Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT) is a dynamic medical career that can combine your interpersonal and technology skills. Nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) use radioactive materials to detect the presence of disease or injury. Using high-tech cameras, technologists create images to provide information about the structure and function of virtually every major organ system within the body. Nuclear medicine technologists are also involved in the treatment of several diseases.
NMTs work closely with physicians and are responsible for the daily operations of the nuclear medicine department. Their duties may also include performance of quality control procedures, computer analysis of patient studies and radiation safety.
Nuclear medicine is an expanding diagnostic specialty and qualified technologists are needed. A career in nuclear medicine technology guarantees professional challenge as well as financial reward. Whether you are a health care professional seeking a change or a newly graduated science major seeking a unique patient-oriented career, the field of nuclear medicine technology can offer you an exciting future.
Job opportunities exist in hospitals and private clinics throughout the country. After completing the program, you may work as a staff NMT earning approximately $20-30 per hour. With additional experience and education, you may find a supervisory, application or research position earning $35 or more per hour (Reference: Washington State Workforce Explorer).
Is Nuclear Medicine the Career for You?
Interested in working as a nuclear medicine technologist? Nuclear medicine is an ideal career for people who like working with others and enjoy the technical aspects of advanced medical technology. You’re a great match for this program if you have good communication, analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently, and a strong background or aptitude in science.
Nuclear medicine is a subspecialty of radiology that uses radioactive materials to diagnose and in some cases treat various diseases. It images physiology (how the body is functioning), which is different from other modalities that mainly look at anatomy (x-ray, CT, MRI). The nuclear medicine technologist is responsible for explaining the exam to be done, administering the imaging agent, acquiring the images, performing computer manipulations, and presenting the results to a radiologist or nuclear medicine physician.
Last Updated November 27, 2013