Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Job Title

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Duties

The major duties of the Nuclear Medicine Technologist include, but are not limited to:

• Transfer patients from stretcher or wheelchair to imaging table and explain procedures, positions patients for desired results
• Prepare room, equipment and material needed for patient procedures
• Properly identify patient - essential so that mistaken identity does not occur by making certain that the patient ID band and the request are identical
• Observe patients during procedures and report complications or unusual events
• Perform computer work and required forms associated with patient exams, credit of patient visits
• Maximize patient throughput by contacts with escort, ward secretaries, nursing personnel, etc.
• Provide clinical instruction to student nuclear medicine technologists from affiliated programs and facilitate the attainment of established program objectives
• Practice radiation safety in order to reduce exposure to patient, staff and self. Act in a professional, cooperative manner towards patients and staff
• Maintain records and files of patient exams and perform clerical and file room duties related to patient care
• Schedule outpatient clinic appointment using Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture (Vista) scheduling options; use established business rules to schedule appointments for veterans
• Prepare, assay, and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection inhalation or ingestion as prescribed
• Be proficient in introducing intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals and/or medications
• Test blood glucose levels in patients. Respond properly to results that are outside normal range
• Be knowledgeable regarding possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals and other medications
• Prepares and administers radiopharmaceuticals through various routes of administration including, but not limited to: oral inhalant, intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous and intradermal
• Requires the exercise of judgement to assess and respond to patients' needs prior to, during, and after the procedure
• Obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition, and interviewing the patient and/or family
• Work very closely with staff from non-invasive cardiology stress lab to maximize patient care and minimize costs of wasted doses
• Independently perform a full range of nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras, SPECT/CT, and PET/CT/MRI scanner, well counters, GM survey meters, thyroid uptake system etc.
• Correctly administer radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients. Utilize necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification.
• Correctly perform radionuclide therapy. Receive and assay prescribed therapeutic doses.
• Prepare studies for nuclear medicine computerized files i.e. performing backups etc. and uploading patient images to VISTA imaging as appropriate
• Ensure proper billing and workload information by using accurate CPT codes for each patient study, keeping abreast of yearly changes in CPT coding.

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm with rotating call shifts weekdays, weekends/holidays.

Telework: Not Available

Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Functional Statement #: 92120-A

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

US Department of Veterans Affairs