Clarification from the agency

This job is open to current permanent Department of Veteran Affairs employees, current permanent Federal employees of other agencies, and all U.S. citizens. NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

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The Multimodality Nuclear Medicine Technologist at VA Medical Center performs a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic Nuclear Medicine procedures, including Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography(SPECT), and Computed Tomography (CT) imaging.

FUNCTIONS

A. Clinical Functions

1. Ensures the safe preparation, handling, and administration of radiopharmaceuticals.
2. Perform diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine procedures in accordance with established protocols.
3. Conduct hybrid imaging procedures including PET/CT, SPECT/CT, and diagnostic CT.
4. Administer Radiopharmaceuticals and contrast media following established protocols.
5. Monitor patients for adverse reactions and provide emergency responses when necessary.
6. Ensure proper radiation safety measures for patients, staff, and self.
7. Verify patient identity, procedure orders, and contraindications.
8. Educate patients on imaging procedures and address concerns.
9. Adhere to ALARA principles for radiation safety.

B. Equipment operations and Quality control

1. Operate and maintain gamma cameras, PET/Ct scanners, SPECT CT systems, and associated imaging equipment.
2. Perform daily, weekly, and monthly quality control tests.
3. Troubleshoot equipment malfunctions and report issues to Biomed.

C. On-call responsibilities

1. Rotate on call duties for emergency Nuclear Medicine and CT procedures after hours, weekends, and holidays.
2. Respond promptly to callbacks and perform emergent imaging studies as needed.

Work Schedule: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 688-26260-F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing-designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID-compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy.
• Certification. All applicants must be certified in nuclear medicine technology by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (ARRT) (N). NMTCB or ARRT (N) certification eligibility requirements are generally satisfied by one of the following:

1. Completion of an NMTCB-recognized nuclear medicine technology program, OR
2. Completion of a nuclear medicine technology program accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT), or other accrediting agencies as recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), culminating in a certificate, associate, baccalaureate, or master's degree. Educational programs must have structured clinical training sufficient to provide clinical competency in radiation safety, instrumentation, clinical procedures, and radio-pharmacy, as deemed acceptable by the NMTCB.

NOTE: Technologists functioning as multi-modality technologists require additional specific certifications as stated in the assignment descriptions below.

• English Language Proficiency. NMTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, [No person will be appointed under the authority of 38 U.S.C. Ch. 73 or 74, to serve in a direct patient-care capacity in VHA who is not proficient in written and spoken English].

Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment, the following criteria must be met when determining the grade of candidates.

GS-11 Nuclear Medicine Technologist (Multi-Modality Technologist)

Experience. For assignments above the journey level, the candidate must have 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) directly related to the position being filled, and must fully meet the KSAs at that level.

NMTs at this level have a full understanding of proper methods of receipt, use, storage, and disposal of radioactive material; properly and independently handle unusual circumstances; perform and evaluate daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly quality control on all imaging and non-imaging instrumentation and auxiliary equipment; provide basic patient care; and can recognize and respond to emergency conditions. It is expected that they routinely and independently perform the full scope and complexity of these responsibilities and receive guidance from higher-level or supervisory staff members for only the most complex patients.

GS-09 knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). Nuclear Medicine Technologist assigned to this position must demonstrate ALL the following:

• Ability to document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment.
• Knowledge of medical events requiring documentation and the ability to properly document them and make recommendations to the radiation safety officer (RSO).
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing post iodine-131 therapy radiation safety precautions.
• Ability to troubleshoot gamma camera and auxiliary equipment problems.
• Ability to analyze computer-generated data for technical quality and artifacts and initiate corrective measures.

AND

GS-11 Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:

1. Knowledge of contrast media, side effects, medication allergic reactions, drug interactions, and extravasation assessment.
2. Skill to differentiate multi-modality protocols and adjust protocols according to patient needs, body mass index, or area of interest.
3. Knowledge of unique scanning and processing parameters required of multi-modality imaging.
4. Ability to troubleshoot and make simple repairs to PET/CT and/or PET/MR imaging systems.
5. Ability to care for patients during all stages of the procedure and provide emergency response care when necessary.
6. Knowledge of all contraindications for performing CT and/or MR scans.

Certification: Multi-modality technologists must hold appropriate specific certification in nuclear medicine (MNTCB or ARRT(N)), as well as CT (MNTCB(CT) or ARRT (CT)), and/or MR (ARRT(MR)) applicable to independently perform the assignment duties.

Assignments. For all assignments above the journey level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. NMTs at this level are fully functional as an advanced NMT and carry out their assigned tasks independently. NMTs in this assignment perform fusion imaging such as PET/CT, SPECT/CT and/or PET/MR procedures that include diagnostic nuclear medicine, CT, and/or MR fused images. Multi-modality technologists must hold appropriate specific certifications in nuclear medicine (NMTCB or ARRT(N)), as well as CT (NMTCB(CT)) or ARRT (CT)), and/or MR (ARRT (MR)) applicable to independently perform the assignment duties. They carry out these complex assignments independently as part of nuclear medicine procedures. Assignments may include injection of contrast and recognition of allergic reaction, contraindications, and medication interactions. The work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level.

Preferred Experience: Registered Nuclear Medicine Technologist (NMTCB or ARRT-CT-N). Register Computed tomography (NMTCB-CT or ARRT-CT) Minimum 2 years of clinical experience in Nuclear Medicine and CT Imaging (preferred)

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is the GS-11.

Physical Requirements: The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion such as: Standing and walking for extended periods (4 6 hours per shift). Lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects up to 45 pounds (e.g., radiopharmaceutical doses, lead shielding, portable equipment). Reaching, bending, and positioning patients, some of whom may be unconscious, disabled, or require assistance with mobility. Wearing protective lead aprons and radiation badges as required. Visual acuity, keen hearing, clear speech, and manual dexterity are essential. Incumbent must have the ability to distinguish basic colors, shades, and fine details on imaging studies.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills, and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on a resume or during an interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.