Job opening: Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Salary: $82 043 - 106 654 per year
Published at: Sep 23 2024
Employment Type: Full-time
The Hampton VA Medical Center is seeking a Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) to join our team! The NMT performs a wide variety of functional studies of organs and/or systems involving static and dynamic imaging procedures, the injection of radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals, and the use of such specialized equipment as integrated computer/imaging system, single photon emission tomography, positron emission tomography, etc., in combination with a variety of in vitro laboratory procedures.
Duties
Major duties include, but are not limited to:
Responsible for all analysis and storage of patient study data related to procedures and protocols of the department.
Assist in the cross training of new technologists and technologist interns in the operation of the gamma camera systems, computer systems, and radionuclide procedures.
Ensure that appropriate quality control is performed during all phases of radionuclide imaging.
Troubleshoot clinical and/or instrumentation problems.
Periodically assist in updating portions of the Nuclear Medicine technical procedures manual.
Performs in vivo and in vitro studies using a variety of laboratory manipulations such as dilutions, centrifuging, accurate pipetting, specimen collecting, etc. Uses centrifuges, calibrated pipettes, and computer programs to examine, calculate, analyze and report testing results.
Performs a wide variety of functional studies of organs/systems.
Compounds radiopharmaceuticals, preparing appropriate dosages, ensuring pharmaceutical quality of agents, ensuring that patients receive correct amounts of radioactivity, determining proper route of administration, administering radiopharmaceuticals intravenously to patients, determining need for and performing specialized injection techniques and assisting physicians in administering therapeutic amounts of radioactivity.
Schedules patients from inpatient, outpatient, and outside hospital referrals with judgment as to the equipment parameters needed for each individual patient or study.
Receives the daily doses of radiopharmaceuticals, monitors for appropriate expected results, monitors package dose rates and records results. Performs the proper quality control procedures and checks the doses in the dose calibrator.
Performs and maintains in-vivo statistics as appropriate.
Maintains all necessary documentation including policy/procedure manuals, patient dose records, quality assurance records of equipment and radiopharmaceuticals, radioactive materials disposal records, etc.
Instructs nurses, physicians, students, and other persons on any related aspect of Nuclear Medicine science.
Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday-Friday, 7:30am- 4pm, Rotating Weekends, Evenings, & Holidays
Compressed/Flexible: Not available
Telework: Not available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
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.
English Language Proficiency: NMTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part.
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.
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: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:
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.
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.
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.
Preferred Experience: At least 4 years Nuclear Medicine Experience
Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
The full performance level of this vacancy is 11.
Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work include: Heavy lifting, 45 pounds and over: moderate carrying, 15-44 pounds; pushing up to 4 hours; reaching above shoulder: use of fingers, good dexterity (both hands required); prolonged walking, prolonged standing; repeated bending; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20; ability to distinguish basic colors; hearing (aid permitted); speed in working; and emotional stability. Must have the ability to stand and work while wearing a lead apron for possibly long periods of time. English Language Proficiency. DRTs must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. 7402(d), and 7407(d).
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 Hampton VA Medical Center
100 Emancipation Drive
Hampton, VA 23667
US
- Name: Yasmin Glover
- Email: [email protected]
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