Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Class Specifications – H.20
Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist – 9001
Associate Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist – 9002
Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologist – 9003
Nuclear Medicine Technologist – 9004
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Trainee – 9005

April, 1982

Series Concept

Nuclear Medicine Technologists, under the direction of a physician licensed to possess radioactive materials utilize radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals to perform or assist in the performance of patient diagnostic examinations and therapeutic administrations; and perform other related duties as required.

The range of duties performed includes but is not limited to radionuclide imaging of organs, organ systems, compartments physiologic functions, assays of body fluids, tissues and radiobioassays.

Specific tasks performed include but are not limited to the following: patient care, quality assurance, imaging procedures, non-imaging including labeling of blood components and radioassays, computer science applications and radiation safety measures.

Incumbents in addition use independent judgment to assess patient needs while patients are undergoing nuclear medicine examinations; advise regarding the appropriate selection of protocols to be followed in choosing and determining the doses of radiopharmaceuticals, instrumentation selection, and computer data enhancement of protocols in order to effect a desired diagnostic out come; assist in the orientation of students and staff in new techniques; provide demonstrations of laboratory methods; provide information to students, peers, patients and the public as appropriate; and provide documentation for the permanent records of patients as required by the various licensing bodies and accreditation agencies.

Skills typically utilized by incumbents include laboratory, pipetting and injection techniques; calculation of decay and volumes and mathematical analysis to determine the amount of material to inject.

The above responsibilities require appropriate knowledge of the field of nuclear medicine technology and those aspects of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biomedical and computer sciences that relate to nuclear medicine.

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist series consists of five levels with the distinction between levels based on the scope and/or complexity of the nuclear medicine functions, and the degree of supervision exercised.

Class Concepts

Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Under general direction incumbents plan, direct and coordinate all technical and related administrative work in the Nuclear Medicine Department of a campus medical center facility.

Incumbents typically develop, administer and coordinate a comprehensive nuclear medicine clinical service program; prepare and administer the departmental budget; plan and evaluate the effective utilization of personnel, physical and material resources for the various programs and clinical services provided; Serve as liaison with interhospital groups, other allied medical personnel, outside agencies and the community; coordinate the activities and services of the Nuclear Medicine Department with other hospital programs and services; and exercise overall guidance, supervision and evaluation of Nuclear Medicine programs and staff in compliance with hospital and professional standards and policies.

Incumbents may in addition establish and direct academic curricula for a Nuclear Medicine Technology Educational Program; may assist investigators on research projects; and may perform work of an innovative nature to develop new techniques and procedures.

Associate Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Under direction incumbents serve either as Clinical Coordinators and/or Education Coordinators. Incumbents as Clinical Coordinators serve as principal assistants to the Chief Nuclear Medicine Technologist and may perform duties as delegated during the incumbents’ absence. Duties performed typically include but are not limited to the following: patient evaluation and direct care on a consultative/ resource basis; advising on the choice of appropriate radiopharmaceuticals, instrumentation and protocols to provide a specified diagnostic outcome; acting as a clinical resource for residents and staff physicians; assisting the medical staff in the development of protocols; reviewing protocols and making recommendations to the Chief Technologist regarding the appropriateness of allocation of resources supervising the efficient flow of patient caseloads; coordinating scheduling priorities monitoring performance/documentation of equipment quality control; coordinating unusual protocol studies; monitoring disbursement logs and maintaining inventory of radiopharmaceuticals; and maintaining the daily schedule board.

Incumbents as Education Coordinators serve as staff resource for either administration or in-service education for the various services of the Nuclear Medicine Department; and design, organize and implement on-going in-service education and training of Nuclear Medicine staff, students and/or fellows. Typical tasks include identifying training and educational needs and designing programs to meet such needs by coordinating the orientation of new staff; coordinating Nuclear Medicine Technology Educational Training Programs and clinical rotation; providing linkage with affiliate hospitals and educators; acting as liaison with other teaching units within the medical center; and evaluating and performing direct patient care services within the department.

Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Under general supervision incumbents perform the full range of laboratory, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures provided by a Nuclear Medicine Laboratory and typified by the duties described in the series concept.

This is the operational level and requires a high degree of technical competence and judgment. Senior Nuclear Medicine Technologists are distinguished from Nuclear Medicine Technologists in that incumbents must have received prior certification as Nuclear Medicine Technologists with the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board, the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, or the American Society of Clinical Pathology.

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Under supervision incumbents perform a variety of invivo or invitro procedures to assist certified technologists in the diagnosis and treatment of patients by use of nuclear medicine techniques and equipment. Incumbents perform some of the duties described in the series concept under the direction of certified higher level technologists. This is the entry level in the series, however, positions may be assigned to this level on a continuing basis.

Nuclear Medicine Technologist Trainee

Under close supervision, Nuclear Medicine Technologist Trainees receive training during a one-year program which qualifies incumbents to perform a variety of duties in nuclear medicine diagnosis, research and therapy. The training program includes formal instruction, periodic examinations and structured on-the-job training.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants for positions in the Nuclear Medicine Technologist series are expected to possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the positions.

Note: Specific qualification requirements are approved for positions by the Personnel Manager in accordance with the provisions of Staff Personnel Policies 210.8 and 210.9.