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This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more BASIC REQUIREMENTS. The basic requirements for employment as a NMT are prescribed in 38 U.S.C. § 7402(b)(14). To qualify for appointment as a NMT, all applicants must possess the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. (Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3.g., of this part.) b. 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. c. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service. d. 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 REQUIREMENTS: Nuclear Medicine Technologist, GS-11 (a) 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. (b) Assignments. For all assignments above the journey level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. NMTs at this level are fully functional as an advanced NMT and carry out their assigned tasks independently. NMTs at this level serve in advanced assignments and will have varying assignments, including special and complex imaging procedures, advanced therapies, clinical instruction, and quality management duties within the program. Advanced therapies may include, but are not limited to, yttrium-90, radium, and palliative bone pain therapy. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all the following technical KSAs: i. Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results. ii. Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome. iii. Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings. iv. Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose. v. Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures. vi. Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce. vii. Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions. ["Calibrates, standardizes, adjusts, and maintains radiation monitoring meters and probes, dose calibrators, well counters, and imaging gamma cameras for quality control requirements for daily use. Prepares radiopharmaceuticals using radionuclides and diagnostic pharmaceutical kits, as appropriate to the service's Procedure Manuals. Ascertains that all established guidelines are followed in administering therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals according to the Quality Management Program of the service. Performs complex computer functions and operations. Calculates amount of pharmacological cardiac stressing agents according to the service's procedure. Obtains IV access by performing Angio catheter placements for the injection of cardiac stressing agents, blood and blood products, and radiopharmaceuticals. Provides appropriate patient care throughout the procedures. This includes proper patient identification, explanation of the procedure, allaying of fears, the use of patient safety devices, maintenance of patient IV and oxygen lines, recognition of emergency conditions, determination of vital signs, and the administration of CPR when necessary. Receives radioactive material packages, conducts surveys with radiation monitors, and record results. The surveys must comply with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations. Performs decontamination of personnel, surfaces, and equipment as required.\nDisposes of radioactive material appropriately. Maintains appropriate record keeping systems to insure departmental and regulatory requirements. Technologist will perform all others duties as assigned. The technologist uses radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals, as well as operates radiation detectors, imaging apparatus and related equipment as part of the diagnostic or therapeutic plan for patients having general Nuclear Medicine, Nuclear Cardiac, complex therapy treatment protocols, procedures to diagnose/treat various functional disorders that require specialized knowledge and skills (e. g., various general SPECT, gated blood pool, myocardial perfusion imaging, and complex radiopharmaceutical therapy treatment protocols including, Bexxar, Zevalin, and 1-131 MIBG). The technologist performs a variety of technical procedures that require independent judgment, ingenuity, and initiative in the utilization of radionuclides/radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic purposes. The technologist acquires diagnostic images for interpretation by the Radiology staff radiologists. The position embodies a wide variety of operations. The technologist must prepare all radiopharmaceuticals used to measure physiological functions, to perform radioactivity quantitation and Radioimmunoassay; must have the knowledge and ability to accurately administer radiopharmaceuticals, determine proper method and route of administration, assemble the proper materials for intravenous, gaseous or oral administration and observe the patient for possible reactions; must follow radiation and biohazard safety regulations and guidelines of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals, College of American Pathologists and other licensing and regulating bodies. Assists in radiation safety policies and procedures for the Radiation Safety Program of Nuclear Medicine and the Medical Center. Activities include receiving and opening packages of byproduct material, storing and disposing of by-product material, performing checks of survey instruments and other safety equipment, taking emergency action if material is lost, etc. Implements a Radiation Safety Program that ensures that radiation safety activities are being performed in accordance with approved procedures. Keeps records and documentation of the Radiation Safety Program on file and readily accessible for inspections The Nuclear Medicine technologist will be expected to maintain the continuing education (CE) license requirements for his/her certification body (NMTCB and/or ARRT). The Technologist's performance will be evaluated based on the Technologist's level of success in meeting the goals and objectives of the Nuclear Medicine Service as a whole and in his/her contributions to the Nuclear Medicine Service. The work is performed in a laboratory setting. The employee is exposed to radioactive pharmaceuticals, and to blood and body fluids. Personal protective equipment such as lead syringe shields, gloves, and masks are provided to minimize exposure to these hazards. Lifetime dosage amounts must be monitored by the Radiation Safety Officer to protect the technologist. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:0am-4:30pm, based on agency needs, rotating on-call schedule Virtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #:\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized\nEDRP Authorized: Contact jacob.towner@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]