What Do Nuclear Medicine Technologists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.

Other tasks include:

• Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients’ bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
• Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
• Calculate, measure, and record radiation dosage or radiopharmaceuticals received, used, and disposed, using computer and following physician’s prescription.
• Record and process results of procedures.
• Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.
• Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.

We asked Nuclear Medicine Technologists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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79% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 82% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Nuclear Medicine Technologists perform quality control checks on laboratory equipment or cameras. They administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.

A typical day for a Nuclear Medicine Technologist will also include:

• Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients’ bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
• Maintain and calibrate radioisotope and laboratory equipment.
• Explain test procedures and safety precautions to patients and provide them with assistance during test procedures.
• Record and process results of procedures.
• Produce a computer-generated or film image for interpretation by a physician.

We asked some Nuclear Medicine Technologists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	89% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	56% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	80% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	80% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	20% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	71% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Nuclear Medicine Technologists also add radioactive substances to biological specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, to determine therapeutic drug or hormone levels. They may also measure glandular activity, blood volume, red cell survival, or radioactivity of patient, using scanners, Geiger counters, scintillometers, or other laboratory equipment.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Nuclear Medicine Technologists Train or supervise student or subordinate nuclear medicine technologists. They might also Process cardiac function studies, using computer.

In addition, they Develop treatment procedures for nuclear medicine treatment programs.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.

To some Nuclear Medicine Technologists, it is also their responsibility to Maintain and calibrate radioisotope and laboratory equipment.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/nuclear-medicine-technologists.htm

http://www.snmmi.org/

http://www.jrcnmt.org/

http://www.nmtcb.org/root/default.php