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As a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, you will have responsibility for providing a variety of routine and specialized nuclear medicine procedures, including diagnostic imaging and therapy with radioactive materials, radio-assay, in-vivo or in-vitro, and PET imaging; evaluating abnormal results; using and maintaining equipment; setting up and monitoring quality controls. 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: (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. NOTE: Technologists functioning as multi-modality technologists require additional specific certifications as stated in assignment descriptions below.] Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019[, Employee Occupational Health Service.] 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: 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. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities The candidate must demonstrate all of 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. 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. References: VA Handbook 5005/125, Part II, APPENDIX G19. NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGIST QUALIFICATION STANDARD, GS-0601, Veterans Health Administration, December 10, 2019. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Light to heavy lifting over 45 pounds; light to moderate carrying, up to 44 pounds; straight pulling; pushing, reaching above shoulders; use of both hands and fingers required; walking, standing; kneeling; both legs required; ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously; near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4; both eyes required; depth perception; ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; hearing (aid permitted). ["Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Prepares, assays, documents, and administers oral and intravenous radiopharmaceutical doses as prescribed. Receives patients, explains procedure, answers questions relating to 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 interviewing of the patient. Properly prepare flood sources and point sources for quality control procedures. Set up and calibrate equipment and instruments daily, checking their performance and reliability. Operates nuclear medicine equipment such as gamma cameras, scanner, probes, well counters, GM survey meters, and scintillation counters for various patient procedures. Performs full range of Nuclear Medicine diagnostic imaging, non-imaging, in-vitro, and therapeutic procedures, including highly specialized computer assisted studies such as gated cardiac, and tomographic studies. Assists in performing radionuclide therapy. Receives and assays prescribed therapeutic doses. Assists in filling out appropriate forms and administering dose with the nuclear medicine physician. Instructs patient, family and nursing staff in radiation safety precautions. Performs radiation surveys, posts appropriate caution signs, and distribute personnel monitoring devices as required. Performs radiation surveys to determine that the patient meets criteria for release from the facility. Prepares study for physician's interpretation by insuring completeness of all forms involved in the procedure. Records appropriate data and related information on the appropriate patient worksheet and images. Schedules patient procedures, taking into consideration camera availability, scan length, patient condition, the need for multiple nuclear medicine procedures, other clinic appointments. Answers questions from wards and clinics. Performs required technical procedures for safe receipt, handling transport, usage and disposal of radioactive materials, assuring compliance with Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), Department of Transportation (DOT), and license conditions. Understand, utilize and practice the concepts of the ALARA principal; maintaining radiation exposures as low as reasonably achievable. Recognizes and documents excessive radiation exposure in the working environment and decontaminates as necessary. Assures policies and procedures, as well as Radiation Safety practice, are effectively followed. Performs daily laboratory surveys and wipe tests. Assures that policies and procedures, as well as Radiation Safety practice, are effectively followed. Calibrate standardizer, adjust and maintain instruments, verifies correct instrument operation using established procedures and quality control checks. Identifies and records the cause of problems when they occur. If the cause is known, make simple repairs. Evaluates and recommends new procedures to the Chief Technologist to be incorporated into clinical services. Participates in research projects involving Nuclear Medicine studies. Instructs Nuclear Medicine students, new technologists, residents, and others on techniques, procedures, equipment use, etc. Provides clinical instruction to students including but not limited to proper handling, disposal and clean-up of radioactive isotopes, proper patient safety procedures and positioning techniques, intravenous injection techniques, and instruments. Performs and documents daily laboratory surveys, wipe tests and bioassays. Identify appropriate waiting time between the administration of the radiopharmaceutical and imaging according to protocol. Evaluate study for technical abnormalities and takes the appropriate steps to correct the problem. Evaluates the validity of data in relation to results needed and determines 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. Provides instruction to clinical staff, patients and family members when necessary. Ensures that imaging, computer, hot lab and wet lab rooms are properly supplied/stocked and operational before each use. Assists in maintaining inventory of supplies (clinic and laboratory) and notifies supervisor of low level of supplies. Helps other technologists, when necessary, i.e. difficult or uncooperative patient. Assumes supervisory technologist duties in his/her absence, if assigned by superiors. Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm or as needed by the clinic.\nTelework: Not Available\nVirtual: This is not a virtual position.\nFunctional Statement #: 000000, Nuclear Medicine Technologist\nRelocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized\nPermanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized\nFinancial Disclosure Report: Not required"]