Nuclear Medicine Technologist

SummaryThe VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will function in Imaging Service.DutiesHelpWe are currently seeking a dedicated and experienced Nuclear Medicine Technologist to join our team at the Kent Imaging and Infusion Center, part of the larger VANEOHS Imaging Service. This position offers a unique opportunity to be an integral part of a dynamic healthcare team and support our mission to deliver top-notch imaging services. At the Kent Facility, you'll have the chance to work with brand new, state-of-the-art imaging equipment, ensuring you have the best tools to provide exceptional care. The VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System is recruiting for a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will function in Imaging Service. This position is intended for the new Kent Clinic. However, selectees may be expected to provide supplemental and on call coverage for other VANEOHS locations up to 25% of the time.Duties include but are not limited to:Prepare, assay, and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection, inhalation or ingestion as prescribedBe proficient in introducing intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals and/or medicationsTest blood glucose levels in patients. Respond properly to results that are outside normal rangeBe knowledgeable regarding possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals and other medications, such as Lasix and Captopril, to be administered. Take immediate action to remedy any noted effectsOrder and manage radiopharmaceutical doses as required for daily patient studies. Maintain adequate supplies of doses to perform patient studies without a delay whenever possibleReceive 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 procedureObtain pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition, and interviewing the patient and/or familyOperate nuclear medicine equipment such as SPECT, SPECT/CT, and PET/CT, well counters, GM survey meters, thyroid uptake system, FDG dose injector, and dose calibrators for various patient proceduresUnderstand and perform exposure rate calculationsPerform a full range of nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging, nonimaging, invitro and therapeutic procedures, including highly specialized computer assisted studies such as gated, tomographic, quantitative proceduresPerform and understand a range of hybrid imaging including SPECT/CT and PET/CT. Be knowledgeable in low dose Computed Tomography aspects including KeV and MAS settings. Understand attenuation correction and anatomical landmarks as they relate to CT. Also be attentive to CT safety and reducing the patient's dose to as low as reasonably possibleAnalyze procedure images for quality. Obtain additional images when necessary.Administer radiopharmaceuticals to patients. Utilize necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identificationPerform radionuclide therapy in collaboration with Nuclear Medicine Physician. Receive and assay prescribed therapeutic doses. Fill out appropriate forms and administer dose with the nuclear medicine physicianDemonstrate 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 selfPrepare studies for nuclear medicine physician's interpretation by insuring completeness of all forms (IE dose and initialing each study) involved in the procedure. Record appropriate data and related information on the proper patient worksheet and imagesSchedule 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 his/her scan, i.e. NPO, follow certain diet, bowel prep, etc. Adjusting schedule to prevent overbooking and to prevent extended patient wait timesPerform 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 typesUnderstand, utilize, and practice the concepts of ALARA principal, maintaining radiation exposures as low as reasonably achievable.Work Schedule: Variable based on the needs of the service.Telework: Not AvailableVirtual: This is not a virtual position.RequirementsHelpConditions of employmentYou must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.Must be proficient in written and spoken English.You may be required to serve a trial period.Subject to background/security investigation.Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).QualificationsBasic 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 NMTCBMay 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: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.Experience at the GS9 level may include:-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 iodine131 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 measuresKnowledge Skills and Abilities: . In addition to the basic requirements, the candidate must demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:-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 pretherapy patient preparation information and provide posttherapy 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.Physical Requirements: This position requires the ability to do the following: Heavy lifting (45lbs and over), moderate carrying (15-44lbs), pushing, use of fingers, use of both hands, walking (up to 8hrs), standing (up to 8hrs), repeated bending (up to 8hrs), ability to distinguish basic colors, emotional/mental stability. Environmental factors include: exposure to radiant energy, slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working closely with others and/or working alone.Additional informationWe are currently seeking a dedicated and experienced individual to join our team at the Kent Imaging and Infusion Center, which is part of the larger VANEOHS Imaging Service. This position offers a unique opportunity to be an integral part of a dynamic healthcare team and support our mission to deliver top-notch imaging services. Imaging services at the Kent Facility are expected to be offered between 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM (M-F) and 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM (Sat), with hours subject to change. The successful applicant will be expected to travel up to 25% of the time to support the needs of various VANEOHS Imaging locations beyond Kent, including fulfilling on- call responsibilities and providing weekend coverage as needed. Specific tours of duty, weekend responsibilities, and call responsibilities will be discussed during the interview process. If you are passionate about providing exceptional imaging care and have the flexibility to accommodate travel and varied hours, we encourage you to apply for this pivotal role.Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.VA Healthcare System Serving Ohio, Indiana and Michigan (VISN 10) advocates for a Whole Health System of care in each of the Medical Centers. This is an approach to healthcare that empowers and equips people to take charge of their health and well-being and live their lives to the fullest. As an employee operating in a Whole Health System of care, you will operate in a model with three core elements, seeking to create a personalized health plan for each Veteran. This is done in the context of healing relationships and healing environments and a connection back to the Veteran's community. This aligns with the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Mission Statement to Honor America's Veterans by providing exceptional health care that improves their health and well-beingUnder the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.Expand Hide additional informationCandidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.BenefitsHelpA career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.Review our benefitsEligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.