Nuclear Medicine Technologists provide a wide range of specialized nuclear medicine procedures, including the performance of diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging, assisting with nuclear medicine therapy with unsealed radioactive materials, performing radio-assay, in-vivo or in-vitro cell labeling; DEXA scans, evaluating abnormal results; using and maintaining equipment; setting up and monitoring quality control.

Duties

Maintains the security of radioactive material. Performs QC procedures timely. Reports irregularities to the supervisory NMT as soon as possible. Prepares food for gastric emptying studies. Prepare, assay, and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection, inhalation or ingestion as prescribed. Maintains all appropriate records in the hot lab. Performs self-radiation surveys in accordance with the medical centers radiation safety policy. Receives patients, explains procedure, answers questions relating to the procedure, positions patient for all necessary views and tends to their comfort for the duration of the procedure. Obtains pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition, and interviewing the patient and/or family. Operate nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras, SPECT/CT, PET/CT, well counters, GM survey meters, thyroid uptake systems and dose calibrators for various patient procedures, etc. Uses computer software programs such as Nuclear Medicine Information Systems (NMIS), VISTA, CPRS, etc. Perform a full range of diagnostic nuclear medicine imaging, non-imaging, in-vitro and therapeutic procedures, including highly specialized computer assisted studies such as gated, tomographic, quantitative procedures and PET /CT studies. Verifies that images are in PACS and are interpretable. Writes clinically significant notes in PACS and in CPRS when needed. Understands three-dimensional anatomy as it pertains to SPECT and PET/CT. 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. Assists the Nuclear Medicine Physician with nuclear medicine therapeutic procedures. Perform radiation surveys, post appropriate caution signs, and distribute personnel monitoring devices as required. Properly monitor and store any radioactive waste for disposal. Demonstrates a thorough understanding of personnel requiring film badges. 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. 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, 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 NRC/NHPP and Department of Transportation 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. Calibrate thyroid uptake system, gamma cameras, PET/CT, dose calibrators and well counter. Adjust and maintain instruments, verify correct operation using established procedures and quality control standards. Identify and record the cause of problems when they occur. Troubleshoot issues and make simple repairs when possible. Participate in research projects involving Nuclear Medicine studies, products, equipment and/or radiopharmaceuticals. Instruct Nuclear Medicine students, Radiology students, new technologists, medical residents and others on techniques, procedures, equipment use, etc. Perform daily laboratory surveys, wipe tests and bio-assays. Recognize evidence of contamination and act accordingly to maintain ALARA principles. Evaluate study for technical abnormalities (artifacts) and take the proper steps to correct the problem. Repeats images if needed. Evaluate the validity of data in relation to results needed and determine if additional information is needed for clarification of test results or to establish a definite diagnosis and confers with physicians on additional tests as necessary. Interact with representatives from outside agencies such as the JC, NRC, VISN and VHA and others when necessary. Performs full array of nuclear cardiology procedures including myocardial perfusion studies, myocardial wall motion and ejection fraction determinations. Perform daily, weekly and other scheduled quality control procedures on both PET and CT portions of PET/CT scanner as per manufacturer's directives. Ensures that all nuclear medicine studies including PET/CT studies are appropriately archived for future retrieval in hospital PACS system. Performs DEXA scans and DEXA QC procedures. Perform other nuclear medicine related duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday 8:00- 4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21Z76-A

Requirements

Qualifications

BASIC REQUIREMENTS: A. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. B. Certification. All applicants must be certified ( and registered) in nuclear medicine technology and certified and or registered in Computed Tomography by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N)(CT). NMTCB (CT)or ARRT (N) (CT) 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. NOTE: Technologists functioning as multi-modality technologists require additional specific certifications as stated in assignment descriptions below Grade Determinations: Nuclear Medicine Technologist GS-11 ( Multi-Modality) a) 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. (b) 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 in this assignment perform fusion imaging such as PET/CT, SPECT/CT and/or PET/MR procedures that include diagnostic nuclear medicine, CT, and/or MR fused images. Multi-modality technologists must hold appropriate specific certifications in nuclear medicine (NMTCB or ARRT(N)), as well as CT (NMTCB(CT)) or ARRT (CT)), and/or MR (ARRT (MR)) applicable to independently perform the assignment duties. They carry out these complex assignments independently as part of nuclear medicine procedures. Assignments may include injection of contrast and recognition of allergic reaction, contraindications, and medication interactions. The work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: i. Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results. ii. Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome. iii. Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings. iv. Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose. v. Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures. vi. Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce. vii. Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions. English Language Proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part. References: VA Handbook 5005/125 Part II Appendix G19The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA NY Harbor Healthcare System 423 East 23rd Street New York, NY 10010 US
• Name: Alicia Franklin
• Phone: 716-393-8342
• Email: [email protected]