Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT) - PRN, Variable Shifts

Prisma Health•Columbia, SC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Performs a variety of technical procedures that require a high degree of independent judgement and initiative in the utilization of radionuclides for the diagnosis and the therapy of disease in humans. This role involves receiving patients, verifying identification, reviewing orders, obtaining patient history, preparing patients, selecting and administering radionuclides/medications, preparing imaging and computer protocols, implementing ALARA measures, evaluating images, processing data, preparing and administering pharmacologic agents, maintaining sterile technique, performing imaging and non-imaging studies, ensuring patient security, operating safety devices, following procedures for radioactive materials, maintaining radio pharmacy records and environment, labeling and storing radioactive materials, posting signage, performing quality control, preparing and dispensing radiopharmaceuticals, maintaining sterile procedures for biological specimens, documenting exams, operating PACS, archiving studies, acquiring and checking orders, charging procedures and supplies, reporting equipment problems, investigating outstanding charges, complying with downtime protocols, adhering to HIPAA mandates, maintaining a clean work environment, stocking supplies, disposing of materials, reporting unsafe conditions, maintaining signage, promoting communication, maintaining ethical standards, communicating with healthcare professionals, maintaining a pleasant attitude during phone communications, seeking dialog with central scheduling, assessing patient communication ability, ensuring patient/family understanding, assuring consents are signed, arranging for translation, performing and evaluating routine quality on instrumentation, determining operational status and calibration of survey instruments, performing dose calibrator constancy tests, recording QC checks, consistent use of personal radiation monitoring devices, proper storage of monitoring devices, knowledge and effective use of radioactive spill management, utilizing ALARA principles, instructing others on radiation safety, comprehending and following policies on recordable events and misadministrations, properly disposing of or storing radioactive materials and waste, being alert to non-authorized persons in the nuclear medicine department, challenging unknown persons, locking radioactive materials if the department is left devoid of personnel, instructing students in nuclear medicine procedures and principles, supervising students, evaluating and documenting student progress, communicating with clinical instructors, mentoring new technologists, evaluating new hires on equipment orientation, and reporting deficiencies to management. The role also focuses on achieving Patient Satisfaction and adhering to Standards of Behavior.

Requirements

Graduate of accredited nuclear medicine technology school
One (1) year nuclear medicine experience.
Strong background in physics/chemistry.
ARRT(N) or NMTCB registry
CPR and ARRT(N) registered and/or NMTCB registered
SCRQSA certification (Required for team members working in South Carolina)
Excellent customer service skills
Proficient computer skills (database)
Data entry skills
Mathematical skills
Knowledge of radiation safety equipment

Nice To Haves

ARRT in Radiology preferred
Experience on Philips equipment preferred
Spect/CT experience preferred

Responsibilities

Receive patient and provide proper care during performance of clinical procedure.
Verify patient identification by checking two identifiers and review orders for procedure to be performed.
Recognize and respond appropriately to emergency situations.
Obtain pertinent patient history and check for procedural contradictions.
Maintain and operate auxiliary equipment necessary to procedure.
Communicate effectively with patient and family.
Prepare patient for procedure.
Select and administer the proper radionuclide/medication by the proper route and in the appropriate dosage.
Prepare proper instrument, computer, and imaging protocol as indicated by departmental procedure manual.
Understand and implement ALARA measures in performance of clinical duties.
Evaluate image appearance and perform additional views as required.
Process and evaluate computer generated data.
Obtain samples for non-imaging studies.
Prepare and administer interventional pharmacologic agents as directed by protocol.
Maintain sterile technique as required.
Performs imaging, non-imaging, function studies, and therapeutic exams according to established departmental protocols or as directed by the nuclear medicine physician, or cardiologist.
Ensure patient security during movement from one device to another, or from the standing or sitting position to the imaging table.
Knows proper operation of all safety devices common to the department and possesses judgement of when to employ said devices.
Is aware of and familiar with departmental environment of care document.
Follows correct procedures for receipt and return of radioactive materials.
Understands and implements ALARA measures while performing radio pharmacy duties.
Maintains accurate records of doses distributed to patients in appropriate logbook and computer log.
Maintains a sanitary and organized environment in radio pharmacy.
Accurately labels and stores radioactive materials in appropriate areas.
Posts appropriate signage in necessary areas.
Performs quality control on radiopharmaceuticals as necessary.
Follows directions for proper radionuclide preparations.
Properly documents receipt and disposal of short half lived and long half lived radionuclides.
Prepare and dispense diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals according to departmental protocols and within Title A mandates.
Maintains strict sterile procedures when preparing human biological specimens' radionuclides, or "cold compounds."
Maintain accurate records pertaining to exam performed.
Operates the PACS system properly and verifies study prior to archiving.
Properly places exams on optical discs for long term storage.
Archives accurate radio pharmacy information on patient dose ticket and in appropriate logbook.
Acquires order and checks for appropriate clinical information, date, and verifies correct account number and type.
Charges procedure and supplies in compliance with governing regulations.
Reports equipment problems to appropriate personnel and, when applicable, records confirmation numbers in appropriate logbook.
Obtains list of outstanding charges, investigates, and explains reason for charges listed as outstanding.
Complies with departmental downtime protocols.
Familiarizes self with, and compliantly incorporates, all HIPPA mandates of the Department of Radiology and of the Prisma Health System.
Maintains a neat, clean, organized work environment.
Stock work area with linens/supplies as needed.
Dispose of soiled linens, used supplies, radioactive materials, and bio-hazardous materials according to hospital policy.
Notifies appropriate persons in regard to unsafe electrical, fire, chemical, equipment.
Maintains proper signage with regards to radioactive regulations.
Seeks to promote intra/inter, and external communications.
Maintains ethical standards of relationships and communications.
Communicates knowledgeably with physician/healthcare worker regarding patient procedure.
Maintains pleasant, helpful attitude during all phone communications.
Seeks dialog with central scheduling as necessary to insure understanding of listed patient procedure.
Assesses communication ability of patient and takes appropriate measures to ensure patient/family understanding of procedure to be performed.
Assures that all appropriate consents are signed.
Arranges for translation skills utilization as appropriate.
Perform and evaluate routine quality on all instrumentation as specified in the departmental quality manuals.
Determine operational status and timely calibration of all survey instruments.
Perform and evaluate dose calibrator constancy test.
Record all daily QC checks in their appropriate logbooks.
Consistent use of personal radiation monitoring devices.
Proper storage of personal monitoring devices.
Knowledge and effective use of proper procedures for managing and containment of a radioactive spill.
Utilize ALARA principles at all times.
Instruct patient family members, and other healthcare providers of the proper radiation safety measures to be taken after the administration of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.
Comprehend and follow the departmental and regulatory policies on recordable events and misadministration's.
Properly dispose of or store radioactive materials and waste.
Be alert to and aware of non-authorized persons in the nuclear medicine department. Such persons are to be challenged as to their identity and purpose for being in the nuclear medicine department. This applies to all unknown persons irrespective of uniform dress or official Prisma Health identification badges.
All radioactive materials sources are to be locked in the hot lab if the department is left devoid of specific nuclear medicine personnel.
Instruct students in methodology of nuclear medicine procedures and principles of the science of nuclear medicine technology.
Closely supervise activity of students assigned to nuclear medicine department.
Evaluate/document student progress as per protocol of academic institution student attends.
Communicate with clinical instructors or department heads as necessary.
Mentor newly hired nuclear medicine technologists in departmental policies and procedures.
Evaluate new hires on equipment orientation on a schedule established by the Manager.
Report any deficiencies in education or comprehension to manager or to the in-charge technologist.
Achieve Patient Satisfaction for Prisma Health.
Adheres to the Standards of Behavior.
Performs other duties as assigned.