Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Description:

The incumbent will serve as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist in the Nuclear Medicine & Radiology Department at the Richmond VA Medical Center. The role consists of a wide variety of functional imaging, fusion imaging, and non-imaging radionuclide studies, requiring the administration of radiopharmaceuticals and the use of specialized equipment such as integrated computer/ gamma camera systems and counting instruments.

Requirements:

Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency. [NMTs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of VA Handbook 5005. Certification. All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N). Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates: Completion of 1 year of [creditable] experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-9) directly related to the position to be filled.

*Federal Employees Applying to this announcement must submit their most recent non-award SF-50 at the time of application*

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.
The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results. Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome. Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings. Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose. Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures. Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce. Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions. Preferred Experience: N/A

References: VA Handbook 5005 Appendix G19

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: In the course of rendering appropriate patient care and obtaining results of functional studies and imaging procedures, the technologist will be required to assist the patient in assuming the proper position which may call for the technologist to stoop and bend in order to lift and position the patient into an appropriate manner for obtaining the required data. Performance of the major portion of the in vitro and functional testing will require that the technologist spend a great deal of time on his/her feet. There will occasionally be the necessity for moving heavy equipment to various rooms. The requirement that the technologist handle radiopharmaceuticals carries with it the implied requirement that the material be continuously shielded within heavy barriers, which imposes an additional physical task upon the incumbent. The technologist will be called upon to receive and handle shipments of radiopharmaceuticals, which will arrive with large amounts of heavy shielding about them, requiring significant physical effort to receive and store these in a proper manner.