NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGIST

Independence Health System Inc.; Mount Pleasant (Westmoreland County); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Independence Health System Inc. is seeking a Nuclear Medicine Technologist to prepare, measure, and administer radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic studies, producing scans of radioactive isotopes in specified anatomical parts and systems.

The incumbent will collect patient data, verify orders, explain procedures to patients, adapt imaging parameters, and ensure proper documentation in HIS/RIS/PACS.

Qualifications

• Completion of a JRCNMT accredited nuclear medicine program.
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex topics to a wide audience.

Responsibilities

• Collects pertinent data about the patient and procedure and verifies orders.
• Provides information to the patient about the procedure and obtains informed consent.
• Analyzes information to determine optimal scanning parameters per diagnosis and assesses patient preparation.
• Administers radiopharmaceuticals under radiologist direction with proper technique.
• Obtains optimal images and assesses image quality for interpretation by radiologist.
• Documents patient care, exam, and history in the HIS/RIS/PACS records and ensures accurate order entry.
• Coordinates with centralized scheduling, nursing units, and ER to accommodate STAT or ASAP orders.
• Maintains equipment and workstation, performs daily QC and calibration, and handles waste per safety standards.
• Implements downtime procedures and coordinates patient rescheduling during downtime.
• Attends department meetings and performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Organizational skills

Critical thinking

Judgment

Communication skills

Regulatory awareness

Education

JRCNMT-accredited nuclear medicine program

Tools

NMTCB/ARRT Nuclear Medicine

BLS (CPR/AED)

Act 33

Act 34

Act 73 FBI Clearance

Job description

Job Summary/Overall Objectives

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist prepares, measures and administers radiopharmaceuticals in diagnostic and therapeutic studies to produce scans of radioactive isotopes in specified anatomical parts and systems.

Essential Job Functions

• Collects pertinent data about the patient and procedure.
  • Reconfirms the patient’s identification and verifies the physician’s order.
  • Verifies patient’s pregnancy status when appropriate.
  • Assures the proper screening protocol is completed.
• Provides information to the patient about procedure.
  • Verifies the patient has consented to the procedure and answers any questions the patient may have.
  • Provides accurate explanations and instructions at an appropriate time and at a level the patient can understand.
• Analyzes the information obtained during the assessment phase and determines optimal scanning parameters per diagnosis.
  • Determines whether the patient has been appropriately prepared for the procedure.
  • Assesses factors that may contraindicate procedure such as medications and insufficient patient preparation.
  • Uses professional judgment to adapt imaging and therapeutic procedure to improve diagnostic quality and therapeutic outcome.
• Administers radiopharmaceuticals according to established guidelines.
  • Administers radiopharmaceutical doses under the direction of the radiologist.
  • Positions patient to obtain optimal image/scan.
  • Using sterile techniques, preps site and starts I.V. when applicable.
• Obtains optimal images during scan.
  • Adjusts the imaging parameters to improve the outcome of the procedure.
  • Assesses images for technical quality and adjusts as needed.
  • Sends images to PACS for interpretation by radiologist.
• Documents information about patient care, exam, and patient history in appropriate record.
  • Verifies correct order is entered into HIS/RIS
  • Documents appropriate patient history into PACS system
  • Documents any exceptions from the established guidelines.
  • Maintains records about the use of radioactive materials.
  • Documents diagnostic and treatment in the appropriate record
  • Scans appropriate documents into PACS.
• Facilitates correspondence with all departments to assure procedures are done in a timely manner.
  • Works with centralized scheduling, nursing units and ER to accommodate STAT or ASAP orders.
  • Responds to emergency call per department procedures.
• Maintains equipment and workstation in optimum condition.
  • Performs daily QC on equipment.
  • Performs regularly scheduled calibration and/or quality control on equipment, cameras, dose calibrator, and survey meters.
  • Maintains records of calibration.
  • Transports used generators and contaminated vials and materials to decayed area if applicable
  • Disposes of radioactive waste according to established procedures and safety standards.
  • Performs daily and weekly survey and wipes to monitor radioactive contamination.
  • Assures adequate patient care and office supplies are maintained.
  • Reports equipment malfunction to service provider.
• Implements downtime procedures when necessary.
  • Coordinates rescheduling of patients during equipment downtime.
  • Initiates established downtime procedures during HIS/RIS and PACS downtime.
• Attends department/reviews meeting minutes as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competency and Experience (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

Required Qualifications/Experience

• Completion of a (JRCNMT) accredited nuclear medicine program
• Strong leadership ability, good organizational skills, independent and critical thinking skills, sound judgment, and knowledge of legal aspects and liability of nursing practice.
• Strong ability to communicate complex and/or controversial topics and concepts to a wide and diverse audience

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

• One (1) year nuclear medicine experience.

License, Certification & Clearances

• Registry with Nuclear Medicine Technologist certification board (NMTCB) and/or registry with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) with credentialing in Nuclear Medicine (RTN).
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) approved curriculum of the American Heart Association (CPR and AED) program.
• Act 33 with renewal
• Act 34 with renewal
• Act 73 FBI Clearance

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but does serve as a coach and mentor for other positions in the department.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Incumbents will be scheduled based on operational need (rotate shifts, standby, on-call, etc.).
• Travel may be expected locally between System locations.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Independence Health and its affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is their policy to prohibit discrimination of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or genetic information, or any other classification protected by law. Independence Health and its affiliated companies will comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Moreover, duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Work Environment

Effective March 2020 or during pandemic: goggles, face shield and mask are required according to CDC guidelines

Essential - Absolute Necessity.

Marginal - Minimal Necessity.

Constantly - 5.5 to 8 hours or more or 200 reps/shift.

Frequently - 2.5 to 5.5 hours or more or 32-200 reps/shift.

Occasionally - 0.25 to 2.5 hours or 2-32 reps/shift.

Rarely - Less than 0.25 hours or less than 2 reps/shift.

Never

Extreme Heat

Extreme Cold

Heights

Confined Spaces

Extreme Noise(>85dB)

Mechanical Hazards

Use of Vibrating Tools

Operates Vehicle (company)

Operates Heavy Equipment

Use of Lifting/Transfer Devices

Rotates All Shifts

8 Hours Shifts

10-12 Hours Shifts

On-Call

Overtime(+8/hrs/shift; 40/hr/wk)

Travel Between Sites

Direct Patient Care

Respirator Protective Equipment

Eye Protection

Head Protection (hard hat)

Hearing Protection

Hand Protection

Feet, Toe Protection

Body Protection

Latex Exposure

Solvent Exposure

Paint (direct use) Exposure

Dust (sanding) Exposure

Ethylene Oxide Exposure

Cytotoxic (Chemo) Exposure

Blood/Body Fluid Exposure

Chemicals (direct use) Exposure

Mist Exposure

Wax Stripper (direct use)

Non-Ionizing Radiation Exposure

Ionizing Radiation Exposure

Laser Exposure

When lift requirement is in excess of 50#, lift assistance (2 person) and/or transfer device is required.

Bending (Stooping)

Sitting

Walking

Climbing Stairs

Climbing Ladders

Standing

Kneeling

Squatting (Crouching)

Twisting/Turning

Keyboard/Computer Operation

Gross Grasp

Fine Finger Manipulation

Hand/Arm Coordination

Pushing/Pulling(lbs. of force)

Carry

Transfer/Push/Pull Patients

Seeing Near w/Acuity

Feeling (Sensation)

Color Vision

Hearing Clearly

Pulling/Pushing Objects Overhead

Reaching Above Shoulder Level

Reaching Forward

Lifting Floor to Knuckle

Lifting Seat Pan to Knuckle

Lifting Knuckle to Shoulder

Lifting Shoulder to Overhead