Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Overview

Nuclear Medicine Technologists perform or assist in performing diagnostic examinations using radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals, and administer radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals for therapeutic purposes under the direction of Specialist Medical Practitioners.

Day-to-day

• receives referrals to perform medical imaging and radiation treatment
• determines equipment and selects settings to provide the information requested by medical practitioners
• calculates details of procedures such as length and intensity of exposure to radiation, size and strength of dosage of isotopes and settings of recording equipment
• explains procedures to patients and answers queries about processes
• ensures patient's welfare during procedures
• positions patients, screens and equipment preparatory to procedures
• decides if images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes and selects images to show medical practitioners
• conveys findings of procedures to medical practitioners.

Considerations

• stressful.