What Do Nuclear Medicine Technologist Do?
Nuclear Medicine Technologist Definition 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.
What Do Nuclear Medicine Technologists Do On a Daily Basis?
- Gather information on patients’ illnesses and medical history to guide the choice of diagnostic procedures for therapy.
- Record and process results of procedures.
- Prepare stock radiopharmaceuticals, adhering to safety standards that minimize radiation exposure to workers and patients.
- Process cardiac function studies, using computer.
- Measure glandular activity, blood volume, red cell survival, or radioactivity of patient, using scanners, Geiger counters, scintillometers, or other laboratory equipment.
- Position radiation fields, radiation beams, and patient to allow for most effective treatment of patient’s disease, using computer.
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What a Nuclear Medicine Technologist Should Know
These are the skills Nuclear Medicine Technologists say are the most useful in their careers:
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Nuclear Medical Technologist
- Staff Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Nuclear Med Tech)
- Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT)
- Lead Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Lead Nuc Med Tech)
Is There Job Demand for Nuclear Medicine Technologists?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 20,100 jobs in the United States for Nuclear Medicine Technologist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,000 new jobs for Nuclear Medicine Technologist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,300 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Nuclear Medicine Technologist are Wyoming, Utah, and Alaska. Watch out if you plan on working in North Dakota, Hawaii, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Nuclear Medicine Technologists Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Nuclear Medicine Technologists is somewhere between $55,330 and $104,730.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists who work in California, District of Columbia, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Nuclear Medicine Technologists make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $61,350 |
| Arizona | $84,230 |
| Arkansas | $73,510 |
| California | $112,040 |
| Colorado | $85,500 |
| Connecticut | $88,670 |
| Delaware | $82,400 |
| District of Columbia | $96,370 |
| Florida | $72,090 |
| Georgia | $74,420 |
| Hawaii | $91,310 |
| Idaho | $78,680 |
| Illinois | $84,200 |
| Indiana | $73,270 |
| Iowa | $73,630 |
| Kansas | $76,290 |
| Kentucky | $67,380 |
| Louisiana | $67,500 |
| Maine | $73,800 |
| Maryland | $80,350 |
| Massachusetts | $83,090 |
| Michigan | $70,270 |
| Minnesota | $85,050 |
| Mississippi | $64,710 |
| Missouri | $75,680 |
| Montana | $76,980 |
| Nebraska | $67,470 |
| Nevada | $82,340 |
| New Hampshire | $82,300 |
| New Jersey | $91,690 |
| New Mexico | $77,270 |
| New York | $87,560 |
| North Carolina | $70,180 |
| North Dakota | $74,630 |
| Ohio | $71,880 |
| Oklahoma | $73,270 |
| Oregon | $86,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $71,550 |
| Rhode Island | $89,060 |
| South Carolina | $71,410 |
| South Dakota | $64,990 |
| Tennessee | $63,900 |
| Texas | $77,390 |
| Utah | $75,250 |
| Vermont | $82,590 |
| Virginia | $72,090 |
| Washington | $91,950 |
| West Virginia | $60,350 |
| Wisconsin | $80,740 |
| Wyoming | $73,620 |
What Tools do Nuclear Medicine Technologists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Nuclear Medicine Technologists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- MEDITECH software
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Radiopharmacy inventory databases
Becoming a Nuclear Medicine Technologist
Learn what Nuclear Medicine Technologist education requirements there are.
What work experience do I need to become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?
Where Nuclear Medicine Technologists Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
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