The Supervisory Nuclear Medicine Technologist has responsibility for supervision of Nuclear Medicine Technologists and are responsible for providing a wide range of specialized nuclear medicine procedures, diagnostic imaging, therapy with unsealed radioactive materials, radioassay, in-vivo or in-vitro cell labeling; evaluating abnormal results; using & maintaining equipment; quality control; working within guidelines from NRC, DOT, National Health Physics Program, OSHA among others. .

Duties

Major Duties: Administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection, inhalation, or ingestion as prescribed. Introduce intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals & medications. Knowledgeable of possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals & other medications, such as Lasix & captopril, to be administered. Receive patients, explain procedure, answer questions relating to the procedure, position patient for all necessary views & tend to their comfort. Obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition, & interviewing the patient & family. Move wheelchair & litter patients safely of patient transfer. Operate nuclear medicine equipment. Perform exposure rate calculations. Perform nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging, non-imaging, invitro & therapeutic procedures & highly specialized computer assisted studies. Keep up to date with new imaging agents, procedures & methods. Write imaging protocols for use in department. Analyze procedure images for quality. Administer radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients. Utilizes necessary methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers & using active identification. Perform radionuclide therapy in collaboration with the Nuclear Medicine Physician. Assay prescribed therapeutic doses. Complete forms & administer dose with the nuclear medicine physician. Instruct patient, family & nursing staff in radiation safety precautions. Perform radiation surveys, post appropriate caution signs & distribute personnel monitoring devices. Monitor & store any radioactive waste for disposal. Determine exposure patterns & recommend actions to reduce exposure levels to the public, radiation workers & self. Prepare studies for nuclear medicine physician's interpretation by insuring completeness of all forms involved in the procedure. Record appropriate data & related information on the proper patient worksheet & images. Schedule patient procedures, with consideration of multiple factors: available equipment, scan length, patient condition, studies, other patient appointments, contraindications for the test & urgency of the request. Inform patient of all pertinent preparations for their scan, i.e. NPO, follow certain diet, bowel prep, etc. Perform required technical procedures for safe receipt, handling, transport, usage, & disposal of radioactive materials, assuring compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), National Health Physics Program (NHPP), Department of Transportation (DOT) & license conditions. Recognize potential radiation contamination by visual & mechanical methods. Take necessary actions to minimize contamination & exposure including contacting the Radio-pharmacy & radiation safety officer. Practice the concepts of ALARA principal. Analyze dosimetry reports & institute additional radiation safety precautions to reduce exposure levels. Assures that all Nuclear Medicine, Medical Center, VISN & Radiation Safety policies are followed. Calibrate thyroid uptake system, gamma cameras, dose calibrators & well counter. Participate in research projects involving Nuclear Medicine studies, products, equipment &/ or radiopharmaceuticals. Perform daily laboratory surveys, wipe tests & bioassays. Identify appropriate waiting time between administration of radiopharmaceutical & imaging according to protocol. Evaluate the validity of data in relation to results needed to determine if additional information is needed for clarification of test results or to establish a definite diagnosis & confers with physicians on additional tests as necessary. Identify positive results & notify the Nuclear Medicine Physician immediately. Ensure that imaging, computer, hot lab, & injection areas are properly supplied & operational before each use. Interact with representatives from JCAHO, NRC, VISN, & VHA when necessary. Respond to staffing shortages so that patient care is not compromised. Responsible for collecting & reporting of quality management data. Provide annual performance appraisals & semiannual progress reports for Nuclear Medicine staff. Interview candidates for positions in the service & recommend appointments. Recommend replacement & additional nuclear medicine equipment. Research & review new nuclear medicine protocols. Write & maintain functional statements for all subordinate nuclear medicine technologists. Complete CA-1 & CA-2 forms for any nuclear medicine employee illness/injury. Respond to patient safety & equipment & material recalls involving nuclear medicine service. Serve as primary COR for nuclear medicine radiopharmaceutical contracts. Resolve customer & employee complaints. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Telework: As determined by the Agency, 1 day a week per pay period Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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. NOTE: Technologists functioning as multi-modality technologists require additional specific certifications as stated in assignment descriptions below. 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: 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 the following technical KSAs and demonstrate the potential to acquire the assignment specific KSAs as designated by an asterisk (*): *Ability to assign and evaluate work of subordinate staff as well as resolve problems that may interfere with the delivery of nuclear medicine services by staff members. Skill in providing complex nuclear medicine patient procedures. *Ability to develop and initiate new protocols which apply to current research findings. *Skill in providing administrative reports both orally and in writing [with higher level authorities (i.e., NHPP, TJC, NRC, Inspector General, executive leadership). *Ability to interview candidates for positions in the section; recommend appointments, advancements, or, when appropriate, disciplinary actions; evaluate performance; and identify continuing education and training needs. Preferred Experience: 3 years of experience as staff Nuclear Medicine Technologist or higher. Currently proficient in nuclear medicine. Experience in supervising Nuclear Medicine Section, physicians, technologists. Experience in successfully completing accreditation or inspection surveys. Experience in conflict resolution. Reference: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G19, effective 12/10/2019. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.

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/.

NOTE: If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.

Contacts

• Address Audie L Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital 7400 Merton Minter Boulevard San Antonio, TX 78229 US
• Name: VISN 17 SSU USAS Group
• Email: [email protected]