Nuclear Med Technologist
- Must possess excellent venipuncture techniques using a variety of equipment, such as a butterfly setup, syringes with needles and IV catheters.
- Independently performs routine and complex diagnostic imaging procedures including static, dynamic, whole body, and SPECT scans. Examples are bone, lung, thyroid, renal, and cardiovascular imaging, PET-CT, and SPECT-CT (CT for attenuation correction and anatomic localization).
- Prepares and administers radiopharmaceuticals by injection, by inhalation, or orally, considering precautions relative to radiation hazard, sterility, and radiochemical purity. Calculates volumes and amount of activity following protocols approved by Chief of Nuclear Medicine.
- Has working knowledge of the procedure manual protocols but can independently create new or modify existing imaging protocols as required by the clinical presentation and request of the nuclear physician.
- Receives patients, appropriately verifies patient identity, explains procedure, answers questions relating to the procedure, positions patient for all necessary views and tends to their comfort for the duration of the procedure.
- Obtains pertinent clinical data for the patient, electronic chart, requisition, and patient interview for choosing appropriate imaging protocol for all procedures; determines blood glucose level for PET exams.
- Administers F-18 FOG and operates PET-CT scanner for acquisition of PET scans and CT for anatomic localization and attenuation correction. Understands and applies calculation of exposures for both X-Ray and photons emitted from Fluorine-18 and the many other isotopes used in nuclear medicine.
- Performs physiologic and pharmacologic stress testing under the supervision of cardiology staff. Must know the basics of EKG administration and interpretation.
- Attends operating room procedures including sentinel node localization and prostate brachytherapy; Yttrium-90 treatment in the IR; may assist in decontamination following inpatient I-131 therapy admissions.
- Maintains records associated with receipt, administration, and disposal of radionuclides for nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and research labs as mandated by the NHPP and NRC. Immediately reports to RSO and packages not compliant with regulations.
- Maintains records and files of exams performed on patients. Registers and edits patients in the computerized Radiology Information System (VISTA) as well as the work list management portion of the PACS interface.
- The employee trains new technologists and supervises and trains nuclear medicine technology students.
Requirements
Conditions of Employment
- 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.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- 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 dentification 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).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
- 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 this part.
- 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). NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following: [(1) Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program, OR (2) Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), culminating in a certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree. Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety, instrumentation, clinical procedures, and radio-pharmacy, as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB.
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.
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 on 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.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: . 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: .
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit at .
- Benefits
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. .
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
Conditions of Employment
- 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.
- You may be required to serve a probationary period.
- 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 dentification 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).
- Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
Qualifications
- 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 this part.
- 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). NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following: [(1) Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program, OR (2) Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), culminating in a certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree. Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety, instrumentation, clinical procedures, and radio-pharmacy, as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB.
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.
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 on 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.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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: . 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: .
Additional information
Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.
During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be against COVID-19 subject to such accommodations as required by law (i.e., medical, religious or pregnancy). VHA HCPs do not include remote workers who only infrequently enter VHA locations. If selected, you will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and submit documentation of proof of vaccination before your start date. The agency will provide additional information regarding what information or documentation will be needed and how you can request a legally required accommodation from this requirement using the reasonable accommodation process.
If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement.
Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit at .