Summary

This Nuclear Medicine Technologist position is assigned to the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System - Medical Imaging Service in the Nuclear Medicine program. TVHS is a 1a complexity facility that provides services in specialized and complex areas of diagnostic imaging and a comprehensive Nuclear Medicine program. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist employed at this level is fully functional as an Advanced Nuclear Medicine Technologist and is able to cany out the assigned tasks independently.

Qualifications

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
• 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to meeting the basic requirements listed above - applicants must meet the following grade requirements for a 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 level (GS-9) - directly related to the position being filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• In addition - the candidate must demonstrate 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/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: The physical demands of the work includes: Heavy lifting - 45 pounds and over
• moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds
• pushing up to 4 hours
• reaching above shoulder
• use of fingers - good dexterity (both hands required)
• prolonged walking - prolonged standing
• repeated bending
• ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously
• far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20
• ability to distinguish basic colors
• hearing (aid permitted)
• speed in working
• and emotional stability
• Must have the ability to stand and work while wearing a lead apron for possibly long periods of time.

Duties

• This specialty modality requires specific knowledgeable that technologists require expert specialization in complex areas of Nuclear Medicine
• These technologists are heavily relied upon by interpreting physicians and radiologists to provide diagnostic aid by conducting appropriate organ or body scans during complex procedures - administer and record radiopharmaceuticals in accordance with protocols and report any abnormal activity
• Nuclear Medicine technologists at TVHS are required to maintain in depth knowledge of complex nuclear medicine equipment/supplies and be capable of using during significantly complex imaging procedures
• The technologist requires specific knowledge and training in the positioning - pathology appearance - and function of the complex organ or vascular systems to nuclear illumination
• ability to interpret examination request accurately
• ability to use the various methods and techniques which will identify areas of interest appearing on the display for radiologist interpretation
• and the ability to judge the acceptability of the image and/or scan for diagnostic use and to emphasize the aspects of particular interest to the interpreting physician
• Duties include but not limited to: Accurately operates a wide variety of imaging equipment to obtain examinations of acceptable quality - utilizing the least amount of radiation to obtain quality images that meet established protocols
• Performs a wide variety of physiologic studies of the human body using a variety of isotopes and compounds
• Must understand the normal and abnormal bio-distribution of the radiopharmaceutical used The types of exams performed are: Dynamic vascular flow imaging followed by blood pool and delayed SPECT/CT
• Tc99m and Tl201 Gated Cardiac perfusion - Tc99m tagged Multi-gated cardiac - Infection scans - simple renal scans - renal scans using Lasix - renal scans using captopril - Lung scans (VQ - Quants) - Liver/spleen - I 123 DAT scan (Parkinson's) Gastric studies - CSF shunt studies - peritoneal dialysis leak studies - etc
• Possess expert specialization in complex areas of nuclear medicine and may provide after hours on-call coverage at TVHS
• Required to maintain in depth knowledge of complex diagnostic and interventional cardiovascular equipment/supplies and be capable of assisting with their use during significantly complex imaging procedures
• Troubleshoot camera equipment and computer problems that may occur to ensure patients receive a quality exam
• Perform quality assurance assessments and improvement programs - develop team dynamics and teamwork with both interpreting physicians and physician's assistants
• Utilizes specialized knowledge of all technical duties and responsibilities during each procedure to provide a timely well-organized exam and patient experience
• The Nuclear Medicine technologists are required to document patient's clinical history on correct forms to provide clinical information - order - stock and prepare the NM suites - for each procedure - to ensure that all necessary supplies and equipment are readily available and in optimal working condition
• Serves as a clinical instructor to the students
• Sphere of responsibilities include providing the students with the appropriate and adequate clinical instruction/supervision - evaluating the student's clinical performance/competence - and critique the student's radiographic studies
• All technologists must work - interact - grade - and be essential in their learning process
• Work in the radio pharmacy assaying - drawing - and administering radiopharmaceuticals in Nuclear Medicine
• Responsible for clinical - research - and educational duties in the program and works closely with radiologists - clinicians - radiology nurses - and trainees to ensure optimum quality control - coordination of activities - and that high quality diagnostic imaging results are achieved
• Work Schedule: Days (with rotating call) Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 71115-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized