Covenant Health

Team Leader Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

M-F 8-5

Fort Sanders Regional Overview:

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is an award-winning, certified, and accredited facility with 468 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:

This position is designed to provide supervisory leadership to Nuclear Medicine staff level employees, coordinating such activities with the Imaging Department’s Director/Manager.  Provides assistance to radiologists, physicians, nursing and others in the care of NM patients.  The NM team leader is expected to exercise independent judgement and discretion in performing duties listed below. The NM team leader is responsible for maintaining a safe nuclear medicine environment for all.  The NM team leader applies recommended protocol changes as indicated by the Radiologist or Radiological physicist as appropriate.

Recruiter: Jennifer Gordon || jgordon2@covhlth.com || 865-374-8107

• Clinical expertise and knowledge of nuclear medicine are such that complex patient management and physician issues are resolved independently. Demonstrates proficiency in complex clinical skills and develops NM protocols with guidance of radiologists/physicians.
• Maintain established policies and procedures, objectives, quality assurance program, general safety and radiation safety standards, and equipment quality control. Acquires and maintains ACR, State other regulatory governing requirements / accreditation as required. 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.
• Participates in performance appraisal of staff, in hiring process by providing recommendations to the imaging manager, prepares documentation and forms for possible disciplinary actions to director/manager, provides recommendations to manager for commendations, bonuses, or other appropriate forms of recognition for outstanding performance of employees on applicable shift. Makes work assignments and directs work activities.  Coordinates staff relief for meals, breaks, and meetings.  Performs payroll edits. Serves as clinical or technical resource as needed including assuming or covering patient care; on call responsibilities as necessary.
• 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.
• Identifies and screens patient and others according to NM guidelines for safety. Obtains patient history, completes and verifies accurate consents, informed consent and/or permits as needed. Provides patient instructions/education to obtain desired results, gain cooperation and minimize anxiety, including the monitoring of patients by audio/visual means during exams. Positions patients for NM scans using immobilization and protective equipment to comply with regulations while applying principles of nuclear medicine safety to minimize risk to patient, self and others. Positions patient and equipment to best demonstrate the anatomic area of interest, respecting the patient’s ability, safety and comfort. Provides for psychological and physical needs of patients for NM procedures.  Practices aseptic technique and applies universal precautions at all times. Applies appropriate infection prevention techniques and processes. 
• Knowledgeable and proficient in the safe handling, security, and storage of radiopharmaceuticals. Includes, not limited to, the procurement, identification, dose calculation, and administration of radiopharmaceuticals both orally and /or intravenously. Performs venipuncture, starts and maintains intravenous access as prescribed by a licensed dependent practitioner.
• 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.
• Educates, trains, orients and assists new staff members. Provides education for student technologists.
• 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:

Minimum of 1 year Nuclear Medicine experience. 3 years Nuclear Medicine experience preferred.

Licensure Requirement:

Must have and maintain NMTCB certification or ARRT (N) certification. State licensure in accordance with Tennessee guidelines.