Posts Tagged → Medicine
A Career In Nuclear Medicine Could Be In Your Future!
Article by Erin Malone
Thanks to the growing use of nuclear medicine, there are abundant opportunities available for students seeking a science degree online in this specialized field. If you want to learn more about this profession, call your local hospital and ask for the nuclear medicine department. See if you can arrange an interview with one of the technologists. Then you can earn a masters degree online through an online school.
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Nuclear Medicine Technologists: Career Opportunities
Article by Mike Clark
Nuclear Medicine Technologists handle medical equipment, administer radiopharmaceuticals to patients, and observe the characteristics and functions of the relevant tissues or organs.
They create diagnostic images using cameras that detect and map the radioactive drug in a patient’s body, and they explain test procedures to patients. The images are interpreted by a physician.
Technologists keep patient records and operate diagnostic imaging equipment. They also assess the behavior of the radioactive substance inside the body.
In the U.S. there are about 20,000 people working as nuclear medicine technologists. Some 70% of the jobs are in hospitals. Other technologists work in offices of physicians or in medical and diagnostic laboratories, including diagnostic imaging centers.
Nuclear medicine technology programs are from 1 to 4 years, leading to a certificate, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree. Certificate programs are offered in hospitals, associate degree programs in community colleges, and bachelor’s degree programs in 4-year colleges and universities. Courses include physical sciences, biological effects of radiation exposure, radiation protection and procedures, the use of radiopharmaceuticals, imaging techniques and computer applications.
One-year certificate programs are for health professionals who already have an associate degree and wish to specialize in nuclear medicine.
Certification or licensure is required by many employers and an increasing number of states. Certification comes from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board. Nuclear medicine technologists are required to meet the minimum Federal standards on the administration of radioactive drugs and the operation of radiation detection equipment.
The Joint Review Committee on Education Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology accredits most formal training programs in nuclear medicine technology.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists must be able to:
* have much physical stamina as they are on their feet much of the day and may lift or turn disabled patients,
* be sensitive to patients’ physical and psychological needs,
* pay attention to detail, follow instructions, and work as part of a team.,
* operate complicated equipment that requires mechanical ability and manual dexterity.
Job growth for nuclear medicine technologists is much faster than for all occupations, although the number of openings yearly will be relatively low because the occupation is small. Technologists with training in other diagnostic methods will have the best prospects.
How Much Do Nuclear Medicine Technologists Earn?
As of May 2004, the median annual earnings for nuclear medicine technologists were $ 56,450. The middle 50 percent earned between $ 48,720 and $ 67,460. The lowest earnings were less than $ 41,800, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $ 80,300.
A Day in a Nuclear Medicine Technologist’s Life:
On a typical day a nuclear medicine technologist will:
* administer radiopharmaceuticals to patients,* monitor the effect of the drug on the tissues or organs,* operate cameras that detect and map the radioactive drug in a patient’s body,* explain test procedures to patients,* prepare a dosage of the radiopharmaceutical and administer it,* position patients for the procedure,* keep patient records,* operate diagnostic imaging equipment,* assess the behavior of a radioactive substance inside the body.
I hope this article gives you a good idea of what is involved in the career of a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. Health care is the largest industry in the world. In the U.S. about 14 million people work in the health care field. More new wage and salary jobs are in health care than in any other industry. (Some figures from Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
Mike Clark is the director of Health Care Hiring (http://www.healthcarehiring.com) an online portal to the health care and medical community. Check out this website to find out more about career & training opportunities, and nationwide employer contact information, in the health care and medical sector.
Related Jobs In Nuclear Medicine Technology Articles
Nuclear Medicine Specialist In Arizona
Nuclear medicine specialists in Arizona engage in a number of different medical areas of expertise. They handle all matters of nuclear medicine tests. They conduct and interpret the results of lung scans, bone scans, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans and positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
These diagnostic tests are very wonderful for nuclear medicine specialists and their patients alike, due to the fact that they are almost always both noninvasive and painless for patients. They are very useful for physicians due to the fact that they are more useful than normal radiology procedures. They offer more detailed scans than normal radiology procedures, which makes them often able to detect abnormalities earlier in the disease process.
These tests are used to look at the brain, heart, kidneys, thyroid, kidney, gallbladder, bones and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. They can be used to locate blockages and infections in the body. They are also used to evaluate the organ function and blood flow. Other uses are to find arthritis, tumors, bone fractures and other disorders or injuries.
When nuclear medicine specialists in Arizona conduct a test, they inject a tiny amount of a radioactive substance into the patient’s body. This radioactive substance can be put into the patient’s body through intravenous, oral or pulmonary means. Once in the body, the radioactive substance distributes throughout the body in different amounts. It also emits gamma rays.
The gamma rays can be detected by some kind of special device, like a probe or a scanner. The device detects the amount of gamma rays in the area of the body that is being focused upon, and then a computer uses the information to create images of the body. Nuclear medicine specialists then study the images, thereby detecting abnormalities in the body.
As well as performing these tests, specialists can also administer forms of therapy with nuclear medicine. For example, one popular treatment is iodine therapy. During this treatment, the patient swallows radioactive iodine. The radioactive iodine is then absorbed by the thyroid gland, which has the wonderful benefit of destroying any abnormal tissue that is present in the patient’s thyroid gland. There are many thyroid conditions that will benefit from this iodine therapy, such as Graves disease, hyperthyroidism, goiters, thyroid cancer and thyroid nodules.
These specialists need to follow stringent safety protocols to avoid radiation exposure. They use devices to constantly monitor radiation levels. They also wear safety gear such as aprons and shields that contain lead that block radiation. They also use equipment such as syringes and containers containing lead.
Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information about calvin l lutrin Arizona, please visit http://www.lifescript.com/doctor-directory/index.aspx.
Revolutionary Nuclear Medicine Imaging Technology
Throughout the medical industry there are a number of breakthroughs that have made it easier to diagnose and treat many of the serious ailments that afflict humanity. One of the most impressive technologies that has been developed and which continues to show improvement is in the area of nuclear medicine imaging. Using a sophisticated gamma camera to examine the internal organs of a patient, doctors are able to identify diseases and exam the human body without relying on a surgical biopsy to view the extent of damage to their patient. For people that have been diagnosed with cancer of any form of degenerative disease, the use of nuclear imaging equipment has been a miraculous advantage in helping to treat their illness.
Because the sensitive equipment is in need of constant care and proper maintenance it is necessary to replace the gamma camera collimator periodically. Although the equipment may be used only on occasion, it takes a completely new piece of hardware to collect the scanned images of the body that are vital to the prognosis of a patient’s condition. By purchasing a used nuclear camera that has been completely refurbished and has all new lenses and collimator components replaced inside the unit, hospitals and medical centers that incorporate the nuclear medicine imaging into their treatment of cancer patients can save money on their regular maintenance expenditures.
Whenever a gamma camera is replaced it can be refurbished and have its components cleaned and serviced to restore it to its original manufactured state. Replacement of the camera’s collimator and other sensitive technology allows certified nuclear technicians to sell refurbished and reconditioned gamma camera equipment for a significantly reduced cost. Compared to purchasing new replacement parts for their nuclear medicine imaging equipment administrators can cut their annual budget and still have quality machines servicing the needs of their patients. By looking for a gamma camera for sale that has been rebuilt with new components and serviced by an authorized nuclear maintenance technician hospitals that specialize in cancer treatments and other internal disorders can keep their operating costs under control.
With the advancements that are making it easier to scan the human body and cure a growing number of serious illnesses and ailments doctors are able to take greater care of the people that are entrusting their lives to the hands of skilled physicians. Adding to the various cures and medicines that are being proven effective in a number of different cancer types is the nuclear medicine imaging equipment that is allowing doctors to scan the body of entire patient in about two minutes.