The incumbent serves at the full performance level of a Nuclear Medicine Technologist in the Nuclear Medicine Service with responsibility for Positron emission tomography (PET)/ Computed Tomography (CT), general and nuclear cardiac imaging, radiopharmacy, radiopharmaceutical therapy, radiation safety, clinical research, and clinical nuclear medicine technology education. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. This is an open continuous posting and may close before the listed closing date. A certificate will be issued every 15 days until a selection is made. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: [NMTs] must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part. Certification: All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N). NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are normally satisfied by one of the following: (1) Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program, OR (2) Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), culminating in a certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree. Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety, instrumentation, clinical procedures, and radio-pharmacy, as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-11: For assignments above the journey level, the candidate must have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) directly related to the position being filled. Examples of experience include: full understanding of proper methods of receipt, use, storage, and disposal of radioactive material; properly and independently handle unusual circumstances; perform and evaluate daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly quality control on all imaging and non-imaging instrumentation and auxiliary equipment, provide basic patient care, and can recognize and respond to emergency conditions. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results. Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome. Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings. Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose. Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures. Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce. Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions. Preferred Experience: Preferred experience in PET (Positron Emission Tomography) References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G19 Dated: December 10, 2019 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-11 to GS-11. Physical Requirements: Moderate lifting, 15-44 pounds; Light carrying, under 15 pounds; Use of fingers; ["The Nuclear Medicine Technologist may be scheduled and assigned to all areas of the Service, including PET/CT, and must possess the required professional knowledge, skill, and ability to perform the following functions: The major duties duties of the position is below and include but not limited too: Provides effective patient care by being responsive to the physical and emotional needs of the patient. Establishes and maintains communication with the adult and older adult patient family. Evaluates the individual needs of the adult and older adult patient and provides appropriate care/support. Verifies patient identity, physician order for the procedure, and pregnancy status of females, when appropriate. Performs patient assessment of medication use, mobility cognitive function, and sensory changes in patient. Explains the procedure in a manner that can be understood by the patient and documents patient education, obtains relevant patient history and collects pertinent data about the patient to verify that patient has not had previous diagnostic studies, medications, or conditions that may invalidate the scan/test result or cause artifacts and to ensure that pre-study preparation had been completed. Determines the appropriate sequence for multiple procedure requests and coordinates Nuclear Medicine procedures with other diagnostic procedures or therapy. Evaluates performance of scintillation cameras by performing photopeak alignment, flood field, bar phantom, high-count uniformity flood images, center of rotation, and Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT0 phantom images. Selects and prepares proper imaging cameras, computers, and auxiliary equipment (IV and syringe pumps, Electorcardiogram (ECG) gating devices, xenon delivery system, etc) to perform procedures. Positions the patient and equipment to obtain desired images. Administers radiopharmaceuticals and/or pharmaceuticals using administration protocols and standard precautions. Performs common imaging procedures, such as thyroid, parathyroid, bone, 3-phase bone, ventilation and perfusion lung, quantitative lung, liver and spleen, cardiac blood pool, gastric emptying, GI bleed, and whole body PET. Performs specialized imaging procedures, such as rest and stress myocardial perfusion, hepatobiliary, hemangioma, lasix renal, captopril renal, SPECT brain, and tumor and infection studies. Analyzes procedure results for accuracy, performs clinical correlation, determines causes for results that do not correlate, and prepares study for physician's interpretation. Assists the physician/nurse practitioner/ physician assistant in cardiac stress testing when performed in conjunction with nuclear medicine procedures. Receives and monitors radioactive material packages for external exposure and removable contamination. Notifies supervisor if results exceed action levels. Reviews daily work schedule and orders unit doses, or prepares appropriate radiopharmaceutical kits, which Includes Tc-99m, I-123, I-131, Tl-201, F-18, as well as, and general nuclear medicine doses. Work Schedule: Mon-Fri 8a-4:30p Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #:00190F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]
About Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration
Providing Health Care for Veterans: The Veterans Health Administration is America’s largest integrated health care system, providing care at 1,255 health care facilities, including 170 medical centers and 1,074 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics), serving 9 million enrolled Veterans each year.
