Summary

As a Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) for the Diagnostic Imagining Dept. the incumbent performs a broad spectrum of quality control and radiation safety measures - and document the data required to maintain compliance with the statutes and regulations mandated for a Nuclear Medicine Program. The NMT will perform required procedures for safe receipt - handling - transport - usage - storage and disposal of radioactive materials compliant with the NRC - NHPP - DOT and license conditions.

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
• 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
• English Language Proficiency
• NMTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with VA Handbook 5005 - Part II - Chapter 2 - Section D - Paragraph 5a
• 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)
• All persons employed in VHA as a NMT on the effective date of this qualification standard (December 10 - 2019) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title - series and grade held - including positive education and certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation
• For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard - but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it - the following provisions apply: Such employees in an occupation that requires a certification - may be reassigned - promoted up to and including the journey (full performance) level - or changed to lower grade within the occupation - but may not be promoted beyond the journey level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions
• Such employees in an occupation that requires a certification only at higher grade levels must meet the certification requirement before they can be promoted to the higher-grade levels
• Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed - on a temporary or permanent basis - until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard
• Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation - who subsequently obtain additional education and/or certification that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation
• If an employee who was in the NMT occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation - the employee loses protected status - and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation
• Grade Determinations: Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Fusion Imaging Technologist )GS-11 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 (KSAs): The candidate must demonstrate all the following technical KSAs: Ability to produce and assess high quality fusion and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results
• Practical knowledge and skill in the 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
• Knowledge of CT and/or MR radiographic techniques utilized in quality control and acquisition parameters
• Ability to recognize and correct fusion imaging errors
• Preferred Experience: Minimum of two years experience preferred
• Demonstrates expertise as a Certified Nuclear Medicine Fusion Technologist - with proficiency in hybrid imaging modalities such as PET/CT and SPECT/CT
• Strong background in advance imaging techniques - radiopharmaceutical preparation - quality control - and radiation safety protocols
• Additional experience in post-processing - quantitative analysis - and multidisciplinary collaboration to optimize patient outcomes is highly desirable
• Reference: VA Handbook 5005/15 - Part II Appendix G19 - Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Fusion Imaging) - GS-0601-11
• 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 to GS-11 Physical Requirements: See VA Handbook 5019

Duties

• Functions or duties of this position include but are not limited to: Recognize potential radiation contamination of packages and environment by visual and mechanical methods
• Take necessary actions to minimize radiation contamination - and radiation exposure to self - public and coworkers
• Contact the Radio pharmacy and Radiation Safety Officer for clarification and guidance as needed
• Perform daily laboratory surveys
• wipe tests and bio-assays
• Recognize evidence of contamination and implement containment and mitigation protocols
• Calibrate and perform quality control on thyroid uptake system - gamma cameras - SPECT/CT and PET/CT systems - dose calibrators - well counter and other equipment and instruments
• Adjust and maintain instruments - verify correct operation using established procedures and quality control standards
• Identify deviations from specifications - and document corrective actions taken
• Troubleshoot issues and implement basic corrections when possible
• Initiate work orders for repairs and/or maintenance as needed
• Complete phantom exercises from the National Nuclear Medicine Program Office - and other quality assurance duties
• Review requests for appropriateness before performing exams
• Use appropriateness criteria - the clinical history provided on the request - patient interview - patient chart review - or contact with the ordering provider as needed for clarification
• Present discrepant or deficient indications to the Nuclear Medicine Supervisor or radiologist as appropriate
• Ensure that the protocol is approved and signed by a radiologist prior to the initiation of an exam
• Apply the concept of ALARA - keeping radiation exposure to patients and staff to as low as reasonably achievable
• Receive patients and ensure proper identification
• Provide patient education on what to expect during the exam and when to expect results
• Continually assesses the condition and needs of patients to ensure patient safety - comfort - privacy - and dignity
• Establish IV access as needed using needle sheath angio-catheter or butterfly
• Prepare - assay - and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection - inhalation - or ingestion by protocol or as prescribed
• Support administration of radiopharmaceuticals by radiologists for lymphoscintigraphy and other exams that require a provider to administer the material
• Coordinate the administration of medications such as diuretics - morphine - CCK and others that are adjuncts to the nuclear medicine exam
• Observe patient for adverse reactions to radiopharmaceuticals or other medications associated with the procedure and initiate appropriate actions
• Independently operate advanced nuclear medicine equipment to acquire images and/or functional information for a diverse spectrum of diagnostic exams that assess multiple organ systems
• Operate the CT scanners integrated into the gamma cameras for attenuation correction and multiplanar anatomic correlation per protocol and as guided by the interpreting physician
• Apply knowledge of planar and 3-D imaging anatomy - normal and abnormal activity - and artifact reduction to optimize patient positioning - acquisition parameters and other facets of high image quality
• Process primary acquisitions to produce diagnostic images and functional information
• Assess completeness and diagnostic value of exams before releasing the patient-- review exams with a radiologist - and perform additional imaging as needed
• Equipment employed includes gamma cameras with SPECT-CT - integrated multi-slice CT scanner - PET/CT Camera - and the thyroid uptake system as well as supplementary equipment such as the dose calibrator and well counter
• Ensure completed exams are available on the workstation for physician interpretation with requisite processing and annotation - supporting worksheets and documents
• Initiate policy orders for radiographs and labs as needed for correlation
• Support nuclear medicine procedures with set-up of procedure tables and circulator assistance during procedures
• Employ appropriate sterile technique and direct radiopharmaceutical containment measures
• Perform a variety of administrative functions in VISTA such as exam registration - documentation - and case editing
• Ensure exams and relevant documents are archived in PACS and Vista Imaging Display
• Apply working knowledge of CPRS to review progress notes - labs - allergies - and other relevant clinical information
• Make appropriate entries into CPRS as needed such as progress notes and policy orders
• Apply safe patient-handling techniques using assistive devices such as lifts - hover mats and sliders when appropriate
• Work Schedule: Part-time/intermittent/Schedule TBD Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 60094-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required