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Career Details

29-2033.00 - Nuclear Medicine Technologists


Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
20,700
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
21,000
Estimate
Change in Employment
300.0
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+1.5%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
  • Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
  • Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.
  • Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.
  • Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
  • Dispose of radioactive materials and store radiopharmaceuticals, following radiation safety procedures.
  • Record and process results of procedures.
  • Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.
  • Maintain and calibrate radioisotope and laboratory equipment.
  • Gather information on patients' illnesses and medical history to guide the choice of diagnostic procedures for therapy.
  • Measure glandular activity, blood volume, red cell survival, or radioactivity of patient, using scanners, Geiger counters, scintillometers, or other laboratory equipment.
  • Train or supervise student or subordinate nuclear medicine technologists.
  • Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
  • Perform quality control checks on laboratory equipment or cameras.
Supplemental
  • Position radiation fields, radiation beams, and patient to allow for most effective treatment of patient's disease, using computer.
  • Add radioactive substances to biological specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, to determine therapeutic drug or hormone levels.
  • Develop treatment procedures for nuclear medicine treatment programs.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 93%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Biology
  • 80%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 English Language
  • 79%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Physics
  • 78%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Medicine and Dentistry
  • 76%
    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 Chemistry
  • 75%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 75%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Mathematics
  • 73%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 67%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Clerical
  • 66%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Education and Training
  • 62%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Psychology
  • 61%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Administration and Management
  • 56%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 53%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Blood pressure units and related products
  • Automated blood pressure cuffs
 Emergency medical services resuscitation products
  • Automated external defibrillators AED
 Fluid mechanics equipment
  • Automated multisample liquid scintillation counters
  • Well counters
 Medical imaging processing equipment and supplies
  • Automatic film developing equipment
  • Medical image laser printers
 Medical radiological shielding and protection products
  • Beta vial shields
  • Radiation shielding gloves
  • Radiation shielding lead aprons
  • Radiation shielding lead vests
  • Syringe shields
 Syringes and accessories
  • Blood drawing syringes
 Medical computed tomography CT or CAT systems and related products
  • Computed tomography CT scanners
  • Positron emission tomography PET calibration phantoms
  • Single positron emission computed tomography SPECT calibration phantoms
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Digital ratemeters
  • Geiger-Mueller meters
  • Ion chamber survey meters
  • Radiation survey meters
  • Radiation uptake detectors
  • Strip chart recorders
  • Thermoluminescent dosimeters
  • Wipe test counters
 Medical radiation detection or monitoring products
  • Dose calibrators
  • Finger film badges
  • Radiation monitoring film badges
 Spectroscopic equipment
  • Dual channel spectrometer systems
  • Spectrometers
 Medical diagnostic gamma cameras and related products
  • Dual headed gamma cameras
  • Large-field gamma cameras
  • Medical gamma cameras
  • Mobile gamma cameras
  • Rotating gamma cameras
  • Triple-head gamma cameras
 Specimen collection and transport containers and supplies
  • Evacuated blood collection tubes
  • Specimen collection containers
 Nuclear evaluation instruments
  • Gamma scintillation counters
 Injection and aspiration needles and accessories
  • Intramuscular hypodermic needles
  • Subcutaneous hypodermic needles
 Medical radiological imaging information and archiving products
  • Medical picture archiving computer systems PACS
 Medical positron emission tomography PET equipment and related products
  • Medical positron emission tomography PET scanners
 Medical single photon emission computed tomography SPECT equipment and related products
  • Medical single photo emission computed tomography SPECT equipment
 Laboratory implements
  • Metal laboratory tongs
 Laboratory centrifuges and accessories
  • Microhematocrit centrifuges
 Medical radiological positioning aids
  • Patient positioning blocks
 Pulse oximeters
  • Pulse oximeters
 Dosimetry equipment
  • Radiation measurement phantoms
 Vision protection and accessories
  • Radiation protection eyewear
  • Safety goggles
 Crystallography equipment
  • Scintillation crystal detectors
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • Gamma camera software
  • MEDITECH softwareHOT
  • Medovation RadRunner
  • Radiopharmacy inventory databases
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Old Dominion University