This is a senior level technologist who must be able to function independently and operate as a member of a multi-leveled organization. The successful Nuclear Medicine/CT Technologist can operate general nuclear medicine, SPECT/CT, and CT equipment to produce cross sectional and multidimensional rendered images for both inpatient and outpatient indications.

Duties

Duties Assigned: Dose Calculations and Administration: Must possess excellent venipuncture techniques using a variety of equipment, such as syringes with needles and IV catheters. The individual must be able to work without supervision and be able to set reasonable priorities. He/she will work collaboratively with staff Radiologists and the Chief Technologist/Supervisor to optimize patient care and image quality. Ability to educate referring physicians toward study appropriateness and patient preparation, as well as performing complex exams is desired.. Administers the dose of radiopharmaceuticals to patients undergoing nuclear medicine procedures either intravenously, orally or by inhalation according to the posted dosing schedule for each isotope. Follows USP 797 and USP 825 guidelines when preparing and assaying doses in the Hot Lab. Nuclear Medicine and CT Imaging Procedures: Receives patients and explains the procedure to them in order to obtain cooperation and allay anxieties during performance of procedure. It is the responsibility of the Technologist to continually assess the immediate needs and conditions of assigned patients. Visually inspects the patient in order to record any observations that may contribute additional information in the evaluation of test results, e.g., pregnancy, incontinence, surgery, interfering medications, etc. Reviews and abstracts data from patient's chart. May consult with staff professionals to obtain information concerning the patient's physical condition, preliminary diagnosis, and care in order to take test factors into account while performing diagnostic procedures. Places patient on the examination table and explains, as necessary, positioning and instrumentation operating characteristics, time to complete testing, injections and/or oral contrast material, etc. Sets up imaging devices for studies in accordance with prescribed procedures. Observes patients for a change in status and follows prescribed procedures if a change is observed, which may include taking patient's vital signs or initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Performs standard nuclear medicine dynamic and static procedures, which includes assisting patients in assuming required anatomical body positions and adjusting the equipment to encompass the area to be studied. The Technologist adjusts controls on equipment in accordance with prescribed procedures to produce information with prescribed procedures to produce information of required diagnostic quality. Evaluates needs and performs special positioning or examination techniques, certain technicalities, or additional views when necessary, or as requested by the Radiologist. Must be able to utilize the computerized tomography portion of the SPECT/CT scanner to produce cross sectional images of various organ systems. Must have a working knowledge of cross-sectional anatomy and must have experience administering IV and oral contrast material. Must provide appropriate care while the patient is in their charge while simultaneously assessing for causes of potential artifact. This includes checking the patient for evidence of contamination or attenuating objects. Review of the electronic medical record (EMR) is necessary to determine medication or previous procedure that might adversely affect the performance of the test being done. Communication of identified liabilities to the interpreting Radiologist prior to the test is expected. The individual must properly identify patients according to Joint Commission Standards and explain the procedure to the patient in a manner that allays apprehension. Experience dealing with claustrophobic patients is necessary. The ability to multitask is essential to this position as responsibilities include close observation of patients throughout their study, preparation of multiple additional patients for their scans, assisting with medication administration as needed under direct supervision of a Radiologist, evaluating patient's vital signs and specific lab markers (example - blood glucose level and eGFR) in the context of the imaging exam, recognize and respond appropriately to any emergency situations. The technologist must quickly report any adverse findings and assist in instituting emergency care, such as BLS, until help arrives. Must have a level of competence such that he/she can perform a wide range of procedures including less common imaging studies on both inpatient and outpatient basis. The technologist must be able to evaluate, modify, and adapt procedures as necessary as well as develop/write new protocols for imaging procedures as part of a collaborative effort with the Radiology Chief and Chief Technologist/Supervisor. Routine duties will include a selection of appropriate acquisition parameters, acquisition and storage of data as well as retrieval as necessary. Other Duties Assigned

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: English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Chapter 3, Section A, Paragraph 3j. 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 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,OR2. 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). In addition to the basic requirements candidates must meet the following GRADE REQUIREMENTS: Must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) directly related to the position being filled. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA's): i. Knowledge of contrast media, side effects, medication allergic reactions, drug interactions, and extravasation assessment. ii. Skill to differentiate multi-modality protocols and adjust protocols according to patient needs, body mass index, or area of interest. iii. Knowledge of unique scanning and processing parameters required of multimodality imaging. iv. Ability to troubleshoot and make simple repairs to PET/CT and/or PET/MR imaging systems. v. Ability to care for patients during all stages of the procedure and provide emergency response care when necessary. vi. Knowledge of all contraindications for performing CT and/or MR scans. Preferred Experience: Certified in Nuclear Medicine and Computed Tomography (Multi-Modality Technologist) References: VA Handbook 5005 part II, Appendix G19

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 Oscar G Johnson Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility 325 East H Street Iron Mountain, MI 49801 US
• Name: Kevin Estrada
• Phone: 319-338-0581 X636728
• Email: [email protected]