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 or or ARRT-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
• Certification: All applicants must be certified in Computed Tomography (NMTCB) or Computed Tomography (ARRT) Grade Determination: Experience: Candidates must possess one year of experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level in the Nuclear Medical Technology field
• Qualifying GS-09 grade level experience includes, but is not limited to: perform fusion imaging such as PET/CT, SPECT/CT and/or PET/MR procedures that include diagnostic nuclear medicine, CT, and/or MR fused images, injection of contrast and recognition of allergic reaction, contraindications, and medication interactions
• Receipt, use, store, and dispose of radioactive material
• verify the constancy, accuracy, and linearity of survey meters and dose calibrators
• Perform and evaluate daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly quality control on all imaging and non-imaging instrumentation and auxiliary equipment
• Provide basic patient care, and understand venipuncture techniques using a variety of equipment, such as butterfly setups, syringes with needles and IV catheters
• AND
• Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Knowledge of contrast media, side effects, medication allergic reactions, drug interactions, and extravasation assessment
• Skill to differentiate multi-modality protocols and adjust protocols according to patient needs, body mass index, or area of interest
• Knowledge of unique scanning and processing parameters required of multi-modality imaging
• Ability to troubleshoot and make simple repairs to PET/CT and/or PET/MR imaging systems
• Ability to care for patients during all stages of the procedure and provide emergency response care when necessary
• Knowledge of all contraindications for performing CT and/or MR scans
• 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)
• Preferred Experience: PET/CT experience preferred
• Experience obtaining IV access
• Candidate must have (NMTCB and/or ARRT(N), as well as CT (NMTCB(CT)) or ARRT (CT) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11
• Physical Requirements: Work requires the ability to assist patients with transfers from stretcher to imaging table and wheelchair to imaging table
• Work is not sedentary and may require prolonged periods of standing and walking within the department
• Work is performed in a Hospital setting that requires normal safety precautions
• The workplace follows safe work practices and procedures, including use of required personal protective equipment (PPE)
• The area is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated
• However, the work environment requires someone with the ability to handle several tasks at once in sometimes stressful situations.