The responsibilities of the Nuclear Medicine Technologist include an empathetic and instructional approach to patient care: the preparation, calibration, and administration of radiopharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals; the performance of quality control procedures; and operation of imaging, laboratory, and computer instrumentation.

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, positions 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 making certain that 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, credit of patient visits Maximize patient throughput by contacts with 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 in order to reduce exposure to patient, staff and self. Act in a professional, cooperative manner towards patients and staff Maintain records and files of patient exams and perform clerical and file room duties related to patient care Schedule outpatient clinic appointment 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 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 Prepares and administers radiopharmaceuticals through various routes of administration including, but not limited to: oral inhalant, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous and intradermal Requires the exercise of judgement 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 very 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, and PET/CT/MRI scanner, 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 i.e. performing backups etc. and uploading 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, 8:00am-4:30pm with rotating call shifts weekdays, weekends/holidays. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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 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. Grade Determinations: GS-11: Completion of one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position to be filled (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, but are not limited to: Analyzing consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions. Determining personnel needing personal monitoring devices, analyze personal monitoring results, and recommend corrective action, if needed. Analyzing instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce. Calculating exposure rates. Documenting excessive radiation exposure. Developing new protocols for imaging procedures. Motivating and/or mentoring staff, if supervisory position. Developing continuing education standards, if 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. In addition to the grade level requirements listed above, the candidate must also 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 5005/15, Part II, Appendix G19 dated December 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-11. 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.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address John D Dingell Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center 4646 John R Street Detroit, MI 48201 US
• Name: Cassandra Barlow
• Phone: 216-408-9680
• Email: [email protected]