Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Summary

The Nuclear Medicine Technologist works for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Imaging Service with the responsibility for performing routine, specialized, and new radionuclide studies for the diagnosis, treatment, and investigation of pathological disorders.

Duties

• Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional The duties of the Nuclear Medicine Technologist include but are not limited to: Performance of Nuclear Medicine Imaging: 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, planer and tomographic (SPECT) technique, quantitative procedures, operating nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras, well counters, GM survey meters, thyroid uptake system, and dose calibrators for various patient procedures.
• Performs a wide variety of functional imaging studies of organs/systems.
• Performs computer acquisition and analysis of data utilizing a variety of computers.
• Selects and modifies programs to acquire patient studies per protocol.
• Analyzes all imaging studies, in vitro, and research studies for image quality discerning whether additional images are needed before presenting to staff physician.
• Be knowledgeable in three-dimensional anatomy.
• Performs in vivo and in vitro studies using a variety of laboratory manipulations such as dilutions, centrifuging, accurate pipetting, specimen collecting, etc.
• Uses microscopes, centrifuges, calibrated pipettes, and computer programs to examine, calculate, analyze and report testing results.
• Prepares, assay, and administers radiopharmaceutical doses by injection, inhalation or ingestion as prescribed; preparing appropriate dosages, ensuring pharmaceutical quality of agents, ensuring that patients receive correct amounts of radioactivity, determining proper route of administration, administering radiopharmaceuticals intravenously to patients, determining need for and performing specialized injection techniques and assisting physicians in administering therapeutic amounts of radioactivity.
• Recognizes and responds to adverse reactions or side effects from administered pharmaceuticals and radiopharmaceuticals.
• Prepares imaging, counting, and ancillary equipment for patient use.
• Calibrates imaging cameras, by means of testing flood uniformity, linearity, spatial resolution with devices such as point sources, radioactive flood field sources, barphantoms, orthogonal hole phantoms, and ECT phantoms.
• Performs daily calibration of energy settings of gamma cameras.
• Ascertains the accuracy of dose calibrators, well counters, and uptake units by checking the linearity of unit response with standard calibrated radionuclide sources.
• Routinely checks the operational status of complex ancillary equipment such as cardiac treadmills, microhematocrit units, GM counters, centrifuges, automated film processors, transparency film duplication devices, and radioactive gas traps.
• Radiation Safety Procedures: In the absence of the Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) and supervisor, performs all specifications of the station's radiation safety program including receipt and monitoring of radioactive shipments, conducts and records results of all necessary radiation surveys using wipe testing, FM counters and rad meters.
• 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.
• Performs the proper quality control procedures and checks the doses in the dose calibrator.
• Properly disposes of radioactive materials or containers and executes all necessary paperwork to maintain compliance with the station's NRC license.
• Recognize potential radiation contamination by visual and mechanical methods.
• Take necessary actions to minimize contamination and exposure to self, public and coworkers.
• Assist the RSO by performing exposure pattern studies, decontamination of personnel, equipment and patients.
• Associated duties: Schedules patients from inpatient, outpatient, and outside hospital referrals with judgment as to the equipment parameters needed for each individual patient or study.
• This will include scheduling the patients, patient preparation, as well as actual imaging.
• Accurately performs all documentation and record keeping related to each examination.
• This includes case register and edit in VISTA, CPRS progress notes, IMED consent, dose documentation, quality assurance records of equipment and radiopharmaceuticals, radioactive materials disposal records, and archival of image data on appropriate medium and to PACs.
• Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm.
• Subject to change based on the needs of the facility.
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Functional Statement #: 598-00428-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

You 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. 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 identification 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). Complete all application requirements detailed in the “Required Documents” section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Education

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education.

For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Area of consideration – Eligible applications will be reviewed and referred in the following order: 1st Area of Consideration – current permanent Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS) employees; 2nd Area of Consideration – current permanent Veterans Healthcare Administration employees; 3rd Area of Consideration – current permanent VA Nationwide employees; 4th Area of Consideration – all other applicants based on Veterans’ Preference IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully.

Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

• To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Professional Certification Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.
• Resume Requirement: Your resume must include the following information: Job title, description of duties, beginning and ending date (month/year) of employment, and average hours worked per week.
• SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action (if applicable for Eligibility): Most recent SF-50 if you are a current or former Federal employee Examples of appropriate SF-50's include: Within grade increases at the highest grade held; or Promotions with an effective date more than one year old; or SF-50's at the highest grade held with an effective date more than one year old.
• The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (Schedule A) Disability Letter (VA) CV/Resume Other (2) Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets – Veterans – Job Seekers – Veterans' Preference.
• Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.