Covenant Health

Nuclear Medicine Technologist

PRN/OCC, Day Shift, Variable Hours

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is an award-winning, certified, and accredited facility with 541 beds. As a Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center, Fort Sanders offers state-of-the art care that maximizes recovery from stroke.  We are also the region’s leader in technology in areas such as bariatric surgery, robotic surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. Our door-to-balloon times for heart attack patients are below the national average, and our hip fracture center offers advanced diagnosis, surgery and recovery procedures for hip patients.

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is a member of Covenant Health, a locally-owned, non-profit health system based in Knoxville, TN, with a “patient-focused” culture. It has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as its 2020 “Best-in-State-Employer” for Tennessee. The CEO of our company, Jim VanderSteeg, attends every new employee orientation and will ask you to sign our pledge of excellence to always put patients first, strive for excellence in everything we do, and make Covenant Health the first and best choice for patients in our region. As you’d expect, we offer our employees a robust benefits package, including: offering unmatched medical insurance, tuition reimbursement; student loan repayment assistance, certification bonuses; leadership and professional development programs; an employer-matched 401(k); and a generous Combined Time Off (CTO) program.

Position Summary:

Performs physician defined routine and specialized diagnostic imaging procedures.  Provides support assistance/activities as needed.

• Performs routine diagnostic imaging procedures through technical expertise of equipment and procedure protocol. Technically proficient in the operation and quality control aspects of scanning and image recording equipment specific to the assigned work area. Evaluates equipment performance, initiates corrective action when necessary, and maintains records for the quality control program of gamma camera imaging systems in accordance with federal and state regulations and institutional polices. Collaborates patient’s clinical history with procedure, ensuring information is documented and available for use by a licensed independent practitioner. Completes and verifies accurate informed consents.
• Performs procedures or examinations under the order of a licensed medical practitioner for diagnostic interpretation or therapeutic intervention.
• Maintains established radiation safety standards that involves practicing techniques that will minimize radiation exposure to the patient, health care personnel, and general public, through consistently using protective devices, shields, dose reduction, and monitors consistent with ALARA principles and establishing protocols for managing spills and unplanned releases of radiation. Knowledgeable and proficient in the safe handling, security, and storage of radiopharmaceuticals. This includes, but is not limited to, the procurement, identification, dose calculation, and administration of radiopharmaceuticals. It also includes all associated documentation and disposal as appropriate. Proficient in the documentation and record keeping as regulated and required by the State, Joint Commission, ACR and NRC to include the handling and administration of radioisotopes.
• Proficient in the utilization of appropriate techniques, radiopharmaceuticals, and adjunctive medications as part of a standard protocol to ensure quality diagnostic images and/or laboratory results. Obtains biological samples to perform testing as required for the optimization of patient care and quality of diagnostic procedures. Proficient in oral administration of radioisotopes. Performs venipuncture, starts and maintains intravenous access as prescribed by a licensed dependent practitioner. Ensures correct drug, procedure and supply charging, stock maintenance and vendor ordering procedure.  Practices aseptic technique and applies universal precautions at all times. Applies appropriate infection prevention techniques and processes.
• Educate, train, orient and assist new staff members. Provide education for student technologists. Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Assists licensed independent practitioner with interventional procedure, including time outs according to policy. Proficient in patient assessment, monitoring and sterile technique as required. . Assumes responsibility for patient needs before, during and post procedures; proactively assists patients, families, licensed independent practitioners and visitors as needed.
• Stays current in Basic Life Support (BLS) and performs BLS as needed.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education:

None specified; however, must be sufficient to meet the standards for achievement of the below indicated license and/or certification as required by the issuing authority.

Minimum Experience:

Must have successfully completed an educational program that is accredited.  By a mechanism acceptable to the NMTCB or ARRT.  Registry eligible candidates must have the following documentation:

• Documentation of training /competency checklist 
• Authorization to inject radiopharmaceuticals notice signed by an authorized user

Licensure Requirement:

One of the following must be met successfully

Path 1:  American Registry of Radiologic Technologists within 1 year ARRT (N) required or path 2.

Path 2:  Nuclear Medicine Technology certification board certified (NMTCB) within 1 year CNMT required.

State licensure in accordance with Tennessee guidelines