9) – i.e., experience that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics needed to provide nuclear medicine technology services at that level. Examples of specialized experience include: Analyzing consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and taking appropriate actions; Determining personnel needing personal monitoring devices, analyzing personal monitoring results, and recommending corrective action when needed; Analyzing instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommending measures to reduce exposure; Calculating exposure rates; Documenting excessive radiation exposure; Developing new protocols for imaging procedures; Motivating and/or mentoring staff if in a supervisory position; Developing continuing education standards if in a supervisory position; Responding to any decrease in staffing or increase in workload involving all parties to restructure work assignments if encumbering a supervisory position. Demonstrated Knowledge – Skills – and Abilities (KSAs): Ability to produce and assess high‑quality scans and quality control images; Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment; Knowledge of physiological 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 after 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. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Heavy lifting (45 lbs and over); moderate carrying (15‑44 lbs); pushing; use of fingers; use of both hands; walking (up to 8 hrs); standing (up to 8 hrs); repeated bending (up to 8 hrs); ability to distinguish basic colors; emotional/mental stability. Environmental Factors: Exposure to radiant energy; slippery or uneven walking surfaces; working closely with others and/or working alone. Duties The major duties of the Nuclear Medicine Technologist include – but are not limited to: transfer patients from stretcher or wheelchair to imaging table and explain procedures; position patients for desired results; prepare room, equipment and material needed for patient procedures; properly identify patient – essential so that mistaken identity does not occur by ensuring the patient ID band and the request are identical; observe patients during procedures and report complications or unusual events; perform computer work and required forms associated with patient exams; maximize patient throughput by contacting escort, ward secretaries, nursing personnel, etc. Provide clinical instruction to student nuclear medicine technologists from affiliated programs and facilitate the attainment of established program objectives. Practice radiation safety to reduce exposure to patient, staff and self. Act in a professional, cooperative manner toward patients and staff. Maintain records and files of patient exams and perform clerical and file room duties related to patient care. Schedule outpatient clinic appointments using Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (Vista) scheduling options; use established business rules to schedule appointments for veterans; prepare, assay and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection, inhalation or ingestion as prescribed. Be proficient in inserting intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals and/or medications; test blood glucose levels in patients; respond appropriately to results that are outside normal range; be knowledgeable regarding possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals and other medications. Prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals through various routes of administration – oral, inhalant, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal – requiring the exercise of judgment to assess and respond to patients' needs prior to, during, and after the procedure; obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition and interviewing the patient and/or family. Work closely with staff from non‑invasive cardiology stress lab to maximize patient care and minimize costs of wasted doses. Independently perform a full range of nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras, SPECT/CT, PET/CT/MRI scanners, well counters, GM survey meters, thyroid uptake system, etc. 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. Correctly perform radionuclide therapy; receive and assay prescribed therapeutic doses; prepare studies for nuclear medicine computerized files; perform backups and upload patient images to VISTA imaging as appropriate; ensure proper billing and workload information by using accurate CPT codes for each patient study, keeping abreast of yearly changes in CPT coding. Work schedule: Monday‑Friday 8:00 am‑4:30 pm with rotating call shifts weekdays, weekends, holidays. Telework: Not available; virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 92120‑A; Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized; EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact visn10hrccoe@va.gov – the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized. #J-18808-Ljbffr