Career Centre - Nuclear Medicine as a Career
What does a nuclear medicine technologist do?
Nuclear medicine technologists (also sometimes called Nuclear medicine scientists) are specialised health professionals. They work within the health care team and their primary role is to design and implement the most appropriate nuclear medicine procedure for patients referred to their centre for examination.
Nuclear medicine technologists work in both the public and private health care centre, within a team that includes a nuclear medicine specialist doctor, administrative staff, nurses and in larger centres, a medical physicists and perhaps a radiopharmacist.
The role of the nuclear medicine technologist is diverse and in recent years has expanded to include a range of specialist responsibilities that include:
- The education, assessment and care of patients undergoing examination
- Preparation, dispensing and administration of radiopharmaceuticals
- Image and data acquisition and analysis using sophisticated radiation detection equipment and workstations
- Equipment, radiopharmacy and departmental quality assurance procedures and processes
- Radiation safety and occupational health and safety
- Clinical teaching to student practitioners
- Research and professional development
Undoubtedly, nuclear medicine suits those who have a real interest in the health sciences and people. Practitioners need to be comfortable with and adaptable to new technologies, as well as self-motivated, empathetic to the needs of patients, enquiring and organised. They should also possess excellent listening and communication skills, and want to work within an environment centred on providing outstanding patient care.
A career in nuclear medicine offers graduates the opportunity to contribute to the wellbeing of the community. Currently there is demand for practitioners in Victoria, and in addition, Australian graduates are highly regarded internationally. Opportunities also exist for practitioners to work in clinical and scientific research, in business and management, with government and in universities. Some graduates also work in sales, marketing and business development with companies that support medical imaging in Australia and overseas.