Nuclear medical technologists are people who give radioactive drugs to patients to help doctors figure out what’s wrong with them. Unlike technicians, who usually have only a one-year certificate or two-year associate degree, technologists have completed four-year bachelor’s degree programs in this field. Some one-year certificate programs are designed specifically for medical professionals who already have a four-year degree. A nuclear medical technologist administers specialized drugs to patients and uses cameras to diagnose health problems. He or she must also have excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as maintain current knowledge of the field.
A nuclear medical technologist is in charge of administering radiopharmaceuticals to patients first. These are pharmaceuticals that contain radioactive atoms, which are elementary particles that emit energetic particles. This type of worker must take extra precautions to avoid exposing patients or coworkers to high levels of radiation, which can cause health problems like cancer. He or she must also know how to position patients properly before administering industry drugs orally or via injection.
In this field, the ability to use technology is a must. A nuclear medical technologist must be able to use a camera to reveal the activity of a radiopharmaceutical in a person’s body and then generate film or computer-based images for doctors to examine in order to determine the presence of illnesses. If a healthcare worker chooses to specialize in positron emission tomography (PET), he or she will need to know how to operate special devices that produce three-dimensional images of a person’s body.
Another important task in this line of work is to improve verbal and written communication skills. When working as a nuclear medical technologist, a person must be able to communicate effectively because he or she is frequently required to explain the details of upcoming procedures to patients. He or she also keeps track of the amount of radiation given to patients in medical records.
In order to be successful in this field, a person must also complete continuing education courses. These types of classes can be found at industry conferences or at colleges and universities, and they allow industry professionals to stay current on new medical procedures. A nuclear medical technologist’s license, which is required to practice in some areas, can be maintained by earning education credits. Voluntary certification is also available, and it is earned by passing a comprehensive examination, just like a license.