Nuclear medicine technologists give patients radioactive drugs to help diagnose illnesses. They require a four-year bachelor’s degree, strong communication skills, and the ability to use technology to generate images. Continuing education is necessary to maintain their license and certification.
Nuclear medicine technologists are professionals who give patients radioactive drugs to help doctors determine the nature of their illness. Unlike technicians, who typically earn only a one-year or two-year associate degree certificate, technologists have completed four-year bachelor’s degree programs in that field. Some one-year certificate programs are actually designed for medical professionals who also hold their four-year degrees. A person who works as a nuclear medicine technologist gives patients special drugs and uses cameras to identify health problems. He or she must also have strong oral and written skills, as well as keep their knowledge of the field up to date.
A nuclear medicine technologist is primarily responsible for providing people with radiopharmaceuticals. These are drugs that contain radioactive atoms, which are basic units of matter that emit energetic particles. This type of professional must take special care not to expose patients or co-workers to large amounts of radiation, which can cause health problems such as cancer. He or she also needs to know how to properly situate patients before administering industry drugs orally or by injection.
The ability to use technology is essential in this career area. Someone who would like to become a nuclear medicine technologist must be able to use a camera that reveals the activity of a radiopharmaceutical in a person’s body and then generate film or computer images that doctors study to determine the presence of disease. If the healthcare professional chooses to specialize in an area of this industry called positron emission tomography (PET), he or she must also understand how to use special devices that produce three-dimensional images of a person’s body.
Improving verbal and written communication skills is another valuable duty in this line of work. A person working in this field of work needs to be able to speak well because they often have to explain details of upcoming procedures to patients when working as a nuclear medicine technologist. He or she also keeps medical records of the amount of radiation given to patients.
Completing continuing education courses is also important for a person in this field of work to be successful. These types of classes are available at industry conferences or colleges and universities and allow an industry professional to stay current on evolving medical procedures. Earning educational credits allows a nuclear medicine technologist to maintain their license, which is required to practice in certain regions. Voluntary certification is also available and, like a license, is earned by passing a comprehensive exam.
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