The advanced medical technology today has paved the way for nuclear medicine. This area of medicine makes use of certain radioactive materials to help in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. To help physicians during procedures, a nuclear medicine technologist assumes the responsibility of administering radiopharmaceuticals and operating the equipment.
Before you start your medical career, take a look at the work of a nuclear medicine technologist to ensure it’s something you’ll enjoy. Use these tips to better understand this type of medical work and the educational requirements needed to land a nuclear medicine technologist job.
- Have an extensive understanding of the job duties. It is important for you to have sufficient information about the type of medical work you’ll do on the job. This will help you in your educational and professional preparation. When you become a nuclear medicine technologist, it is your job to prepare and administer radiopharmaceuticals to the patients, under the direction of a physician. You will then monitor the effects of such radioactive materials to the organs of the patients using a scanner. As the scanner goes through the body, it sends off signals and produces images, which will be used by the physician in making a diagnosis. While the procedure is ongoing, it is also your duty to monitor the patients’ conditions and to report observations.
- Meet the educational requirements. As part of your medical career training, you need to have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in nuclear medicine technology, which can be completed within two and four years, respectively. If you have an earlier degree in another field but want to practice specialization in nuclear medicine technology, you only need to enroll in a certificate program, which will take one year to complete. Certificate programs can be offered in hospitals while associate degrees are typically given by local community colleges. Educational courses for nuclear medicine technology focuses on subjects like anatomy, physiology, radiopharmacy, computer technology, imaging techniques and radiation procedures. The Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology performs accreditation of associate’s and bachelor’s degrees.
- Get certification. Although certification is voluntary, many employers require nuclear medical technologists to get certified. So if you want to increase your employment potential, you need to obtain certification. Both the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists offer certification, although there are some differences in their requirements. Still, both require a passing mark on the certification exams and completion of an accredited educational program. To maintain your certification, you need to earn continuing education units. Candidates should contact their respective certifying agency for the most current amount of credits for every two years.
- Get your license. Some states include a license as a requirement to work in nuclear medicine tech jobs. However, licensure requirements are state-specific, so you may need to check with your state. At the moment, twenty-five states require licensure of nuclear medicine technologists.
- Get a specialization. Specialization is not a requirement, but this too will improve your nuclear medicine technologist employment opportunities and influence career advancements. Nuclear medicine technology has two specializations: nuclear cardiology and positron emission tomography (PET). Nuclear cardiology involves myocardial perfusion imaging, while PET can produce a 3-D image using a specialized machine. You may need to have additional training for these specializations.
- Have the skills required for the job. As a nuclear medicine technologist, you first and foremost need to have manual dexterity and physical endurance. You need this for several reasons: One, you need to operate machines, two, a lot of times you have to carry patients in and out of the exam room, and three, you may work for an extended period of time and may even be on call. Outstanding communication skills are also required in nuclear medicine technology since you may have to explain the procedures to patients.
- Work Environment. There are many different places a nuclear medicine technologist can work including an outpatient setting or in a hospital. Many positions in a hospital are full time, but some larger departments may have part-time opportunities available. You may also be asked to share in the on-call responsibilities depending on the setting. Some mobile imaging services also use nuclear medicine technologists, which will require some travel.
It is expected that employment will increase by 16% until 2018, primarily due to the evolving nature of technological procedures and the growing population of patients needing nuclear medicine technology. But competition is tight, so you have to be exceptionally skilled and adequately trained. Those that are trained in multiple areas of nuclear medicine will have the best prospects of securing employment. The salary of nuclear medicine technologists is rewarding. The current salary is somewhere between $48,000 and $87,000 with a median wage of $66,660. Now that you know the process of entering this medical profession you can start planning your next educational goal.