Nuclear Medicine Technologist Career

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What You Do in This Career

If you want to impress your next date, tell him or her that you are studying to be a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. It sounds really important, doesn’t it? Like you’re setting off little nuclear reactions all day? That’s actually not a bad description, though as always, the reality is slightly less glamorous than the expectation. Nuclear medicine technologists administer radiopharmaceuticals, little radioactive pills that travel through the body creating diagnostic images that alert doctors to abnormal tissues or organs. While related to a career as a pharmacy technician, nuclear technologists prepare the pills, injections, or even inhalations that hold the radiopharmaceuticals, then position patients, and run the gamma scintillation camera that shows where the radioactive meds are in the body.

Salary and Career Path

Nuclear medicine is relatively new, and as scientists discover more ways to use it, the job of handling radiopharmaceuticals will be increasingly in demand. However, the number of job openings is predicted to be low since there is already an adequate supply of trained nuclear medicine technologists. However, those who have training in multiple diagnostic methods, like ultrasound technicians, radiologic technologists, and X-ray technicians, will have an advantage in the job market. The median annual income of nuclear medicine technologists in 2008 was $66.660, and even the lowest wages were above $57,000.

What Kind of Degree or Coursework You Need

Considering the competition for this career, more education is better to ensure you find a position. Certificate programs are often offered in hospitals and community colleges, but there are also bachelor’s degree programs that take 4 years to complete. Courses are in physical sciences, the effects of radiation on live tissue, radiation protection, imaging techniques, computer applications, and of course, how to use radiopharaceuticals. For those who already have an AA or BA and work in healthcare, like nurse practitioners, there are one-year certificate programs that allow them to specialize in nuclear medicine. Aspiring technologists should check their state’s requirements.

Top Online Health Services Programs

There are multiple educational paths that can be taken to become an ultrasound technician or diagnostic medical sonographer. The schools below do not offer ultrasound-specific training, but they do offer medical assisting and other healthcare programs closely related to sonography. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

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DeVry University
AS in Health IT
 		DeVry University — Although DeVry University's online associate's degree in health information technology program is not specifically an ultrasound training program, it does prepare students to be HIT leaders in contemporary hospitals, physician's offices, medical clinics, and more.
Virginia College Online
BS in Health Services Mgmt
 		Virginia College Online — If you want to complete a health-based interdisciplinary studies degree online that will prepare you for ultrasound technology as well as for management, then apply for Virginia College's bachelor's degree in Health Services Management or associate's degree in medical office administration. The tuition for each program includes the cost of every textbook for every course. After earning this degree, additional training may be required to become an ultrasound technician.
Herzing University
AS in Medical Assisting
 		Herzing University — The AS in medical assisting degree program from Herzing University is not an ultrasound training program, but it does present students with an introduction to a physician's office, and can help lead to careers in sonography. Students learn how to assist doctors and nurses in the exam room as well as perform routine medical laboratory procedures.
Hodges University
AS in Health Info Mgmt
AS in Health Admin
 		Hodges University — Hodges University's AS in Health Information Technology and AS in Health Administration programs, while not purely an ultrasound training program, do teach students how to use the latest information technology to meet the needs of the healthcare industry. Health information technology allows medical offices to collect and analyze data from patients and doctors, a vital part of the medical process. Students learn to manage patient health information, medical records, administer computer information systems, and code diagnoses and procedures.
Lincoln College
AAS in Health IT
 		Lincoln College — The AAS in Health IT degree program from Lincoln College Online teaches students the ins and outs of technological-related medical work such as data tracking, organizing, and recorded. This degree is useful for anyone wishing to advance in his/her career within a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, ultrasound clinics, physician offices, and more. Additional training is required before becoming an ultrasound technician.

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DeVry University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org. Keller Graduate School of Management is included in this accreditation. In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. Program availability varies by location.

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