Nuclear Medicine Technologists

What Does a Nuclear Medicine Technologists Do?

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.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
• 2Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
• 3Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
• 4Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician's prescription.
• 5Record and process results of procedures.
• 6Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.
• 7Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.
• 8Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.

Required Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Reading Comprehension
• Writing
• Monitoring
• Electronic medical record EMR software
• Gamma camera software
• MEDITECH software
• Medovation RadRunner
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word
• Radiopharmacy inventory databases

Nuclear Medicine Technologists Salary