Knowing the risk of a Nuclear Medicine Technologist

I love nuclear medicine and if my only concern were to keep my own job, or in my case, to keep someone out of a job I might get in the future, I still wouldn't discourage anyone from entering the field. That's not my only concern. I just don't want anyone else to go through what I have been through. I have 20 years of experience in nuclear medicine, and of course that includes starting IVs, and performing EKGs, record keeping, assisting the front office, etc., but the only interviews I've had with that degree and experience were in education. Maybe it's just me, but I hope someone who's considering a career in nuclear medicine will read about my experience and think seriously about doing something else, at least for the time being. I'm lucky that I live in a two-income household. We would've lost our house if we'd had to depend on my income alone.

Missy in Kissimmee, Florida said: I graduated in October of 2010, and I have to say that radiation exposure should be the least of your worries. There are no jobs and since I graduated I have been exposed to no radiation from working as a nuc med tech. I would like to have some exposure but I am beginning to realize that I might never find a job as an NMT. New students you biddest worry should be finding a job. If you are willing to spend lots of money, work hard to earn your NMT degree and end up with no job then I say go for it. I am sorry but this is the reality. I did wonderful in school and I loved the job while doing my clinical practice and now I am struggling with the reality of being an unemployed NMT.

Are you still looking for employment? Are you applying all over the state of FL (willing to relocate)? What do you think the future is for NMT in 2014 and beyond in FL? -this is when I would graduate if I went “all in”.

General questions - Where are the Injections given? – Are they given via muscles (shoulder, arm) or specific locations that are being tested? Do you ever inject via direct blood stream (veins). I can’t find detailed NM injection information anywhere online.

Thanks to all who reply.

God bless

Hi, after a year and a half I have given up on finding a nuc med job. I will be willing to relocate for a full time job. Most jobs are PRN, and even for those I never a get an interview. Nuc med injections are intravenous. The market is saturated right now. The few that have found jobs from my school are working part time and found a job because of someone they know giving them a chance. Good luck to you.

Hi, after a year and a half I have given up on finding a nuc med job. I will be willing to relocate for a full time job. Most jobs are PRN, and even for those I never a get an interview. Nuc med injections are intravenous. The market is saturated right now. The few that have found jobs from my school are working part time and found a job because of someone they know giving them a chance. Good luck to you.

bigruss99,

Hey, I'll give you some basic info on the injections/anatomy first then the Florida NMT job outlook.

Nuc Med radioisotope injections require some type of "decent" venous access. Typical places are the arm/forearm(median cubital,ulnar,radial,cephalic,and brachial veins), top of the RT,LT hands are also common. Injections are made either made by direct syringe/needle, or via IV/CATH access. Not all Nuc Med studies require injection, some doses are swallowed in a pill/capsule form, drank in a liquid, or injested with food. Majority of exams though require injection, anyway those are the basics.

Florida job market outlook???? All I can say is LOL, beyond competitive, way more techs than available openings. Will it be better in 2014?? In my opinion, probably not. With all the change/restructuring in the healthcare system, along with these tough economic times Nuc Med has taken a back seat to a Radiology Departments budget,, bottom line its just too expensive. Its your choice, but I recommend taking a pass on Nuclear Medicine..

mattiemjk in Marco, Florida said: bigruss99,

Hey, I'll give you some basic info on the injections/anatomy first then the Florida NMT job outlook.

Nuc Med radioisotope injections require some type of "decent" venous access. Typical places are the arm/forearm(median cubital,ulnar,radial,cephalic,and brachial veins), top of the RT,LT hands are also common. Injections are made either made by direct syringe/needle, or via IV/CATH access. Not all Nuc Med studies require injection, some doses are swallowed in a pill/capsule form, drank in a liquid, or injested with food. Majority of exams though require injection, anyway those are the basics.

Florida job market outlook???? All I can say is LOL, beyond competitive, way more techs than available openings. Will it be better in 2014?? In my opinion, probably not. With all the change/restructuring in the healthcare system, along with these tough economic times Nuc Med has taken a back seat to a Radiology Departments budget,, bottom line its just too expensive. Its your choice, but I recommend taking a pass on Nuclear Medicine..

Thank you both for the current updates on the NMT situation-Much appreciated, and thank you for the injection details!

What would be the best AS degree in health care these days and in 2014? What would be the best choice? - income/in demand techs.

I am currently a nuclear medicine technologist in Delaware. I was lucky to have gotten a job right out of school, right before the market became saturated. There is a very low turnover at our hospital, which makes it hard for new graduates to find jobs. The last 2 students to get jobs at our hospital started out as relief techs, and when a couple of techs were laid off, they were able to jump in their places. Unfortunately, until the market recovers, new grads have to take any experience they can get. The school is the area has also been graduating fewer techs than in the past, which should help with the job market. I can say for myself, I have thoroughly enjoyed my career as a nuclear medicine tech. I have a wonderful group of people to work with, and because of the quality work we perform, we are very well respected by the radiologists as well as the ordering physicians. I was lucky enough to cross-train into CT in order to use our fusion camera, and I'm hoping that we get our own PET-CT camera to operate in the next few years. Currently, there is only a mobile unit that is not run by our own techs. As far as exposure during pregnancy, I received very little. I declared my pregnancy as soon as I knew, and wore a fetal badge from that point on. I chose to switch shifts with my co-workers so that I wasn't the opening shift and wouldn't receive extra exposure opening the packages. I have wonderful co-workers who would inject for me when necessary, or wouldn't allow me to tend to patients who had been injected with higher energy isotopes. Now this isn't required by any means, but my co-workers wanted to do this for me, and for that I am grateful. I hope this is helpful. I feel for those who have struggled in this career field, and I hope that things will be turning around!