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 area of consideration will be referred in the following order: 1. Current permanent Mann-Grandstaff Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center facility employees 2. Current permanent Agency (Department of Veterans Affairs) employees

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• Develop and maintain written/electronic procedure manuals for technical guidance. Develop new protocols for imaging procedures.
• Serve as liaison between the supervisor of Diagnostic Imaging Service, and Puget Sound VAMC Nuclear Medicine Service. Co-ordinate quarterly surveys with VISN 20 Radiation Safety Officer.
• Analyze consequences of improper packaging of radioactive material and take appropriate actions.
• Calculate exposure rates. Properly document excessive radiation exposure, analyze instances of increased radiation exposure levels, and recommend measures to reduce.
• Report, investigate and take appropriate action for misadministration of radiopharmaceuticals.
• Ensure that Nuclear Medicine Section is in full compliance with the regulations, standards and licensure proscriptions of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (Joint Commission).
• Perform and monitor the full range of specialized tests or studies per established methods and protocols, reviewing and analyzing conventional testing problems and recommending or implementing solutions to overcome them.
• Order the appropriate radiopharmaceuticals and other supplies required by the Nuclear Medicine Department to accomplish the daily studies.
• Maintain appropriate records.
• When requested by supervisor, meet with sales representatives of various supply companies to investigate new and more cost-effective suppliers of necessary supplies and radio pharmaceuticals.
• Maintain an organized file of current sources of supplies. Assist in coordinating Radiation Safety Committee activities. Work with the Radiation Safety officer, for the Nuclear Medicine Service and will be responsible for compliance with the provisions of the NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) Broad Medical License.
• Use established radiation procedures, such as use of proper shielding, syringe shields and wearing exposure badges.
• Plan study or test such as routine and non-routine imaging and functioning studies.
• Make decisions on data and methodology to obtain necessary results in conformance with standard practices. Analyze computer generated data for technical quality and artifacts and initiate corrective measures. Evaluate study or test quality using quality control criteria.
• Prepare radiopharmaceuticals for patient administration. Perform quality control procedures of equipment and radiopharmaceuticals. Troubleshoot gamma camera and auxiliary equipment problems. Prepare supply of radiopharmaceutical by use of various radioactive materials, pharmaceutical reagents, dilutions and chemical manipulations such as heating or tagging in an appropriate medium.
• Critique patient studies for the necessity of additional images and review clinical data during the study to ascertain any considerations that may make different images necessary of an individual case.
• Coordinate the daily work schedules with cardiology nurse (Nuclear Cardiology studies).
• Perform required room surveys or swipes. Participate in the development, monitoring, reporting, and action components of the Nuclear Medicine quality assurance program and perform procedures associated with quality assurance protocols. Participate in the annual VA Nuclear Medicine QA project.
• Document excessive radiation exposure in the working environment.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 7:00am - 3:30pm OR Tuesday - Friday 6:30am-5:00pm
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
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 dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• 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

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

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 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.
• 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.
• English Language Proficiency: NMTs must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with chapter 2, section D, paragraph 5a, of this part.

May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Grade Determinations:

Nuclear Medicine Technologist, GS-11

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

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 at this level serve in advanced assignments and will have varying assignments, including special and complex imaging procedures, advanced therapies, clinical instruction, and quality management duties within the program. Advanced therapies may include, but are not limited to, yttrium-90, radium, and palliative bone pain therapy. Regardless of the nature of the specific assignment, the work must be of sufficient scope and complexity to meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform at this level.

The candidate must demonstrate all of the following technical KSAs:

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

Preferred Experience: At least 2 years of general and cardiac nuclear medicine exams. Familiarity with QC/QA testing, ordering of radiopharmaceuticals.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://department.va.gov/employees/va-qualifications-standards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11.

Physical Requirements: This work requires moderate lifting (15-44lbs), light carrying (under 15lbs), reaching above shoulder, use of fingers, both hands required, walking, standing, kneeling, repeated bending, depth perception, ability to distinguish basic colors, hearing (aid may be permitted). Environmental factors are working with radiant energy, electrical energy, working around machinery with moving parts, and working in a "hot lab" with radiopharmaceuticals.

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.