Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Summary

The Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn Columbia VA Healthcare System is currently seeking a Nuclear Medicine Technologist that will be assigned in the Diagnostic Imaging Service Line.

Learn more about this agency

Duties

Help

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist has the responsibility for providing a wide range of specialized and complex nuclear medicine procedures, including diagnostic imaging, therapy with unsealed radioactive materials, radio-assay, in-vivo or in-vitro cell labeling; evaluating abnormal results; using and maintaining equipment; setting up and monitoring quality control; working within guidelines from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission INRC), Department of Transportation (DOT), National Health Physics Program, Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) among others.

Other duties consist of but are not limited to:

• Calculate, prepare, assay, and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection, inhalation or ingestion as prescribed, which includes the compounding of cold pharmaceutical kits with the required radioactive agent under sterility requirements.
• Proficient in introducing intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals and/or pharmaceuticals.
• Calculate the required pharmaceutical dosage for procedures; prepare pharmaceuticals for injection, such as sincalide, lasix, captopril, adenosine, dipyridamole, regadenoson, and dobutamine; and administer the pharmaceuticals with the Nuclear Medicine Physician and/or the Nuclear Medicine Physician Assistant.
• Operate nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras, well counters, multi??channel analyzers, GM survey meters and room monitors, thyroid uptake systems, and dose calibrators for various patient procedures.
• Operate bone density systems and analyze images for bone composition comparisons.
• Receive patients, explain procedure, answer questions and evaluate the patient's medical condition and tolerability for the procedure, position patient for all necessary imaging steps and tend to their comfort for the duration of the procedure.
• Perform a full range of nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging, non-imaging, In-vitro and therapeutic procedures, including highly specialized computer assisted studies such as gated, tomographic, dual-modality (SPECT/CT and PET/CT), and quantitative procedures.
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of personnel requiring film badges. Read and understand the film badge exposure report.
• Prepare studies for nuclear medicine physician's interpretation by insuring completeness of all forms involved in the procedure. Record appropriate data and related information on the proper patient worksheet and images.
• Analyze procedure images for quality and obtain additional images when necessary.
• Correctly administer radio pharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals to patients. Utilizes necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification.
• Obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition, and interviewing the patient and/or family.
• Recognize potential radiation contamination by visual and mechanical method.

Work Schedule : 8:00am-4:30pm, M-F

Telework : Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement # : 61251F

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not Authorized

EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive.Contact View email address on click.appcast.io, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements ( Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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:

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).

(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. (Transcripts required.

NOTE: Technologists functioning as multi-modality technologists require additional specific certifications as stated in assignment descriptions below.]

Grade Determinations :

GS-11:

(a) 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.

(b) 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 in this assignment perform fusion imaging such as positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and/or positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance (PET/MR) procedures that include non-diagnostic low dose CT attenuation corrected or MR fused images. They carry out these complex assignments independently. Assignments may include advanced therapies. The work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level.

(c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:

i. Ability to produce and assess high quality fusion and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results.

ii. Practical knowledge and skill in the 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. Knowledge of CT and/or MR radiographic techniques utilized in quality control and acquisition parameters.

v. Ability to recognize and correct fusion imaging system errors.

References: VA Handbook 5005 Part II APPENDIX G19. NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD GS-[0]601

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Pushing (1 Hour), Reaching above Shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (2 hours), Standing (2 hours), Hearing (aid Permitted)Light lifting (under 15 pounds), Pushing (1 Hour), Reaching above Shoulder, Use of fingers, Both hands required, Walking (2 hours), Standing (2 hours), Hearing (aid Permitted)

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: 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:

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.

Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.