Summary The Albany VA Medical Center's Diagnostic Imaging Department is currently recruiting for one Nuclear Medicine Technologist. The incumbent performs a wide variety of functional imaging and non-imaging radionuclide studies, requiring the administration of radiopharmaceuticals and the use of specialized equipment. The work requires a professional knowledge of the field of Nuclear Medicine technology and various aspects that relate to Nuclear Medicine and radiation safety. Responsibilities Duties and Responsibilities include but are not limited to: Independently performs routine and complex diagnostic imaging procedures including static, dynamic, whole body, and SPECT scans. Prepares and administers radiopharmaceuticals by injection, by inhalation, or orally, taking into account precautions relative to radiation hazard, sterility, and radiochemical purity. Calculates volume and amount of activity following protocols approved by Chief of Nuclear Medicine. Has working knowledge of the procedure manual protocols but can independently create new or modify existing imaging protocols as required by the clinical presentation and request of the nuclear physician. Receives patients, appropriately verifies patient identity, explains procedure, answers questions relating to the procedure, positions patient for all necessary views and tends to their comfort for the duration of the procedure. Obtains pertinent clinical data from the patient, electronic chart, requisition, and patient interview for choosing appropriate imaging protocol for all procedures; determines blood glucose level for PET exams. Administers F-18, Ga-68 and operates PET-CT scanner for acquisition of PET scans and CT for anatomic localization and attenuation correction. Understands and applies calculation of exposures from both X-Ray and photons emitted from Fluorine-18 and the many other isotopes used in nuclear medicine. Determines if additional information is needed for clarification of test results. Identifies positive results and notifies the Nuclear Medicine Radiologist immediately. The technologist ensures that informed consent and written directive are properly obtained and dose accurately assayed. Follows radiation safety practices to minimize exposure to patient, staff and self. This is achieved using shielding and appropriate PPE, with understanding and practice of ALARA principles. Performs daily and weekly laboratory surveys to verify absence of radioactive contamination. Maintains records associated with receipt, administration, and disposal of radionuclides for nuclear medicine, radiation oncology, and research labs as mandated by the NHPP and NRC. Immediately reports to RSO any packages not compliant with regulations. Maintains records and files of exams performed on patients. Registers and edits patients in the computerized Radiology Information System (VISTA) as well as the work list management portion of the PACS interface. Performs physiologic and pharmacologic stress testing under the supervision of cardiology staff. Explains exams to patients so that the patient understands what is to be done as well as what hazards, if any, are possible. May be required by procedure or patient's condition to monitor vital signs, recognize allergic reactions and initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Calibrates and performs quality control on gamma cameras and a variety of non-imaging instruments, including well and liquid scintillation counters, thyroid uptake probe, surgical probe for intraoperative procedures, and various survey meters. Performs prescribed dose calibrator linearity and accuracy checks and provides radiation safety training for new hospital employees. Radiation Safety: Follows radiation safety practices to minimize exposure to patient, staff and self. This is achieved by the use of shielding and appropriate PPE, with understanding and practice of ALARA principles. Performs daily and weekly laboratory surveys to verify absence of radioactive contamination. Maintains records associated with receipt, administration, and disposal of radionuclides as mandated by the NHPP and NRC. Immediately reports to RSO any packages not compliant with regulations. Understands consequences of improper packaging. Understands and applies calculation of exposures from both X-Ray and photons emitted from the wide variety of isotopes used in nuclear medicine. Calculates exposure rates based on administered dose and published physiologic distribution of pharmaceuticals. Performs therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures and understands the significance of post therapy exposure levels and restrictions on patient release from the service commensurate with the home environment. Assists the RSO in establishing routine monitoring of rooms associated with the Nuclear Medicine service area to document excessive exposure rates. Performs other duties as required within the scope of a Nuclear medicine Technologist. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 7:00am-3:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: #:21V92-A Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications 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. 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. Grade Determinations: Nuclear Medicine 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. 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs: i. Ability to produce and assess high quality fusion and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results. ii. Practical knowledge and skill in the 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. Knowledge of CT and/or MR radiographic techniques utilized in quality control and acquisition parameters. v. Ability to recognize and correct fusion imaging system errors. Credible Experience. To be creditable, the experience must have required the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), and other characteristics, also referred to as core competencies, associated with the scope of NMT practice. Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is earned after passing the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N) certification exams. Experience as a graduate NMT is creditable provided the candidate worked as a NMT and subsequently passed the certification examination. English Language Proficiency: Must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part. References: VA Handbook 5005/125 Part II Appendix G19 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019 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). Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Education Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. Selected applicants may qualify for credit toward annual leave accrual, based on prior work experience or military service experience. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
