Serves as a Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologist performing advanced technical work in the Nuclear Medicine Service. Responsible for independently performing a full range of routine, non-routine, research and in vitro radionuclide studies as well as developing new protocols and procedures as required. The Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologist will work independently in the same manner as lead technologists are expected to perform.

Duties

Work Schedule: To be determined upon selection Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 40233A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required Duties of the position include, but are not limited to: Prepares proper instruments, computers and auxiliary equipment and acquires images as indicated by protocols. Evaluates images and computer-generated data and performs additional views as required. Assists with stress tests by starting IV's, placing EKG leads, taking blood pressures and ensuring all monitoring equipment is functional. Performs, evaluates, and monitors quality control measurements of specialized equipment used in the performance of imaging studies such as gamma camera imaging systems, computers, dose calibrators, well/probe detector systems, and other ancillary equipment used on a daily basis. Troubleshoots and makes judgments on the acceptable performance of equipment prior to initiating studies on patients. Reviews the daily work schedule to plan radiopharmaceutical needs. Staffs a fully functional and independent Radio-pharmacy by eluting the generator, preparing radiopharmaceutical kits and performing the appropriate quality control on all diagnostic doses used. Receives and calibrates brachytherapy seeds. Labels blood components with a radiopharmaceutical, monitors written directive procedures, maintains records of quality control procedures, administered doses and other related daily checks as required. Schedules patient studies, ensuring appropriate sequence of multiple procedures and interact with staff regarding exam preparation. Communicates effectively with patient, family, and staff. Provides safe and sanitary conditions, recognizes and responds to emergency conditions. Develops patient education materials and protocols for new tests/procedures in cooperation with the staff radiologists. Assists in the development and of non-routine, special and research protocols. Assists in the implementation of protocols and pharmaceutical clinical trials of new radionuclides and is involved in the communication of the findings. Reviews and analyzes new software pertinent to clinical image acquisition. Reviews new or improved stress techniques and communicates findings to the Supervisory Technologist. Prepares patients for procedures. Obtains pertinent patient history and checks procedural contraindications. Selects, prepares and administers the appropriate radiopharmaceutical by the proper route. Identifies potential medical event and takes appropriate action. Properly documents a medical event. Analyzes instances of radiopharmaceutical medical events and recommends measures to prevent further occurrences. Performs radiation safety duties associated with the hot lab and recommends necessary monitoring devices needed by staff who work or come in contact with nuclear medicine regularly. Post appropriate signs in designated areas to comply with NRC regulations. Surveys, inspects, and inventories incoming radioactive materials, taking appropriate action if results show contamination. Reviews radioactive materials packages to determine if it is properly packaged and takes appropriate actions. Utilizes proper methods for the use and storage of radioactive materials. Calculate and monitors radioactive materials and determine appropriate disposal of radioactive waste. Prepares packages of radioactive materials for transportation. Responsible for performing the wipe tests and area radiation surveys. Uses proper procedures for managing emergency surveys in the event of a radiation accident, radioactive spill, or contamination by performing the proper clean up, surveying and monitoring of the area and filing the appropriate documentation. Analyze circumstances contributing to radiation exposure and to recommend procedures to minimize exposure to all staff involved. Provides corrective action and instruction on proper radiation emergency procedures. Instructs the patient, family and staff in radiation safety precautions. Advise the providers of the appropriate exams that should be ordered and inform them of the appropriate patient preparation that is required for the requested exam. Reviews personal exposure results and can calculate and recognize higher than normal values and works with the Radiation Safety Officer to recommend corrective action, if needed. Analyzes monitoring results and takes appropriate measures to reduce radiation exposure levels. Analyzes instances of increased radiation exposure levels and implements measures to reduce levels. Uses proper documentation for excessive radiation exposure. Instructs, supervises and tests student technologists in all aspects of Nuclear Medicine Technology. Other duties as assigned by management.

Requirements

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: 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: 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. Loss of Credential: [Once certified, NMTs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted certification. Loss of credential will result in removal from the GS-0601 NMT occupation and may result in termination of employment.] For occupations which require an active certification at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the journey level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists. English Language Proficiency: [NMTs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part. 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. [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. 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 at this level serve in advanced assignments and will have varying assignments, including special and complex imaging procedures, advanced therapies, clinical instruction, and quality management duties within the program. Advanced therapies may include, but are not limited to, yttrium-90, radium, and palliative bone pain therapy. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: 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, Part II, Appendix G19 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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 Sierra Nevada Health Care System 975 Kirman Avenue Reno, NV 89502 US
• Name: Mari Hartman
• Phone: 925-356-4087
• Email: [email protected]