Nuclear Med Technologist I

Location: Corpus Christi, TX

Where compassion meets innovation and technology and our employees are family.

General Purpose of Job:

Performs Nuclear Medicine procedures and demonstrates anatomy under investigation through proper patient positioning, technique selection, administration of radiopharmaceuticals, contrast media, and application of immobilization and radiation +protection devices according to policy and procedure. The Nuclear Medicine Technologist is a highly specialized healthcare professional that works closely with the Radiologists in obtaining imaging studies to diagnose disease.

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist will perform other duties as deemed necessary.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; employees will perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned by the immediate supervisor and/or hospital administration as required.

• Maintains utmost level of confidentiality at all times.
• Adheres to hospital policies and procedures.
• Demonstrates business practices and personal actions that are ethical and adhere to corporate compliance and integrity guidelines.
• Maintain and operate equipment, such as gamma cameras and computing systems, to acquire images, and to process and analyze patient data
• Prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals as tracers to demonstrate the function of organs in the body
• Explain procedures to patients and inquire about previous diagnostic studies and medication, making sure they receive the correct preparation for the procedure
• Check the patient’s medical status and make sure that the patient’s comfort, privacy and safety needs during the procedure are met.
• Perform laboratory procedures including blood and specimen collection and quality control testing
• Make sure that there is safe handling, storage and disposal of radioactive materials
• Perform routine quality control and testing procedures of instrumentation, radiopharmaceuticals, data, images and computing systems
• Perform patient imaging procedures using sophisticated radiation-detecting instrumentation
• Accomplish computer processing and image enhancement: 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 that might indicate the need for additional images or could be useful to the physician in interpreting the results of the procedure.
• When caring for patients, they acquire knowledge of the patients’ medical histories to understand and relate illness.
• Instruct patients before and during procedures, evaluate the satisfactory preparation of patients before commencing a procedure, and recognize emergency patient conditions and initiate life-saving first aid when appropriate.
• Nuclear Medicine technologists apply their knowledge of radiation physics patient and personnel radiation exposure in relation to nearly every activity. Radiation safety procedures often require the use of a Geiger counter or a similar instrument to detect the presence of radioactivity.
• Administer small amounts of radiopharmaceuticals.
• Ability to properly access IV’s on patients
• Document the use of the entire radioactivity that enters and leaves the department.
• Responsible for evaluating and documenting that all the instrumentation used for patient procedures is functioning properly every day studies are performed.
• Use quality control techniques as part of a quality assurance program covering all procedures and products in the department.
• Order and administer radioactive chemical compounds (radiopharmaceuticals)
• Participate in procuring supplies; document lab operations, participates in departmental inspections conducted by various licensing, regulatory, and accrediting agencies.
• Perform patient imaging procedures using sophisticated radiation-detecting instrumentation in nuclear medicine.
• Accomplish computer processing and image enhancement utilizing sophisticated computer workstation and reconstructs acquired images.
• Working directly with patient and family: Gains patient/family confidence by obtaining pertinent history, describing the procedure to be performed and answering any questions. Monitors the patient’s physical condition during the course of the procedure. Notes any specific patient/family comments which might indicate the need for additional images or be useful to the interpreting physician.
• Practices Good Radiation Safety: Assists the Nuclear Medicine Coordinator in ensuring the department is in full compliance with NRC and State rules and regulations. Prepare and package radioactive materials for transport. Use personal radiation monitors appropriately. Reviews monthly personal dosimetry records. Takes appropriate measures to reduce radiation exposure. Notify the RSO of misadministration. Perform wipe tests and area radiation surveys. Survey, inspect and inventory incoming radioactive materials. Use proper procedures for managing a radiation spill
• Instrumentation responsibilities: Perform and evaluate quality control on well counter & probe, Calibrate scintillation gamma camera, Perform and field uniformity on gamma camera, Perform and evaluate detector linearity and special resolution, Perform and evaluate dose calibrator constancy test, Perform and evaluate quality control on SPECT camera
• Performs all duties of Nuclear Medicine Technologist as required
• On call required for this position
• Drives to McAllen every week to perform Nuclear Medicine services for South Texas patients.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Effectively administers performance management system including: developmental feedback, goal setting, assesses competency, progressive discipline
• Strong knowledge of and effective in administering hospital policies and procedures.
• Responsible for sound management of human resources.
• Makes and implements decisions compatible with organizational goals.
• Maintains composure, effectiveness, and flexibility under pressure.
• Supervises the following job classes: Students

Education and/or Experience:

• Graduation from an approved in Nuclear Medicine Technology program and hold a current Texas license as a CMRT.
• Certification as a nuclear medicine technologist required. Certification either by the ARRT R-N or by the Nuclear Medicine Technologist Certification Board is acceptable.
• One year’s experience as a certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist is preferred.
• Pediatric experience preferred but not required
• Current CPR, preferred. Must complete within 90 days of employment.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Current NMTCB or ARRT(NM) registration as a Nuclear Medicine technologist
• Current unlimited Texas State CMRT license
• Current CPR (BLS) Certification, preferred. Must be completed within 90 days of employment.