Summary

This Job Opportunity Announcement will be used to fill a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, GS-0601-9 position in Diagnostic Imaging Service at the White River Junction VA Health Care System in White River Junction, VT.

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
• Grandfathering Provision
• 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)
• Grade Determinations: Nuclear Medicine Technologist, GS-9 Experience
• Completion of 1 year of [creditable] experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-07) 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) which includes: Knowledge of Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulations [that pertain to nuclear medicine technology practices
• Knowledge of the medical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and physics and how they relate to the cardiovascular, skeletal, endocrine, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems of the human body
• Knowledge of radioactive package types, package surveys, and radioactive materials record management
• Ability to independently use and interpret Geiger-Mueller meter
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Ability to document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment
• Knowledge of medical events requiring documentation and the ability to properly document them and make recommendations to the radiation safety officer (RSO)
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing post iodine-131 therapy radiation safety precautions
• Ability to troubleshoot gamma camera and auxiliary equipment problems
• Ability to analyze computer generated data for technical quality and artifacts and initiate corrective measures
• Preferred Experience: Nuclear Medicine Technologist 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-9. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9
• Physical Requirements: Bending, pushing, pulling, reaching and occasional kneeling, crawling and squatting
• lifting, carrying, bending, and manipulation of equipment
• patient assistance and positioning
• walking and prolonged standing
• the ability to read written orders, computer screens, patient records, and equipment controls
• and the ability to communicate with patients, physicians, and coworkers
• Near visual acuity to assess patient's physical condition when performing exams and evaluating images for diagnostic quality
• Must be able to speak and hear to communicate with patients
• ability to make critical decisions, interact with patients of different ages and health conditions, maintain patient confidentiality, work under stressful conditions.

Duties

• Nuclear Medicine Technologists have responsibility for providing a wide range of specialized nuclear medicine procedures, including diagnostic imaging, radio-assay, evaluating abnormal results
• using and maintaining equipment
• setting up and monitoring quality control
• working within guidelines from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Transportation (DOT), National Health Physics Program, Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) among others
• Major duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the following: Prepare, assay, and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection, inhalation or ingestion as prescribed
• Be proficient in introducing intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals and/or medications
• Be familiar regarding possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals and other medications, such as lasix and captopril, to be administered
• Take immediate action to remedy any noted effects
• Receive patients, explain procedure, answer questions relating to the procedure, position patient for all necessary views and tend to their comfort for the duration of the procedure
• Obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition, and interviewing the patient and/or family
• Move wheelchair and litter patients safely using ergonomic methods of patient transfer
• Operate nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras, well counters, GM survey meters, thyroid uptake system, and dose calibrators for various patient procedures
• Understand and be able to perform exposure rate calculations
• Perform a full range of nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging, non-imaging, in-vitro and therapeutic procedures, including highly specialized computer assisted studies such as gated, tomographic, quantitative procedures
• Keep up to date with new imaging agents, procedures, and methods
• Write imaging protocols for use within the department
• Analyze procedure images for quality
• Obtain additional images when necessary
• Be familiar in three-dimensional anatomy
• Correctly administer radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients
• Utilizes necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification
• Fill out appropriate forms and administer dose with the nuclear medicine physician
• Instruct patient, family, and nursing staff in radiation safety precautions
• Perform radiation surveys, post appropriate caution signs, and distribute personnel monitoring devices as required
• Properly monitor and store any radioactive waste for disposal
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of personnel requiring film badges
• Read and understand the film badge exposure report
• Determine exposure patterns and recommend actions to reduce exposure levels to public, radiation workers and self
• Prepare studies for nuclear medicine physician's interpretation by insuring completeness of all forms involved in the procedure
• Record appropriate data and related information on the proper patient worksheet and images
• Ensure proper billing and workload information by using accurate CPT, codes for each patient study
• Schedule patient procedures, taking into consideration camera availability, scan length, patient condition, the need for multiple nuclear medicine studies, other clinic appointments of the patient, contraindications for the test and urgency of the request
• Inform patient of all pertinent preparations for their scan, i.e
• NPO, follow certain diet, bowel prep, etc
• Perform required technical procedures for safe receipt, handling, transport, usage and disposal of radioactive materials, assuring compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), National Health Physics Program (NHPP), Department of Transportation (DOT) and license conditions
• Understand different precautions used based upon the various package types
• Understand, utilize and practice the concepts of As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principal, maintaining radiation exposures as ALARA
• Assure that all Nuclear Medicine, Medical Center, VISN and Radiation Safety policies are effectively followed
• Recognize potential radiation contamination by visual and mechanical methods
• Take necessary actions to minimize contamination and exposure to self, public and coworkers
• Contacting the Radio-pharmacy and radiation safety officer if needed
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 405-F07654 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required