Nuclear Medicine

Nuclear Medicine Technology

What is Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear Medicine, specialists use safe, painless, and cost-effective techniques to image the body and treat disease. Nuclear medicine is unique and broad to include nuclear medicine imaging, PET/CT and molecular procedures. It provides doctors with information about both structure and function. It is a way to gather medical information that would otherwise be unavailable, require surgery, or necessitate more expensive diagnostic tests. Nuclear medicine combines computer technology, advanced medical instrumentation, chemistry, physics, and radioactivity to diagnose and treat disease.

radiology

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

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. During an imaging procedure, the technologist works directly with the patient. The technologist—
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.

Is the Profession right for you?

Today, nuclear medicine offers procedures that are essential in many medical specialties, from pediatrics to cardiology to psychiatry. New and innovation nuclear medicine treatments that target and pinpoint molecular levels within the body are revolutionizing our understanding of and approach to a range of diseases and conditions. If you have a keen interest in the health sciences and computer technology and are looking for a people-oriented career, consider Nuclear Medicine Technology! Individuals who have a strong academic background in science and the desire to assist others are strong candidates for a nuclear medicine program. A job shadow experience in a nuclear medicine department will provide you with insight into the daily responsibilities of a nuclear medicine technologist.

two radiologists

Knowledge

Nuclear medicine technologists must be knowledgeable in a wide range of subjects to include anatomy, physiology, mathematics, chemistry and physics. This scientific background will assist them in developing the technical knowledge needed in the profession to include radiation protection, radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals, instrumentation and quality control and the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Nuclear medicine procedures are performed in a variety of categories to include skeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, genitourinary, CNS, gastrointestinal, hematopoietic, endocrine, oncology and PET/CT.

What are the technical and physical aspects expected of Nuclear Medicine Technologists?

Routinely lift more than 25 pounds, push, pull and stoop,
Full use of their extremities and distinguish audible sounds
Adequately view nuclear medicine images
Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick and injured
Intricately handle radiopharmacueticals and perform venipuncture
Assist patients, family members and physicians
Communicate effectively with patients and other professionals
Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a nuclear medicine procedure efficiently.

What are the Career Opportunities?

Nuclear Medicine Technologists work in a wide variety of clinical settings:

Community hospitals
University-affiliated teaching hospitals and medical centers
Outpatient imaging facilities to include cardiology centers
Public health institutions
Government and private research institutes.

Career Alternatives

Technologists have a wide variety of alternative career paths available.

Senior staff technologist
Research technologist
Education to include faculty, clinical instructor or program educator
Department supervisor or team leader
PET/CT or Cardiology specialist
Hospital administrator
Industry sales representative, technical specialist, or research-and-development specialist

Nuclear medicine descriptions created by the Society of Nuclear Medicine.

Visit www.snm.org for more information on nuclear medicine.

Salaries

Salaries for NMT’s are high relative to similar health professions. NMT’s working in PET/CT command the highest salaries among NMT’s providing imaging services. Average starting hourly salary is approximately $26.00/hr. (www.asrt.org) and the mean total annual salary for full-time including call is $70,470, with a median at $67,000. (2005 Survey)

How can I become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?

The University Health Care, Department of Radiology, offers a 15 month nuclear medicine/CT program that includes 12 months of nuclear medicine education and a 3 month computerized tomography (CT) certification component. Upon program completion, the graduate is eligible for examination and certification by the nuclear medicine technology certification board (NMTCB) and/or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (NM-ARRT) and (CT-ARRT)

Potential affiliation with the College of Health Nuclear Medicine Program - BS in Imaging- University of Utah

The Department of Radiology and the College of Health, University of Utah is currently working on a 3 + 1 imaging track for the 2010/11 academic year. This would offer a student a 3+ 1 option for a BS degree through the University of Utah. The student would be required to pay college credit tuition and a tuition differential and/or possible course fees(to be decided) If this option is appoved for the 2011 academic year, the deadline for applications may move forward to December 15, 2010. Please contact Marlene Johnson 801-585-6753 for more information on this option.

Prerequisites for the Program

Applicants eligible for selection include individuals who have completed one or more of the following:

Bachelors of Science degree (B.S.) or Bachelors of Arts degree (B.A.) OR
ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologist) Certified or ARRT eligible (Exam must be passed before start of program) OR
Certification in an eligible health care area to be determined by the selection committee. Students may be pre-evaluated upon request.

IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE CRITERIA, ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE COMPLETED COURSES IN:

Anatomy/Physiology - combined or separate courses.
College Algebra - minimum Math 1010; Math 1050 preferred.
Chemistry – Chem 1010 or higher, preferably with a lab.
Physics – Phys 1010 or higher.
English – English 1010, Communication, Speech or Literature

SELECTION

Student selection is completed by an Admissions Committee that will evaluate the students ability to successfully complete the program and become competent nuclear medicine technologists through the screening of total GPA, grades in pre-requisite courses, scores on structured reference forms and interview rating scores. Personal interviews are required.

Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony?

ARRT and NMTCB requires that all misdemeanor and felony convictions be reported — including charges resulting in pleas of guilty, pleas of nolo contendere (no contest), withheld adjudications, suspended sentences, or military court-martial. An Ethics Committee will determine if the student is eligible to take the certification exams. This can be pre-screened.

Nuclear Medicine Program

xrays

Overview

The Nuclear Medicine program at the University Health Care is a 12 month hospital sponsored program that received a full 5 year accreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT) in 2005. With the addition of the 3 month CT component, the course duration is 15 months. Upon successful completion of the program the student will earn a Certificate of Completion for educational training in nuclear medicine and eligibility to sit for the national examinations with the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (NM-ARRT). Students will earn an additional certificate with the successful completion of the 3 month CT curriculum and be eligible for the CT-ARRT certification exam. The program combines didactic and clinical education that offers the student the knowledge and skills necessary to become a competent Nuclear Medicine Technologist. College credit for the program is not granted through the University of Utah. Clinical education experiences occur at the University Hospital, Huntsman Cancer Hospital, the VA Medical Center and the Radiopharmacy. Program faculty are radiologists, physicists, radiopharmaceutical experts and experienced technologists. The sponsoring institution and the affiliate institutions offer clinical experiences through a competency-based program that has state of the art imaging equipment to include PET/CT.

Program Mission

To provide an accredited high quality, progressive and comprehensive educational program in Nuclear Medicine Technology servicing the community and the region. Program Objectives The purpose of the Nuclear Medicine Technology program is to prepare graduates who are clinically competent and provide quality diagnostic imaging and therapeutic services to patients while maintaining compassion and respect.

Program Goals

Ensure that 100% of program graduates are clinically competent in diagnostic imaging and therapeutic studies.
Graduate competent entry-level nuclear medicine technologists who are effective communicators, problem solvers and critical thinkers.
Maintain the following:
- A credentialing examination pass rate of not less than 80% at first attempt.
- A job placement rate of not less than 80% within one year of graduation.
- A program completion rate of not less than 80%.
Maintain a full accreditation status with the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
Graduate students who are satisfied with their Nuclear Medicine educational experience and feel that it was beneficial to their professional development and growth.

Curriculum

radiologists

Education in nuclear medicine is achieved with a blending of didactic and clinical learning experiences. Educational hours are between 6:30 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday for a 15 month period, not to exceed 40 hours a week. The curriculum structure adheres to accreditation requirements and include the following courses:

Patient Care - physical and emotional care of the patient to include communication, age specific needs, emergency care, ethics, medicolegal issues, infection control, HIPPA, and venipuncture. Students are required to be certified in CPR before the start of the program. Mathematics and statistics - the basics of college algebra are used to introduce the mathematical principles of radioactive decay and radiation counting statistics.

Nuclear physics - concepts and physical principles that govern radioactivity and the interactions of radiation with matter. Instrumentation and computers - comprehensive study of the applications of radiation detecting instruments to the detection and imaging of radiation including; instruments for radiation safety, patient radiation measuring devices, imaging systems and computers and image processing.

Quality assurance - quality control of imaging equipment and radiation detection devices. Patient quality assurance issues for total patient quality care. Radiation protection and radiation biology - comprehensive discussion and educational activities in radiation safety principles and practice. Application aspects of the biological effects of radiation exposure.

Nuclear Medicine Diagnostic procedures – the study of the clinical diagnostic procedures as they apply to each organ systems of the body to include the anatomy and pathophysiology, patient preparation, monitoring and education, radiopharmaceuticals, instrumentation and imaging techniques.

Radiopharmacy and Interventional Drugs — the theory and practice of radiopharmacy, including preparation, calculation of the dose to be administered, quality control, radiation safety, and applicable regulations. It also deals with nonradioactive interventional drugs.

PET/CT - the study of PET as a major diagnostic imaging modality used predominantly in determining the presence and severity of cancers, neurological conditions, and cardiovascular disease and the study of CT to include its function and physics. PET images demonstrate the chemistry of organs and other tissues such as tumors.

Clinical Education - practical application of nuclear medicine sciences. Rotations include the University Hospital, Huntsman Cancer Hospital, Veterans Administration Medical Center and the Radiopharmacy. Students will complete a total of 1200 clinical hours in the nuclear medicine department.

Computerized Tomography - A comprehensive curriculum in CT to include the didactic and clinical experiences necessary to practice and complete the CT-ARRT examination.

Didactic coursework in cross-sectional anatomy, CT procedures, patient care and physics and instrumentation.
Clinical Education to include an additional 220 dedicated clinical hours performing CT procedures

Tuition

The tuition for 2010/11 academic year is $5,000. This includes the nuclear medicine and CT curriculum. The CT section is part of the nuclear medicine program and cannot be excused unless the student has prior CT experience. A $500.00 discount will be given to students who pay the entire cost of tuition for the full academic year during the first week of class. The total balance with the discount will be $4,500.00 Tuition does not include textbooks(approx $350.00) or the cost for the educational modules utilized during the CT section (250.00) Tuition payment plans are available on a monthly basis. The student must pay with an intitial installment of $500.00 and a minimum monthly payment of $450.00.

Note: There are no financial assistance programs or student loans available for this program through the University of Utah.

child and doctors

Additional Fees

Approximate costs include: Lab Coats or Scrubs: 200.00, Parking Pass: 130.00 Textbooks: 700.00 Licensing Fees: 145.00

Scholarships

Scholarships for educational expenses are not available through the Department of Radiology. Scholarship opportunities are occasionally offered through ASRT (www.asrt.org) and SNM (www.snm.org).

Student Withdrawal/Refund Policy

If a student withdraws from the program voluntarily within the first 30 days after the program begins, he/she is entitled to a 50% refund of the first quarter’s payment with no obligation to pay subsequent quarters. A student who has paid in full, will receive a 75% refund off the entire program. If a student withdraws in subsequent quarters, they will not be eligible for a refund and they will not be responsible for the remainder of the tuition.

A student who is dismissed for poor academic or clinical performance or disciplinary problems waives the right to tuition refund

Student Benefits

Students enrolled in the Nuclear Medicine program are not granted the same benefits as students attending the University of Utah. Students will be invited to employee functions and are allowed to have library privileges and use of the book store.

Note: Students are responsible for their own HEALTH COVERAGE and TRANSPORTATION.

Attendance

The program begins in July and students will focus on nuclear medicine curriculum for the first 12 months. At the completion of the 12 months, the students will be granted a break to complete the NMTCB or NM-ARRT certification exam. They will return in July and start the 12 week CT curriculum. Full-time day attendance is required with the exception of hospital recognized holiday and scheduled program breaks. Upon request, a detailed calendar of the previous academic year is available for review. Students are scheduled 28 – 36 contact hours a week .

Academic Performance

Students must maintain a minimum C average n each course and clinical section. Grading and counseling sessions are conducted on an ongoing basis. Students who are not maintaining a C average will be placed on probation. Failure to earn grades with a C average or better subsequent to probation is terms for dismissal.

Graduation Requirements

In order to receive a Certificate of Completion and be eligible to sit for registry examinations conducted by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT-NM/CT), students must:

Maintain at least a "C" overall average
Complete the required number of didactic and clinical hours
Complete the minimum requirements of clinical competency for nuclear medicine and the CT clinical experience requirements.
Be in good standing as outlined by the Policy and Procedure Manual

pregnant woman

Student Pregnancy Policy

The student has the right to not declare pregnancy and remain in the program with no modification option.

Pregnancy during the course of the program may present problems for program completion at the expected time. If the student continues to attend both class and clinic as scheduled during her pregnancy, minimal disruption will occur. If the student has difficulty maintaining the routine schedule of the program, advancement and completion will be jeopardized. It is the policy of the program to be supportive to pregnant students. The student must understand that all program requirements must be completed in order for her to graduate and receive a Certificate of Completion.

Due to the potential danger to an unborn fetus, especially during the first trimester, the student is encouraged to inform the Technology Administrator, Program Director or any other member of the Nuclear Medicine program if they expect a pregnancy. If the student declares a pregnancy, plans for program continuation and completion must be made. The student has the following options:

A. Remain in the program as scheduled. This option requires the following:

All courses must be completed with a C- or better grade. Continued attendance and successful progress must be maintained. In the event that a student cannot complete a course, they will be required to retake the course the next time it is offered. It is possible for the student to continue and successfully complete the academic courses without disruption.
The student's clinical rotation will be monitored so that the student will NOT receive unnecessary radiation. The student will be expected to satisfactorily perform in the clinical setting and to make-up competencies and time missed at the completion of the pregnancy.
The student will be allowed a leave of absence in length as agreed upon by the student and the program and in accord with the policies of the University of Utah Health Sciences Center. The student is encouraged to return to the classroom at the earliest possible date.
If the student wishes to complete courses as scheduled, she must attend class on an ongoing basis during and after the pregnancy.

B. The student may choose to take a leave of absence until after the pregnancy.

The terms for this are as follows:

The student will be allowed to take a leave of absence for a period of one year. At the end of the year, she must reenter the program as a full-time student or relinquish her position in the program.
Once a student voluntarily withdraws from the program due to pregnancy, she must reapply to reenter.

It is both policy and practice of the program and the clinical education setting to offer the utmost radiation protection to student technologists. The program will NOT assume liability in any case of pregnancy. Should a pregnant student choose to remain in the program, the program members will provide support to the student’s completion of the program. The student will be given an additional radiation monitoring badge for the fetus and will be monitored so that the dose limit in one month does not exceed .05 rem and the total dose limit does not exceed .5 rem.

Radiation Monitoring/Protection

Working with ionizing radiation and radioactive materials requires the student to wear a personnel dosimeter that measures the amount of occupational exposure received. Dosimeter service is supplied by the facility and students are required to wear dosimeters during their clinical education experiences. A radiation safety officer will monitor the student’s exposure levels. Students will be counseled quarterly by the radiation safety officer regarding their radiation exposure and safety practices. Students are provided with the knowledge necessary to keep patient and occupational exposure at a minimum early in the program. Students are provided the use of syringe shields for protection from ionizing radiation during their training.

Dress Code

Students are always required to be neat and professional in appearance while in the nuclear medicine department. Upon acceptance, students will be granted a detailed document addressing the parameters of dress code to include the appearance of body piercing and tatoos.

Disciplinary and Due Process Procedures

Available in student handbook.

Non-Acceptance Procedure

Students will be notified by mail of their selection status no later than April 15th. Students are welcome to reapply the subsequent year if requested they will be counseled on ways to improve their chance of selection. Reapplicants are required to submit 3 new reference forms, an updated resume/biography and documentation of any pre-requisite changes. Students not accepted during their second attempt will not be considered for acceptance the subsequent year.

Governing Body

The nuclear medicine program is under the direction of the department of radiology medical director, technology program administrator and program director. An advisory board of physicians, technologists, pharmacists, educators and student representatives is responsible for the administration and review of this program with final decisions residing with the Chairman. The V.A.Medical Center is a program affiliate and joins the University in providing clinical experiences.

Affirmative Action Employment Policy

University president's statement -- August 1983

"The University of Utah is fully committed to policies of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. Accordingly, the University pursues a vigorous program of affirmative-action in all its classifications of employment in order to prevent any form of discrimination, Rasmussen or prejudicial treatment on the basis of race, color, religion, the national origin, sex, age, or status as a handicapped individual, disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. All University administrative and supervisory personnel are required in turn to assure that this policy will be furthered by imposing only valid requirements for employment decisions and for promotional opportunities, and to see that all personnel actions such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, institutionally -- sponsored training, education, social and recreational programs will be instituted and administer to comply with the standards of fairness and nondiscrimination which are the basis for the equal opportunity policy."

woman and radiology machine

An Exciting Future!

Nuclear medicine has a very bright future and 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 known as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which provides new and unique means of studying biochemistry and metabolism within living tissues.
The addition of hybrid imaging in PET/CT which has expanded the technologists role.

Related links:

Society of Nuclear Medicine (www.snm.org)

American Society of Radiologic Technologists (www.asrt.org)

American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (www.arrt.org)

Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (www.nmtcb.org)

Application Procedures Download the application here: As a Word document As an Acrobat document

Application instructions: (March 15th deadline) Send to address on cover letter.

Complete an application.
Write a short biographical essay about yourself that includes: Your educational and work related background. How you became interested in Nuclear Medicine and your career plans.
Three Selection Preference Evaluations from past instructors, employers and/or credible personal contacts. Download the Selection Preference Evaluations here: As a Word document As an Acrobat document
Official college transcripts sent directly to the Nuclear Medicine program, Department of Radiology, attn: Marlene Johnson
A current resume
$25.00 application fee, checks made payable to the University of Utah.

Submit all application materials to:

University of Utah Hospital Department of Radiology

Attention: Marlene Johnson/Technology Program Administrator

30 North 1900 East #1A71 Salt Lake City UT 84132-2140

Telephone (801) 585-6753 Fax: (801) 581-2414

May 2007 Images courtesy of Siemens Medical Inc.