Serves as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist for the Nuclear Medicine Service and is responsible for independently performing a full range of routine, non-routine, research and new radionuclide studies, to include PET/CT. Independently performs a full range of routine radionuclide imaging studies of various organ systems by planar, tomographic (SPECT) and PET/CT techniques. Evaluates images and computer generated data and performs additional views as required. 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. Physical requirement. VA Handbook 5019. pre-employment physical is required. English Language proficiency. Must be proficient in spoken and written English. 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). [Nuclear Medicine Technologist, GS-9] (a) Experience. Completion of 1 year of [creditable] experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position to be filled (i.e., experience that demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics needed to provide nuclear medicine technology services at that level) [is required.] (b) Assignments. Candidates at this grade level serve as staff NMTs [at the journey level. NMTs at this level have a full understanding of proper methods of receipt, use, storage, and disposal of radioactive material; properly and independently handle unusual circumstances; perform and evaluate daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly quality control on all imaging and non-imaging instrumentation and auxiliary equipment, provide basic patient care, and can recognize and respond to emergency conditions. It is expected that they routinely and independently perform the full scope and complexity of these responsibilities and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients.] (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. [In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs:] i. Ability to document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment. ii. Knowledge of medical events requiring documentation and the ability to properly document them and make recommendations to the radiation safety officer (RSO). iii. Ability to communicate orally and in writing post iodine-131 therapy radiation safety precautions. iv. Ability to troubleshoot gamma camera and auxiliary equipment problems. v. Ability to analyze computer generated data for technical quality and artifacts and initiate corrective measures. Grade Determinations: [Nuclear Medicine Technologist,] GS-11 (a) Experience. [For assignments above the journey level, 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. (b) 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. (c) 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. Preferred Experience: PET/CT working experience mandatory, SPECT/CT experience preferred References: See VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G19, Society of Nuclear Medicine Guidelines, AART Guidelines for certification, CNMT Guidelines for certification. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of to GS 11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 [ Employee Occupational Health Service ] ["The technologist must possess professional knowledge of the scientific principles, concepts and methodology of nuclear medicine technology to carry out a variety of diagnostic tests and verify results. He/She must be knowledgeable of multiple physical facts of radionuclides, their use and their effect on the different body organs being imaged. The technologist must possess multidisciplinary skills in order to assist with stress tests by starting IV's, placing EKG leads, taking blood pressures and ensuring all monitoring equipment is functional. In case of an emergency, the technologist provides oxygen, fluids, administers CPR and other life support when necessary while waiting for dedicated medical emergency staff to arrive. Major duties include but not limited to: General, Cardiac and PET/CT imaging duties. The preparation, calibration and administration of radiopharmaceuticals under the direction of an authorized user (Nuclear Medicine Physician) Performance of quality control procedures, the operation of imaging, laboratory, and computer instrumentation Independently performs a full range of routine radionuclide imaging studies of various organ systems by planar, tomographic (SPECT) and PET/CT techniques. Evaluates images and computer generated data and performs additional views as required. Prepares proper instruments, computers and auxiliary equipment and acquires images as indicated by protocols. Independently performs, evaluates and monitors quality control measurements of specialized equipment used in the performance of imaging studies such as gamma camera imaging systems by testing flood uniformity, linearity and spatial resolution with devices such as point sources, radioactive flood sources, bar phantoms, computers, dose calibrators, well/probe detector systems, and other ancillary equipment used on a daily basis. Troubleshoots and makes judgments on the acceptable performance of the equipment prior to initiating studies on patients. Performs, monitors and documents monthly, quarterly and annual quality control procedures on equipment. Maintains inventory of radioactive sources used for quality control and associated documentation. Assumes all the duties and responsibilities of a technologist in the operation and calibration of the PET/CT scanner and will be willing to receive the necessary training to engage in the daily operation of the PET/CT. Work Schedule: M-F 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Compressed/Flexible: No Telework: Not authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.
