What does a nuclear medical technologist do?
A Nuclear Medicine Radiologist uses radioactive materials to diagnose and treat disease. The process will use radiopharmaceuticals to take images of body organs to facilitate visualization of diseases. This position's duties include diagnosis and therapy using radiopharmaceuticals, dealing with cancer patients, keeping up with updated safety standards associated with radioactive materials, and ensuring that the radioactive materials are handled within a controlled environment so as not to endanger those outside the created environment.
Nuclear medical technologist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real nuclear medical technologist resumes:
- Manage departmental recovery activities after installation of upgrades affecting the LIS affect.
- Perform general and cardiac Spect imaging studies.
- Conduct thyroid function tests for triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxin (T4).
- Develop new safety procedures for radiology departments and research laboratory.
- Administer radiopharmaceuticals or radiation to patients to detect or treat diseases; utilize radioisotope equipment under the supervision of physician.
- Detect and map radiopharmaceuticals in patient's body; utilize camera to produce photographic and computer images for interpretation by physician.
- Complete stat and routine testing on a variety of specimens quickly and accurately while adhering to laboratory safety policies and regulations.
- Pass through security, acquire dosimeters, and dress out in anti-contamination clothing.
Nuclear medical technologist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 21% of Nuclear Medical Technologists are proficient in Radiology, PET, and Radiopharmaceuticals. They’re also known for soft skills such as Ability to use technology, Analytical skills, and Compassion.
We break down the percentage of Nuclear Medical Technologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Radiology, 21%
Trained employees on Radiology Management Computer System.
- PET, 12%
Performed training and scheduling for PET Technologists and the support staff.
- Radiopharmaceuticals, 11%
Administered radiopharmaceuticals or radiation to patients to detect or treat diseases; utilized radioisotope equipment under the supervision of physician.
- ALARA, 8%
Review monthly employee exposure records and provide radiation protection education to employees to ensure reduced radiation exposure utilizing ALARA.
- Radiation Safety, 7%
Implemented radiation safety and radioactive materials handling protocols.
- Radioactive Materials, 5%
Assured all standards were met for radioactive materials license renewal.
"radiology," "pet," and "radiopharmaceuticals" are among the most common skills that nuclear medical technologists use at work. You can find even more nuclear medical technologist responsibilities below, including:
Ability to use technology. One of the key soft skills for a nuclear medical technologist to have is ability to use technology. You can see how this relates to what nuclear medical technologists do because "nuclear medicine technologists work with computers and large pieces of electronic equipment and must be comfortable operating them." Additionally, a nuclear medical technologist resume shows how nuclear medical technologists use ability to use technology: "developed new safety procedures for radiology departments and research laboratory. "
Analytical skills. Another essential skill to perform nuclear medical technologist duties is analytical skills. Nuclear medical technologists responsibilities require that "nuclear medicine technologists must understand anatomy, physiology, and other sciences to assess whether dosage is accurate." Nuclear medical technologists also use analytical skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "perform data collection, analysis, interpretations/trending using patient-driven data outcomes. "
Compassion. This is an important skill for nuclear medical technologists to perform their duties. For an example of how nuclear medical technologist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "nuclear medicine technologists must be able to reassure patients who are stressed or upset." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a nuclear medical technologist: "exercise compassion, to ensure clients ability to function at their optimal level of performance. ".
Detail oriented. A big part of what nuclear medical technologists do relies on "detail oriented." You can see how essential it is to nuclear medical technologist responsibilities because "nuclear medicine technologists must follow instructions precisely to ensure correct dosage and prevent overexposure to radiation." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical nuclear medical technologist tasks: "instructed patients with the details of the exams and administered necessary radioactive isotopes. "
Interpersonal skills. Another common skill required for nuclear medical technologist responsibilities is "interpersonal skills." This skill comes up in the duties of nuclear medical technologists all the time, as "nuclear medicine technologists interact with patients and often work as part of a team." An excerpt from a real nuclear medical technologist resume shows how this skill is central to what a nuclear medical technologist does: "establish and maintain interpersonal relationships with patients, visitors and other unit personnel, while assuring confidentiality of the patient information. "
Physical stamina. While "physical stamina" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to nuclear medical technologist responsibilities. Much of what a nuclear medical technologist does relies on this skill, seeing as "nuclear medicine technologists must stand for long periods and be able to lift and move patients who need help." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of nuclear medical technologists: "attend to patients comfort and physical safety in accordance with prescribed safety standards. "
The three companies that hire the most nuclear medical technologists are:
- Community Health Systems23 nuclear medical technologists jobs
- Hackensack Meridian Health5 nuclear medical technologists jobs
- Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare3 nuclear medical technologists jobs
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Compare different nuclear medical technologists
Nuclear medical technologist vs. Director of nuclear medicine
A Supervisor of Nuclear Medicine provides administrative oversight for the nuclear medical technology department of a hospital. They ensure compliance with departmental policies and procedures.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a nuclear medical technologist are more likely to require skills like "quality control procedures," "advanced computer," "therapeutic procedures," and "diagnostic procedures." On the other hand, a job as a director of nuclear medicine requires skills like "bls," "cpr," "clinical trials," and "biomarkers." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Directors of nuclear medicine tend to reach similar levels of education than nuclear medical technologists. In fact, directors of nuclear medicine are 1.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.9% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Nuclear medical technologist vs. Supervisor nuclear medicine
A Nuclear Medicine Internship is a work experience offered by health care institutions for graduates to gain exposure in the specialized field of radiology. A Nuclear Medicine Intern is involved in implementing and designing imaging studies across different multimodalities, assisting in acquiring the image, analyzing disease progression, engaging with tissue targets, and showcasing action mechanisms. They help within Vivo laboratory work in performing preclinical imaging studies. They work with a multi-disciplinary team of biologists, engineers, and chemists to advance translational research in disease treatment.
In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, nuclear medical technologist responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "quality control procedures," "advanced computer," "therapeutic procedures," and "digital images." Meanwhile, a supervisor nuclear medicine has duties that require skills in areas such as "patient care," "patients," "pacs," and "ultrasound." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Supervisors nuclear medicine tend to reach similar levels of education than nuclear medical technologists. In fact, they're 3.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 5.9% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Nuclear medical technologist vs. Nuclear medicine internship
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a nuclear medical technologist is likely to be skilled in "mri," "advanced computer," "diagnostic procedures," and "digital images," while a typical nuclear medicine internship is skilled in "patients," "patient care," "rehabilitation," and "data analysis."
Most nuclear medicine interns achieve a similar degree level compared to nuclear medical technologists. For example, they're 2.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 10.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Nuclear medical technologist vs. Nuclear medicine specialist
Types of nuclear medical technologist
Updated January 8, 2025
