Nuclear Med Technologist

Summary

The incumbent serves as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist in the Imaging department at the Syracuse VA Medical Center. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist is responsible for performing a full range of routine and non-routine radionuclide studies to aid in the diagnosis of various organ functional disorders.

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Duties

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The Syracuse VAMC is a 106-bed tertiary general medical and surgical facility that provides comprehensive primary care, emergency department, medical/surgical inpatient care, operating rooms and one day surgery center, long-term care programs as well as specialty clinics/programs that include cardiology specialties, mental health services, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, and geriatrics. Work is primarily performed in the Nuclear Medicine section of the Imaging Department. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist requires specific knowledge and training in the location, appearance, and function of the various major and minor body systems susceptible to radiological hazards.

The duties of the position include but are not limited to the following:

• Independently performs routine and non-routine nuclear medicine imaging procedures.
• Performs Nuclear imaging scan duties, and radionuclide therapy to patient in accordance to the NHPP recommendations.
• Prepares proper instrument, computer and auxiliary equipment and acquires imaging procedures as indicated by protocol.
• Evaluates image appearance and performs any additional views as required.
• Processes and evaluates computer generated data.
• Obtains samples and/or data for non-imaging studies.
• Calculates and evaluates results of non-imaging studies.
• Performs the majority of procedures including complex patient examinations under the direction of radiologist, other medical officers, and senior staff members.
• The incumbent may be called upon to assist in performing procedures in DEXA scanning.

Work Schedule : TBD at time of interview- This is an INTERMITTENT position

Telework : Not available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives : Not authorized

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Requirements

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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: [(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.]
• English Language Proficiency. [NMTs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part.

Grade Determinations- GS-9- Nuclear Medicine Technologist

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates:

• (a) Experience. Completion of 1 year of [creditable] experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position to be filled (i.e., experience that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics needed to provide nuclear medicine technology services at that level) [is required.]
• (b) Assignments. Candidates at this grade level serve as staff NMTs [at the journey level. NMTs at this level have a full understanding of proper methods of receipt, use, storage, and disposal of radioactive material; properly and independently handle unusual circumstances; perform and evaluate daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly quality control on all imaging and non-imaging instrumentation and auxiliary equipment, provide basic patient care, and can recognize and respond to emergency conditions. It is expected that they routinely and independently perform the full scope and complexity of these responsibilities and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients.]
• (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities, GS-9: The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:
  
  
  • i. Ability to document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment.
  • ii. Knowledge of medical events requiring documentation and the ability to properly document them and make recommendations to the radiation safety officer (RSO).
  • iii. Ability to communicate orally and in writing post iodine-131 therapy radiation safety precautions.
  • iv. Ability to troubleshoot gamma camera and auxiliary equipment problems.
  • v. Ability to analyze computer generated data for technical quality and artifacts and initiate corrective measures.

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).

Preferred Experience: Certified Nuclear Medicine by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) or Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB).

References: VA Handbook 5005/125 Part II Appendix G19. Nuclear Medicine Technologist Qualification Standard. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit

Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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.

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