Nuclear Medicine Technologists Career Opportunities
uclear Medicine laboratories, including
Technologists handle diagnostic imaging centers.
medical equipment,
administer radiopharmaceuticals Nuclear medicine technology
to patients, and observe the programs are from 1 to 4 years,
characteristics and functions of leading to a certificate, an
the relevant tissues or organs. associate degree, or a bachelor's
degree. Certificate programs are
They create diagnostic images offered in hospitals, associate
using cameras that detect and map degree programs in community
the radioactive drug in a colleges, and bachelor's degree
patient's body, and they explain programs in 4-year colleges and
test procedures to patients. The universities. Courses include
images are interpreted by a physical sciences, biological
physician. effects of radiation exposure,
radiation protection and
Technologists keep patient procedures, the use of
records and operate diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, imaging
imaging equipment. They also techniques and computer
assess the behavior of the applications.
radioactive substance inside the
body. One-year certificate programs are
for health professionals who
In the U.S. there are about already have an associate degree
20,000 people working as nuclear and wish to specialize in nuclear
medicine technologists. Some 70% medicine.
of the jobs are in hospitals.
Other technologists work in Certification or licensure is
offices of physicians or in required by many employers and an
medical and diagnostic increasing number of states.
Certification comes from the instructions, and work as part of
American Registry of Radiologic a team.,
Technologists and the Nuclear
Medicine Technology Certification operate complicated equipment
Board. Nuclear medicine that requires mechanical ability
technologists are required to and manual dexterity.
meet the minimum Federal
standards on the administration Job growth for nuclear medicine
of radioactive drugs and the technologists is much faster than
operation of radiation detection for all occupations, although the
equipment. number of openings yearly will be
relatively low because the
The Joint Review Committee on occupation is small.
Education Programs in Nuclear Technologists with training in
Medicine Technology accredits other diagnostic methods will
most formal training programs in have the best prospects.
nuclear medicine technology.
How Much Do Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine Technologists Technologists Earn?
must be able to:
As of May 2004, the median annual
have much physical stamina as earnings for nuclear medicine
they are on their feet much of technologists were $56,450. The
the day and may lift or turn middle 50 percent earned between
disabled patients, $48,720 and $67,460. The lowest
earnings were less than $41,800,
be sensitive to patients' while the highest 10 percent
physical and psychological needs, earned more than $80,300.
pay attention to detail, follow A Day in a Nuclear Medicine
Technologist's Life: keep patient records,
operate diagnostic imaging
On a typical day a nuclear equipment,
medicine technologist will: assess the behavior of a
radioactive substance inside the
administer radiopharmaceuticals body.
to patients,
monitor the effect of the drug I hope this article gives you a
on the tissues or organs, good idea of what is involved in
operate cameras that detect and the career of a Nuclear Medicine
map the radioactive drug in a Technologist. Health care is the
patient's body, largest industry in the world. In
explain test procedures to the U.S. about 14 million people
patients, work in the health care field.
prepare a dosage of the More new wage and salary jobs are
radiopharmaceutical and in health care than in any other
administer it, industry. (Some figures from
position patients for the Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
procedure,
About the Author:
Mike Clark is the director of Health Care Hiring (http://www.healthcarehiring.com) an online portal to the health care and medical community. Check out this website to find out more about career & training opportunities, and nationwide employer contact information, in the health care and medical sector.
Published At: www.Isnare.com
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