Summary

This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until filled or September 30 - 2026. All eligible applicants will be reviewed and referred to the hiring manager at regular intervals or as additional vacancies occur on an as-needed basis.

Qualifications

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
• 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: Completion of a NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program - OR 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
• Loss of Credential
• Once certified - NMTs must maintain a full - valid - and unrestricted certification
• Loss of credential will result in removal from the GS-0601 NMT occupation and may result in termination of employment
• For occupations which require an active certification at all grade levels - at the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists
• For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the journey level only - at the discretion of the appointing official - an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists
• English Language Proficiency: NMTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2 - section D - paragraph 5a - of this part
• Grade Determinations: All individuals assigned to this occupation must have an approved title or parenthetical title - as described below: Nuclear Medicine Technologist Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Fusion Imaging Technologist) Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Multi-Modality Technologist) Lead Nuclear Medicine Technologist Supervisory Nuclear Medicine Technologist Supervisory Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Chief) Nuclear Medicine Technologist (National or Regional Technologist) Supervisory Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Imaging Program Administrator)] Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Fusion Imaging Technologist) - GS-11 Experience: For assignments above the journey level - the candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level directly related to the position being filled - and must fully meet the KSAs at that level
• In addition to the experience listed below - the candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: Ability to produce and assess high quality fusion and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results
• Practical knowledge and skill in the 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
• Knowledge of CT and/or MR radiographic techniques utilized in quality control and acquisition parameters
• Ability to recognize and correct fusion imaging system errors
• Preferred Experience: 2 years of Oncology PET/CT experience
• 1 year of Cardiac PET/CT experience
• 1 year of Therapies experience (I-131 - Lu-177 DOTATATE (lutathera) - Lutetium Lu 177 Vipivotide Tetraxetan (pluvicto)
• CT certification: CT (NMTCB (CT) or ARRT (CT))
• References: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: This work requires heavy lifting (45lbs or more) - moderate carrying (15-44lbs) - reaching above shoulder - use of fingers - both hands required - walking (4-8 hours) - standing (4-8 hours) - both legs required - near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 - far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and 20/40 in the other - both eyes required - depth perception - ability to distinguish basic colors - hearing (aid permitted) - mental and emotional stability - and prolonged standing includes the use of lead protective wear
• Environmental factors include working closely with others - working alone - protracted or irregular hours of work - exposure to ionizing radiation - and exposure to body fluids.

Duties

• Prepare - assay - and administer radiopharmaceutical doses by injection - inhalation or ingestion as prescribed
• Be proficient in introducing intravenous catheters in patients for administration of radiopharmaceuticals and/or medications
• Be knowledgeable regarding possible side effects of radiopharmaceuticals and other medications - such as Lasix and captopril - to be administered
• Take immediate action to remedy any noted effects
• Receive patients - explain procedure - answer questions relating to the procedure - position patient for all necessary views and tend to their comfort for the duration of the procedure
• Obtain pertinent clinical data from the patient - electronic chart - requisition - and interviewing the patient and/or family
• Move wheelchair and litter patients safely by using ergonomic methods of patient transfer
• Operate nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras - well counters - GM survey meters - thyroid uptake system - and dose calibrators for various patient procedures
• Understand and be able to perform exposure rate calculations
• Ability to document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment
• Perform a full range of nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging - non-imaging - invitro and therapeutic procedures - including highly specialized computer assisted studies such as gated - tomographic - quantitative procedures including SPECT/CT
• Keep up to date with new imaging agents - procedures and methods
• Write imaging protocols for use in department
• Analyze procedure images for quality
• Obtain additional images when necessary
• Correctly administer radioactive pharmaceuticals to patients
• Utilize necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using two unique identifiers and using active rather than passive identification
• Perform radionuclide therapy in collaboration with Nuclear Medicine Physician
• Receive and assay prescribed therapeutic doses
• Fill out appropriate forms and administer dose with the nuclear medicine physician
• Instruct patient - family and nursing staff in radiation safety precautions
• Perform radiation surveys - post appropriate· caution signs - and distribute personnel monitoring devices as required
• Properly monitor and store any radioactive waste for disposal
• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of personnel requiring film badges
• Read and understand the film badge exposure report
• Prepare studies for nuclear medicine physician's interpretation by ensuring completeness of all forms involved in the procedure
• Schedule patient procedures - taking into consideration camera availability - scan length - patient condition - the need for multiple nuclear medicine studies - other clinic appointments of the patient - contraindications for the test and urgency of the request
• Inform patient of all pertinent preparations for his/her scan - i.e
• NPO - follow certain diet - bowel prep - etc
• Perform required technical procedures for safe receipt - handling - transport - usage - and disposal of radioactive materials - assuring compliance with NRC - NHPP - DOT - and license conditions
• Understand different precautions used based upon the various package types
• Understand - utilize and practice the concepts of ALARA principle - maintaining radiation exposures as low as reasonably achievable
• Assure that all VAPSHCS Nuclear Medicine - Radiation Safety - National Health Physics Program (NHPP) - and Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) policies are effectively followed
• Recognize potential radiation contamination by visual and mechanical methods
• Take necessary actions to minimize contamination and exposure to self - public and coworkers
• Contacting the Radiopharmacy and radiation safety officer if needed
• Calibrate thyroid uptake system - gamma cameras - dose calibrators and well counter
• Participate in research projects involving Nuclear Medicine studies - products - equipment and/or radiopharmaceuticals
• Perform daily laboratory surveys - wipe tests and bio-assays
• Recognize evidence of contamination and act accordingly to maintain ALARA principles
• Evaluate study for technical abnormalities (artifacts) and take the proper steps to correct the problem
• Evaluate the validity of data in relation to results needed and determine if additional information is needed for clarification of test results or to establish a definite diagnosis and confers with physicians on additional tests as necessary
• Identify positive results and notify the Nuclear Medicine Physician immediately
• Perform other nuclear medicine related duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized