Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. The position is open to current permanent employees of the Veterans Administration including permanent Veterans Health Administration, Veterans Benefits Administration, National Cemeteries, Veterans Canteen Service employees, current permanent full-time Hybrid Title 38 with one year in the excepted service and permanent full-time Title 38 employees.

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Administers radiopharmaceuticals or pharmaceuticals

• Verifying patient identity before the administration of radiopharmaceuticals utilizing necessary quality management methods of patient identification such as using at least two unique identifiers.
• Determining the rout of administration according to established protocol (e.g., subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous, etc.).
• Establishing venipuncture access using aseptic technique.

Positioning the patient and obtaining images

• Waiting an appropriate length of time after the administration of a radiopharmaceutical to begin the imaging procedure
• Acquiring imaging views according to established protocols and acquiring additional views to optimize information content
• Properly positioning the patient using supportive materials and immobilizers, as necessary
• Providing for proper comfort and care to the patient before, during, and after a procedure, including the monitoring of intravenous lines, oxygen supplies, and drains
• Establishing and maintaining proper communication with patients
• Behaving in a professional manner in consideration and observation of patient's rights and dignity.

Prepares the patient by:

• Reviewing the indication for the study for appropriateness and following up with the authorized user and/ or referring physician as necessary to assure that the proper study is being performed.
• Verifying patient identification, date of last menstrual period, pregnancy/breast feeding status, and written orders for the procedure as well as renal function tests if the patient is undergoing CT with IV contrast.
• Obtaining a pertinent medical history and confirming the patient's candidacy for the procedure.

Recognizing and responding to medical emergency conditions by:

• Initiating a call for assistance.
• Administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation when necessary.
• Maintaining intravenous fluids, oxygen and other life-support assistance until dedicated medical emergency staff arrives.

Work Schedule: Full-time, 80 hours per pay period. Monday-Friday. Hours: 7:00 am to 5:30pm. On call weekends and holidays. Tour of duty may be adjusted per department needs.
Compressed/Flexible:Available.
Telework: Not Available.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: F03983.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Available.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Available.

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 dentification 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

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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. 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 normally satisfied by one of the following:

(1) Completion of a 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 assignment descriptions below.

Loss of Credential. Once certified, NMTs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted certification. Loss of credential will result in removal from the GS-0601 NMT occupation and may result in termination of employment. For occupations which require an active certification at all grade levels, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may be reassigned to another occupation for which he/she qualifies if a placement opportunity exists. For occupations which require an active credential (licensure/certification/registration) in assignments above the journey level only, at the discretion of the appointing official, an employee may remain at an appropriate lower grade level in the occupation when both of the following apply: the credential is not a requirement and a placement opportunity exists.

English Language Proficiency. Nuclear medicine technologists must be proficient in spoken and written English

Grade Determinations:

GS-11 Experience: At this level, completion of 1 year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level (GS-09) directly related to the position to be filled, i.e., experience that demonstrates possession of the KSAs and other characteristics needed to provide nuclear medicine technology and administrative services is required. This experience must have provided the candidate with an in-depth knowledge of common and uncommon nuclear medicine procedures, in-depth knowledge of radiation safety practices, and knowledge of staffing levels, financial management, personnel management, and supply management.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. The candidate must demonstrate all the following technical KSAs:

• Ability to produce and assess high quality scans and quality control images using independent judgement to recognize abnormal or unacceptable results.
• Knowledge and skill in use of ancillary equipment with an understanding of how the results will affect the study outcome.
• Knowledge of physiologic processes as they relate to altered radiopharmaceutical uptake and/or artefactual findings.
• Ability to obtain, assess, and document pre-therapy patient preparation information and provide post-therapy patient education following proper administration of advanced therapy dose.
• Ability to develop new protocols for imaging procedures. vi. Ability to analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels and recommend measures to reduce.
• Ability to analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions.

Assignments. Candidates at this grade level serve as staff NMTs at the journey 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.

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

Physical Requirements: This position requires a moderate amount of physical activity working with the equipment and maneuvering patients including eye/hand coordination; full use of arms, hands and wrists; transporting, lifting, lowering, moving, turning heavy objects and/or patients; standing, sitting, or reaching for extended periods of time.

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; religions; spiritual; 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 resume or during 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.