Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Description:

This position is located at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, FL. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist performs technical work in support of the Diagnostic Imaging Service, Nuclear Medicine section, under the direction of Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist and Chief of Diagnostic Imaging Service.

Requirements:

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

• Citizenship. Must be a United States Citizen per VA policy.
• English Language Proficiency. NMTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, per VA Handbook 5005, Qualification Standards.
• 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.
    • Exceptions. Non-certified applicants, who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification, may be given a temporary appointment as a graduate NMT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405 (a)(1)(D). Failure to obtain certification within 1 year from the date of appointment is justification for termination of the temporary appointment. This may result in termination of employment.
• Grandfathering Provision. 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 REQUIREMENTS - Nuclear Medicine Technologist, GS-11

In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met:

• Experience. 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 which are:
  • Ability to document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment.
  • Knowledge of medical events requiring documentation and the ability to properly document them and make recommendations to the radiation safety officer (RSO).
  • Ability to communicate orally and in writing post iodine-131 therapy radiation safety precautions.
  • Ability to troubleshoot gamma camera and auxiliary equipment problems.
  • Ability to analyze computer generated data for technical quality and artifacts and initiate corrective measures.
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:
  • Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results.
  • Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome.
  • Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings.
  • Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose.
  • Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures.
  • Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce.
  • Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions.

Reference. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/ .

Physical Requirements. The work requires long periods of standing and walking. There is some bending, lifting, and carrying of light items such as CR film cassettes. There is occasional moderate exertion such as lifting multi-exposure film cassettes or assisting other technicians in lifting and positioning patients. Heavy lifting of totally incapacitated patients is done only with the help of other employees.