Nuclear medicine is at the forefront of modern clinical medicine and technological development. MCPHS graduates with a BS in Radiologic Sciences are highly competitive in the job market, and sought out by employers.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists work in a wide variety of clinical settings including community hospitals, university-affiliated teaching hospitals and medical centers, outpatient imaging facilities, public health institutions, and government and private research institutes.
Description
Some of the nuclear medicine technologist’s primary responsibilities include:
- Prepare and administer radioactive chemical compounds, known as radiopharmaceuticals
- Perform patient imaging procedures using sophisticated radiation-detecting instrumentation
- Accomplish computer processing and image enhancement
- Analyze biologic specimens in the laboratory
- Provide images, data analysis, and patient information to the physician for diagnostic interpretation
- Gains the patient’s confidence by obtaining pertinent history, describing the procedure and answering any questions
- Monitors the patient’s physical condition during the course of the procedure
- Notes any specific patient comments which might indicate the need for additional images or might be useful to the physician in interpreting the results of the procedure.
Licensing
Many employers and an increasing number of states now require certification or licensure. Upon successful completion of a nuclear medicine degree program, qualified technologists can be certified through examination by one of the national certifying agencies:
- Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB)
- The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)
Personal qualifications
- Excellent judgment, dependability, conscientious performance
- Close attention to detail, scrupulous recordkeeping
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- High ethical standards
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Mechanical ability and manual dexterity for operating complicated equipment
Employment opportunities
- Excellent, according to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Employment of nuclear medicine technologists is expected to grow faster than average (increase by 27 percent of more) through the year 2014, arising from arise from technological advancement, the development of new nuclear medicine treatments, and an increase in the number of middle-aged and older persons, who are the primary users of diagnostic procedures, including nuclear medicine tests.
Salary
Median annual wages: approximately $56,450 (U.S. Department of Labor, May 2004)
Progression
There are a wide range of growth opportunities for the nuclear technologist. These include:
- Research technologist
- Technology program educator
- Chief technologist
- Team leader, lead or supervisor
- Hospital administrator
- Industry sales representative, technical specialist or research-and-development specialist.
Getting there: Your degree program at MCPHS
Two programs at MCPHS provide a pathway to a career as a nuclear medicine technologist:
- BS in Radiologic Sciences (Nuclear Medicine Technology) (Boston): a full-time, accelerated, 33-month program for in-coming freshmen
- Postbaccalaureate BS in Radiologic Sciences (Nuclear Medicine Technology) (Boston): a full-time, accelerated, 20-month program for students with an earned baccalaureate degree (or sufficient credits) and who have satisfactorily completed prerequisite courses