Nuclear Medicine Tech

Best Care•Fremont, NE

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Nebraska Methodist Health System is seeking a Nuclear Medicine Tech to join their team. This role focuses on providing exceptional care to the communities they serve and the people they employ, embodying 'The Meaning of Care' culture. The position involves using a scanner to create images of various areas of a patient's body, primarily at the Fremont Cardiac Clinic, with availability to float to other greater Omaha locations. The role requires a strong commitment to quality control, patient care, and radiation safety, while also contributing to administrative duties and efficient image processing.

Requirements

Must be a graduate of a nuclear medicine program from an accredited college.
Certified to practice the specialty of Nuclear Medicine Technology (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT)) required.
Requires the ability to provide transportation to other campus locations within a reasonable timeframe. If on call, the reasonable timeframe is defined as within 20 minutes of the call.
Strong interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate and interact with patients, family members, hospital personnel, and co-workers.
Able to organize and perform multiple tasks, problem-solve and prioritize work assignments.
Weight Demands: Medium Work - Exerting up to 50 pounds of force.
Physical Activity: Occasionally Performed (1%-33%): Climbing, Crawling, Kneeling, Sitting. Frequently Performed (34%-66%): Balancing, Carrying, Crouching, Distinguish colors, Keyboarding/typing, Lifting, Pulling/Pushing, Repetitive Motions, Standing, Stooping/bending, Twisting, Walking. Constantly Performed (67%-100%): Fingering/Touching, Grasping, Hearing, Reaching, Seeing/Visual, Speaking/talking.
Job Hazards: Rare (1-33%): Chemical agents (Toxic, Corrosive, Flammable, Latex), Physical hazards (noise, temperature, lighting, wet floors, outdoors, sharps) (more than ordinary office environment), Mechanical moving parts/vibrations. Occasionally (34%-66%): Biological agents (primary air born and blood born viruses) (Jobs with Patient contact) (BBF), Equipment/Machinery/Tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience in related field preferred, but not mandatory.
Current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) strongly preferred at time of hire, required within 3 months of hire.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazmat Radioactive Materials certification is required within 90 days of hire.

Responsibilities

Follows manufacturer's recommendations for quality control of imaging equipment and recognizes defects on daily floods prior to patient use. Maintains complete QC records.
Evaluates the performance of cameras for detector uniformity, linearity, spatial resolution, and sensitivity. Performs SPECT QC including high count uniformity flood, center of rotation, energy correction, detector alignment, and visible degradation.
Performs dose calibrator checks daily and survey meter checks.
Provides comfort and care to the patient before, during, and after the procedure, including monitoring intravenous lines, oxygen supply, and drains.
Exercises judgment to assess and respond to the patient's needs prior to, during, and after procedures, and if necessary, performs patient medication reconciliation.
Maintains proper communication with patients and behaves professionally, observing patient's rights.
Provides a safe environment for patients and staff in compliance with standard precaution policies.
Recognizes and responds to medical emergency conditions.
Reviews indication appropriateness and consults authorized personnel to assure the proper study is ordered.
Verifies patient name, DOB, MRN, last menstrual period, and pregnancy/breastfeeding status.
Obtains a pertinent medical history.
Assures pre-study preparation has been completed prior to starting the procedure.
Ensures informed consent has been obtained when necessary.
Ensures patient education is provided.
Checks patient clothing and linen for objects that may cause image artifacts.
Maintains an adequate volume of medication and pharmaceutical supplies.
Schedules patients in a timely manner, determining the best sequence for all patients.
Maintains records in Syntrac of patient doses, QC procedures, patient reports, and other required data.
Establishes and/or verifies venipuncture access using aseptic technique.
Waits the appropriate length of time after administration of isotope to begin the imaging procedure.
Acquires images using established protocols with proper positioning to best demonstrate pathology and adapt to patient limitations.
Reviews all images to assure that the correct information is supplied.
Prepares patients for placement of Electrocardiogram (ECG), recognizing and responding to any ECG changes, recognizing parameters that indicate termination of cardiac stress study, and ECG patterns appropriate for image gating.
Performs data collection, processing, and analysis in accordance with established protocols.
Performs computer data manipulations as required by standard nuclear medicine procedures (e.g., activity curve generation, quantitation, SPECT slice production).
Obtains and maintains sufficient isotope in accordance with anticipated need and license possession limits.
Stores isotopes in a manner consistent with labeled product safeguards and radiation safety considerations.
Performs and documents wipe testing upon receipt.
Records receipt of radioactive materials in Syntrac.
Follows Department of Transportation and radiation safety guidelines in the transport, receipt, and shipment of radioactivity.
Unit dose preparation includes measuring radioactivity in the dose calibrator and physical appearance inspection, noting color and clarity. Dosage is compared against the identification label of the dose's immediate container.
Records use and/or disposition of all radioactive materials in Syntrac.
Labels vials and syringes as required by regulation.
Dispenses only within the prescribed dose limits outlined by the authorized user.
Maintains compliance with local, state, and federal regulations in radiation safety.
Keeps up-to-date on regulatory changes.
Notifies authorities when changes occur within the radiation safety program.
Maintains required records and posts appropriate signs.
Complies with regulations regarding receipt, disposal, and usage of all radioactive materials.
Uses and reviews exposure levels monthly from personnel monitoring devices (film badges).
Notifies proper authorities of excessive exposure upon occurrence.
Uses proper syringe shields and other shielding configurations to reduce radiation exposure to patients, personnel, and the public.
Performs and records weekly wipe testing and daily surveys of the work environment. Takes appropriate action if contamination is found.
Notifies the RSO when actions are required.
Keeps radioactive material for 10 half-lives prior to disposal.
Maintains long-term and short-term storage of radioactive material.
Consistently uses protective devices, shields, monitors, and other devices consistent with ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable), and decontaminates spills and other inappropriate releases of radiation.
Educates the patient and family while practicing techniques that minimize radiation exposure to the patient, general public, and healthcare personnel.
Assists in the development of policies and procedures, actively participates in total quality management and process improvement.
Other duties as assigned.
Processes quality images to ensure accurate and timely interpretation by the radiologist by correctly labeling images with correct date, patient name, radiopharmaceutical, dosage, and properly storing images via Picture Archival Communication System (PACS), ensuring correct patient matching.