Nuclear Medicine Technologist

US-Department-of-Veterans-Affair; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) at Charlie Norwood VAMC in Augusta, GA coordinates and performs Nuclear Medicine examinations, including Nuclear Cardiology, General Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT and Hot Lab duties, in collaboration with the Imaging Service staff.

Applicants must meet basic requirements: US citizenship, English proficiency, NMTCB or ARRT(N) certification, and progress toward certification if not yet attained; GS-11 level, with one year experience for above journey level, and

Qualifications

• US citizenship required.
• English language proficiency must be demonstrated.
• Certification in nuclear medicine technology (NMTCB or ARRT(N)) required or eligibility demonstrated.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and perform Nuclear Medicine examinations including Nuclear Cardiology, General Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT and Hot Lab duties.
• Collaborate with Imaging Service staff to provide a wide range of nuclear medicine procedures.
• Maintain credentialing and comply with certification requirements; pursue certification within 1 year of appointment.

Skills

High-quality imaging

Quality control

Radiation safety

Clinical collaboration

Education

NMTCB/ARRT(N) Certification

Job description

This position is located in the Imaging Service, Charlie Norwood VAMC, Augusta GA- downtown location. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) has the overall responsibility for the coordination and performance of Nuclear Medicine examinations including Nuclear Cardiology, General Nuclear Medicine, PET/CT and Hot Lab duties. He/she works closely with other staff to provide a wide range of specialized nuclear medicine procedures.

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.
• English Language Proficiency. [NMTs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part.
• 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.
• Failure to Obtain Credential. In all cases, NMTs must actively pursue meeting certification requirements starting from the date of their appointment. Failure to become certified within 1 year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0601 NMT occupation and may result in termination of employment.
• Loss of Credential. Once certified, NMTs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted certification. Loss of credential will result in removal from the GS-0601 NMT occupation and may result in termination of employment. For occupations which require an active certification at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the journey level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists.

Grade Determinations

GS-11 Nuclear Medicine Technologist

EXPERIENCE

For assignments above the journey level, the candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade (GS-09), 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 of the following technical KSAs: i. Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results. ii. Knowledge and skill in 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. Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose. v. Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures. vi. Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce. vii. Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions.

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 at this level serve in advanced assignments and will have varying assignments, including special and complex imaging procedures, advanced therapies, clinical instruction, and quality management duties within the program. Advanced therapies may include, but are not limited to, yttrium-90, radium, and palliative bone pain therapy. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level.

Reference:

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

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11.

Physical Requirements:

See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 [, Employee Occupational Health Service.]