Career of Nuclear Medicine Technologist - Essay Example

and Number of the Teacher’s CAREER PAPER: NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGIST Introduction The Ceritified Nuclear Medicine Technologist is “a health care professional with specialized training in preparation, administration, safe handling and storage of radioactive materials” (Estrada 15). Technologists are also trained in the operation of radiation detection instruments such as imaging devices called scintillation camera computer systems, and other radiation detection instruments. The main responsibility of the nuclear medicine technologist is “to calculate the dosages, administer the radiopharmaceuticals, and operate the scintillation cameras” (Estrada 15) to get functional images of tissues, organs and systems of the body. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this career paper is to investigate the requirements of the preparatory course for the job, examine the work profile of the nuclear medicine technologist, and study other relevant parameters of the career. Discussion Education and Training Needs for the Career Educational and training programmes for the job of nuclear medicine technologist are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT). “In 2002 there were approximately ninety-two accredited programmes in the United States and Puerto Rico. More than half the programmes are conducted by colleges and universities, and one-third are offered by hospitals and medical centres. Further, accredited programmes are also offered by community colleges and the military. The preparatory course is generally of two or more years, at the end of which the technologist is certified by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and/ or the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT-N). Many nuclear medicine technologists are certified by one or by both, based on the region as well as their long-term career goals (Swanson 184-185). The ARRT conducts its certification examination thrice a year in around 100 locations across the country and in Puerto Rico. This three-hour test of competency is used not only by employers as a mode of assessment of the standard of preparation by the candidate, but also by those states that require licensing. Eligibility for this examination includes that the candidate should have graduated from an accredited nuclear medicine technology program. However, in particular cases candidates who have not attended one of these programs can apply towards sitting for the examination. ARRT certification is recognized by Great Britain, Australia, Canada and South Africa (Swanson 185). The NMCTB also requires its candidates to graduate from accredited schools of nuclear medicine technology. Certification after exclusively training on the job has been phased out. “To sit for the NMTCB exam, a candidate must either be a graduate of an accredited educational program in nuclear medicine technology or have taken the exam before within the past five years” (Swanson 185). After successful completion of the ARRT examination, the registered nuclear medicine technologist may add RT (N) after his/ her name. Similarly, after successful completion of the NMTCB’s qualifying examination, the certified nuclear medicine technologist may add the abbreviation CNMT after his/ her name (Swanson 185). There are numerous levels of nuclear medicine technologist training, with programmes differing from one to four years. A one-year certificate programme is most suitable for radiologic and ultrasound technologists; whereas a one-year certificate or associate degree programme is the most appropriate for those interested in nuclear medicine technology. The subjects included in the course pertain to physical sciences, radiation protection, imaging techniques and computer applications. Half the states in the United States of America require licensed nuclear medicine technologists, who “meet the minimum federal standards for administering radioactive drugs and operating radiation detection equipment” (Lozada 37). According to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE 58), some hospitals offer certification programmes, and various community and technical colleges have associate degree programmes, and four-year courses of bachelor’s degree programmes. Further, D’Orazio & Snook (p.87) state that there are other avenues: “graduation from a medical technology programme with one year of experience in a clinical radioscope laboratory; a bachelor of science degree in biology, physical science or chemistry with two years of experience; two years of college with specified science courses with four years of experience, or a high school diploma with six years of experience”. All the above routes also require a registry examination. The curriculum in a formal program includes courses in “patient care, nuclear physics, instrumentation, statistics, health physics, biochemistry, immunology, radionucleide chemistry, radiopharmacy, administration, radiation biology, clinical nuclear medicine, in vivo” (in the patient’s body) (Swanson 184) and in vitro (external body) studies, radionucleide therapy, and computer application and operation. Required Qualifications for the Job Includes Extensive Knowledge The nuclear medicine technologist works closely with and is supervised by the nuclear medicine physician (Estrada 16), according to the Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM). The technologist’s job responsibilities evolve constantly with changing requirements. This is due to the emergence of new technology that makes established procedures outdated. Thus, improved technology fuels the need for new equipment and software in the workplace. The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) follows these trends in the workplace “by conducting periodic job analysis projects for all examinations” (Anderson et al 205). Nuclear medicine technologists are required to understand increasingly complex concepts and theories, and need to have a high level of technical knowledge. Since technologists collect all the necessary data for image production, knowledge of the ways in which the machines perform their functions is required. Subsequently, quality control procedures and their interpretation form an essential part of the imaging process. The “required troubleshooting of these quality control images and other data produced by the machine as part of the quality control process are crucial to the accurate performance of the machine” (Belinsky et al 253). They need to be examined before the technologist’s clinical imaging begins. Further, nuclear medicine technologists are required to have a good knowledge of molecular biology and the pathophysiology of disease to create successful images with radiopharmaceuticals. An understanding of “the uptake action of radiopharmaceuticals in normal and abnormal conditions and of the molecular basis for specific biodistribution in all clinical settings” (Belinsky et al 254) is vital for a completely successful study to be presented to a physician for interpretation. It is evident from research that the increasing responsibilities in the technologist’s role compels them to perform on a variety of levels for which they do not receive preparation. Today, technologists/ therapists need to have sufficient knowledge about disease states and science and technology. Further, they are needed to have skills to help them communicate effectively with a well-informed and more demanding patient population. Additionally, nuclear medicine technologists have to be familiar with the intricacies of the health care system, to deal with the requirements of insurance companies, governmental agencies, and their institution’s measures for curtailing costs. Moreover, nuclear medicine technologists are required to have “verbal and numerical skills, spatial perception, manual dexterity, and the ability to work with accuracy” (D’Orazio & Snook 87). Other requirements include respect for the dangerous materials being handled, good communication skills for interacting with other professionals as well as a wide variety of patients “many of whom are very anxious, very ill or dying” (Swanson 186). Consequently, the knowledge base required today is multidimensional, and includes technology, medical science, and managerial/ administrative functions. To integrate all these requirements, the educational program needs to go beyond the training of individuals in the skill set of a particular modality (Belinsky et al 254). Work Places and Hours on the Job Two-thirds of nuclear medicine technologists work in hospitals, others work in the imaging centres of doctors’ offices and clinical settings that include “outpatient imaging facilities, public health institutions, and government and private research institutes” (ACTE 58), according to the Society for Nuclear Medicine. Most nuclear medicine technologists work 40-hour weeks; with hospital employees working on-call rotational duties that lead to irregular hours (Lozada 37). Other opportunities include teaching positions in colleges and universities (D’Orazio & Snook 87). Work Profile and Responsibilities With the help of high-tech cameras producing images on photographic film, nuclear medicine technologists “detect and map radioactive drugs in a patient’s body” (Lozada 37), that is they operate diagnostic imaging equipment based on x-ray technology. Some of their other responsibilities involve preparing and administering radioactive chemical compounds known as radiopharmaceuticals to patients. Further, the job profile includes quality control, analysis of biologic specimens in the laboratory, provision of the images, data analysis, correctly positioning the patient, informing patients about test procedures, providing patient information to the physician, and maintaining patient records (ACTE 58, D’Orazio & Snook 87). Salary Scale With increasing technological innovations, there is significant growth in the practice of nuclear medicine and the need for technologists. “As the practice becomes less costly, more hospitals will use it, boosting the demand for technologists” (Lozada 37). According to D’Orazio & Snook (p.88), salaries will differ extensively on the basis of institution, education and geographic location. The average starting salaries are around $27,000 per year. The average salary for a certified or registered nuclear medicine technologist with experience can be between $32,000 and $42,000 per year. The ACTE (p.58) states that the average salary excluding shift differences for a technologist working 40 hours per week was $62,300 in May 2006, with those in the highest 10% bracket earning more than $82,310, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Job Outlook The Society for Nuclear Medicine foresees increasingly new developments in the field. The growing use of new technology will maintain the position of nuclear medicine at the frontline of modern clinical medicine. Further, as compared to the average for all other occupations, employment of nuclear medicine technologists will increase by 15 percent from 2006 to 2016, according to the Department of Labor (ACTE 58). D’Orazio & Snook (p.88) state that current projections indicate 1300 positions per year, 300 more than the number graduating at present. In 2005, the number in the field were 25,000. Conclusion This career paper has highlighted the job of the nuclear medicine technologist. The education and training requirements, an overview of the different areas of knowledge required, the work places and hours of work, the work profile and responsibilities of the nuclear medicine technologist, the salary scale and job outlook for the future have been examined in detail. The job prospects are among the best in the health care field, and employment in this area is expected to increase significantly in the next few years. Works Cited ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education). Nuclear medicine technologist. Techniques, 84.2 (2009): p.58. Anderson, Dan, Hubble, William, Press, Bret A., Hall, Scott K., Michels, Ann D., Koenen, Roxanne & Vespie, Alan W. The 2011 Nuclear Medicine Technology job analysis project of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists. Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 38.4 (December 2010): pp.205-208. Belinsky, Susan B., Garcia, Nancy, Keech, Frances K. & Matelli, George O. Towards breaking the barriers: The professionalization of the radiologic sciences. Journal of Allied Health, 32.4 (2003): pp.252-255. D’Orazio, Leo Paul & Snook, Donald. Opportunities in health and medical careers. New York: VGM Career Books Publications. (2005). Estrada, Ken. Notes on nuclear medicine. The United States of America: Lulu Publications. (2005). Swanson, Barbara M. Careers in health care. New York: McGraw-Hill. (2005). Lozada, Marlene. The health occupations boom. Vocational Education Journal, 70.6 (1995): pp.34-37. Read More