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Technologist - Careers in Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear medicine combines chemistry, physics, mathematics, computer technology, and medicine in using radioactivity to diagnose and treat disease. Though there are many diagnostic techniques currently available, nuclear medicine uniquely provides information about both the structure and function of virtually every major organ system within the body. It is this ability to characterize and quantify physiologic function which separates nuclear medicine from other imaging modalities, such as x-ray. Nuclear medicine procedures are safe, they involve little or no patient discomfort and do not require the use of anesthesia.
The Technologist?s Role
The Nuclear Medicine Technologist is a highly specialized healthcare professional who works closely with the nuclear medicine physician. Some of the technologist?s primary responsibilities are to:
- Prepare and administer radioactive chemical compounds, known as radiopharmaceuticals
- Perform patient imaging procedures using sophisticated radiation-detecting instrumentation
- Accomplish computer processing and image enhancement
- Analyze biologic specimens in the laboratory
- Provide images, data analysis, and patient information to the physician for diagnostic interpretation.
- Gains the patient?s confidence by obtaining pertinent history, describing the procedure and answering any questions
- Monitors the patient?s physical condition during the course of the procedure
- Notes any specific patient comments which might indicate the need for additional images or might be useful to the physician in interpreting the results of the procedure.
Nuclear medicine will continue to be a field at the forefront of modern clinical medicine and technological development. The future has never been brighter thanks to?
- The development of new radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
- Promising research and development of cancer-detecting and cancer-killing agents, such as genetically engineered antibodies
- The expanding clinical use of exciting new technology know as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which provides new and unique means of studying biochemistry and metabolism within living tissues.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists work in a wide variety of clinical settings, such as
- Community hospitals
- University-affiliated teaching hospitals and medical centers
- Outpatient imaging facilities
- Public health institutions
- Government and private research institutes.
Career Alternatives
Technologists have a wide variety of alternative career paths available, including?
- Senior staff technologist
- Research technologist
- Technology program educator
- Chief technologist
- Team leader, lead or supervisor
- Hospital administrator
- Industry sales representative, technical specialist, or research-and-development specialist.
More than 100 accredited Nuclear Medicine Technology programs currently offer instruction and clinical internship.
General prerequisites depend on the type of program offered, but typically include a background in science and mathematics and an interest in working with patients. Programs available include?
- Post-bachalaureate one-year certificate programs
- Two-year associate degree
- Four-year bachelor?s degree
Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology
#1 2nd Avenue East, Suite C
Polson, MT 59860
Telephone: (406) 883-0003
Fax: (406) 883-0022
E Mail: webmaster@jrcnmt.org
Or contact your guidance counselor or local library for The Allied Health Education Directory (ISBN 0-88970-186-8)
Certification
Upon successful completion of a nuclear medicine program, qualified technologists can be certified through examination by one of the national certifying agencies. Many employers and an increasing number of states now require certification or licensure.
Want More Information?
Call your local hospital and ask for the Nuclear Medicine Department. Speak directly with a Nuclear Medicine Technologist and arrange for a visit.
For additional information about the profession, write or call
The Society of Nuclear Medicine
Technologist Section
1850 Samuel Morse Drive
Reston, Va 20190-5316
Tel 703-708-9000
Fax 703-708-9015
E-mail: jhenderson@snm.org
