Nuclear Medicine Technologists

Also called: Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT), Nuclear Cardiology Technologist, Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMT)

Career Cluster: Health Science
What they do:
Prepare, administer, and measure radioactive isotopes in therapeutic, diagnostic, and tracer studies using a variety of radioisotope equipment. Prepare stock solutions of radioactive materials and calculate doses to be administered by radiologists. Subject patients to radiation. Execute blood volume, red cell survival, and fat absorption studies following standard laboratory techniques.
On the job, you would:
  • Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation intravenously to detect or treat diseases, using radioisotope equipment, under direction of a physician.
  • Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patients' bodies, using a camera to produce photographic or computer images.
  • Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
KNOWLEDGE

Health
  • medicine and dentistry
Math and Science
  • biology
  • physics
Arts and Humanities
  • English language
Business
  • customer service
  • administrative services
SKILLS

Social
  • understanding people's reactions
  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
Basic Skills
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
ABILITIES

Math
  • add, subtract, multiply, or divide
  • choose the right type of math to solve a problem
Ideas and Logic
  • notice when problems happen
  • order or arrange things
Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
PERSONALITY

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Concern for Others
  • Dependability
  • Cooperation
  • Independence
  • Integrity
TECHNOLOGY

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
Medical software
  • Electronic medical record EMR software
  • MEDITECH software
EDUCATION


associate's degree or bachelor's degree
usually needed
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JOB OUTLOOK

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.

Salary:
High: $128,090.00
Median: $97,020.00
Low: $75,570.00
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