A recent graduate weighs in...

Ya, you are right Marie. Let me ask Marie what all types of scans do you do at your Hospital? You know when I had the interview with the VA I was asking about the types of scans they do and the likes, noting the similarities and differences between different parts of the state and country, and there they elute their own generators. They also use HDP for their bone scans instead of MDP, which is different from what I used in Amarillo. Sure Marie it is all about experience but hopefully something will work out.

Zac Cockroft in Burnet, Texas said: Ya, you are right Marie. Let me ask Marie what all types of scans do you do at your Hospital? You know when I had the interview with the VA I was asking about the types of scans they do and the likes, noting the similarities and differences between different parts of the state and country, and there they elute their own generators. They also use HDP for their bone scans instead of MDP, which is different from what I used in Amarillo. Sure Marie it is all about experience but hopefully something will work out.

We do everything from cardiac to general nuc.med. MDP is a little cheaper than HDP,but they both get the job done. You will learn more at a VA hospital than you will anywhere, it's great experience. What you will find is all hospitals are differn't. The protocols are up to the Radiologist who reads the study.

True. HDP has a greater bone uptake than MDP, but yes both can get the job done. What tracers do yall use for Cardiac scans? Lung Scans? At the VA, she said they have 4 cameras and are going to get a PET/CT scanner in the future? Do you have any experience working with PET/CT? Is there a single scan that you like doing more than others? And yes all hospitals are different, and all protocols are different. That was evident during my training in Amarillo.

I have 5 years of PET experience. It's very easy, just another study. I'm not to fond of cardiac, we use Cardiolite, rare occasion Thallium. Lung scans we use xenon and MAA. I hate doing the GI bleed it's a 2 hour STAT study and almost always comes in during the night.If you get called out on a VQ you can get in and out in less than an hour.

Ya I have experience doing PET/CT. It was at Harrignton Cancer Center and we used FDG. The images looked cool though. When I was at the Amarillo Heart Group we used Cardiolite for both rest and stress. Of course with Thallium you can use it for a viability study. I have seen some GI Bleeds, of course it was dependent on how active the bleeding was. Do yall use an ultratag Kit for GI Bleed? Do yall do any Indium 111 or Indium 111 with Ceretec?

Zac Cockroft in Burnet, Texas said: Ya I have experience doing PET/CT. It was at Harrignton Cancer Center and we used FDG. The images looked cool though. When I was at the Amarillo Heart Group we used Cardiolite for both rest and stress. Of course with Thallium you can use it for a viability study. I have seen some GI Bleeds, of course it was dependent on how active the bleeding was. Do yall use an ultratag Kit for GI Bleed? Do yall do any Indium 111 or Indium 111 with Ceretec?

We use ultra tag for GI bleeds and Muga scans, when I worked outpatient we used it for venograms. We mostly use ceretec for WBC studies, I guess because mostly they are looking for osteo...I personally think you see more with a 3 phase...but whatever. I sure hope you find something soon, I'm certainly praying for you. I know you'll be a great Tech...

Well Robert what you have read is what it is. You will be extremely lucky if you get a job when you get out of NMT school. Best thing to do, is to see if you can get on with one of your clinical sites, i.e. prn, or on call. That will at least give you some experience, bc that is what you need. It's has been 7 months since I graduated, had lots of interviews but to no avail. I am seriously considering dropping NMT, bc at the present moment It seems to be really bleak; I am considering working for Homeland Security Department in Texas, bc at least they will provide paid tranining and provides a stable future. I will probably keep my credentials, but overtime I will probably not renew them.

Zac Cockroft in Burnet, Texas said: Well Robert what you have read is what it is. You will be extremely lucky if you get a job when you get out of NMT school. Best thing to do, is to see if you can get on with one of your clinical sites, i.e. prn, or on call. That will at least give you some experience, bc that is what you need. It's has been 7 months since I graduated, had lots of interviews but to no avail. I am seriously considering dropping NMT, bc at the present moment It seems to be really bleak; I am considering working for Homeland Security Department in Texas, bc at least they will provide paid tranining and provides a stable future. I will probably keep my credentials, but overtime I will probably not renew them.

That's kinda what i thought from reading all the comments here. Thanks for the advice on how to get on ,right from the start when I'll be starting on my clinical sites.I hope that in the end you'll find something .
I wish you the best of luck !!!
Thanks

robert Voica do just one simple thing, get on every hospital web site in Chicago area and see how many full time openings are there right now. I bet you will find non. You might be able to find some PRN, but for most PRN openings they do require experience. Also consider this, Triton college has quite a few new grads in Chicago area every year, plus there are few other schools for NM pumping out students close to that area. There are no jobs for them right now, and there will be non when they graduate. Wish you good luck in whatever direction you take.

Saly, you do a good job at mocking people. For future references, this is a forum to discuss current issues within Nuclear Medicine, let's try and keep it professional.

It's basically impossible to find a NM job at the moment. Here in Pittsburgh they are laying off techs and cutting hours at all of the hospitals. Some hospitals are considering bypassing yearly raises right now as well.

Bad field to get into right now.

Thanks for all of your experienced insight on the lack of NMT jobs. I am now looking into alternative areas to study in the medical field. Does anyone have any insight about Sonography positions? I may go that route instead. I am currently a full time Personal Assistant and have been working for the same couple for almost 18 yrs. I am looking into a major career change and really want to go into the medical field. I am in the process of taking some basics at the Community College and plan to work another year before becoming a full time student, so I really want to do this right. Any insight is appreciated. Thank you.

NMI or CCC+

Zac Cockroft in Burnet, Texas said: Saly, you do a good job at mocking people. For future references, this is a forum to discuss current issues within Nuclear Medicine, let's try and keep it professional.

Zac, I hope my last post did not sound like mocking anyone... I was trying to give robert Voica an idea of how to check the job market in his area, and unfortunately the Chicago job market for NMTs is terrible at this time, as it is the same in many other states... I am sorry if my last post under this topic was offensive for anyone... I happen to know couple of NMTs in that area and was offering this as a clue to Robert on how to probe the situation before wasting another year of his time and lots of money... I wish the current situation is better, but we are living today and it is what it is...

Zac Cockroft in Burnet, Texas said: Saly, you do a good job at mocking people. For future references, this is a forum to discuss current issues within Nuclear Medicine, let's try and keep it professional.

If Saly offended you Zac I'm sorry too. We are just trying to get the point across that there are NO JOBS. I hate to see anyone waste time and money on a profession that is dead and who knows for how long. PRN jobs are at a premium, I know of several 10+ year veterans with NO job right now. I always try to be professional, but how many ways can I say...THERE ARE NO JOBS IN NUCLEAR MEDICINE!!!

Thank you Marie, and yes, how many ways can we say that… It amazes me that folks are still asking the question of whether they should still go into this field, considering all the posts here noting that there are NO JOBS in NMT. I wish more unemployed NMT’s come to this forum and post their experience in job seeking… I know so many, so many new grads from last year, and techs with 1 to 20+ years of experience that got laid off due to job cuts. I have asked them to get on here and post what they have been going through, and most of them say that no one told them, so why should they be helping others find the truth. Now how selfish is that???

It is unreal that so many hospitals are laying off NMTs, as well as outpatient centers... The patient load has plummeted down lately and that affects us directly. Even if you are FT, they want to you flex your hours, and leave early, even if that means that you will not take a pay check as a FT employee. The employers do not care. Right now they have their picks, and say "if you do not like it, the door is open, we do not hold anyone."

Hope is what students have, perhaps mingling with a slight bit of arrogance smugness and ignorance. When all of us redundantly inform you that there are no jobs this means there are no jobs. We do not say this to scare you, intimidate you out of this field, or try to ensure our own job security and positions we have now. Employment for ditch diggers is even in a bad state of affairs currently they have no jobs either. Facts
1. There are how many registered techs?
A. Working in NM, or part time.
B. Not working in NM.
2. How many NM students will graduate this year.
3. Full time positions availible nationally.
4. Experience sells, without none you better know somebody.
Professionally speaking I hope everyone who visits this forum finds employment; consequently, this is simply unrealistic and I wish I could change all of this.
To all MN techs, you can bang on doors cold call, send resumes all over the country, be the best aggressive salesperson in the world, take the most proactive optimistic stance, and yes have hope and belief that there really are jobs in reality there are none. Students do your homework, talk to people, believe what you want truth is sadening, it breaks my heart. The powers that be should be ashamed that greed has impacted so many students and they should be held accountable for those actions and all the programs should be placed on hiatus. Caveat emptor (Buyer Beware), you bought the NM promise now you are the creator of your own demise. Students as your instructor about all the recent graduates to speak to and you may find your answer there. Good luck to everyone and hope this country's situation improves and there are jobs for all of us. Until then please believe us no employment in PA, NY,MI,WV,IL,OH, and many other areas.

" I am taking my basics to get in the the NMTT at HCC next year. There are not very many that know of this course, but then again the instructor will only allow 11 in the course this year. He did say Nuclear Medicine is in a down turn right now...he said it is in a deep valley at this point. I'm sure someday it will turn to a strong peak, but who knows when that will be."

This is what another poster wrote about what the director is saying...He is being honest. I think what some fail to see, is the longer you are out of school with NO job the less likely you are to be employed in the field.

Hey guys, i am new to this forum.. but I had a really quick question. How many days out of the week do nuclear medicine work? Is it 3 days a week 12 hours a day. or m-f 8 hours a day.

Marv Z answer to your questions is: depending of what kind of position you take. Genraly speaking 5days/week, 8hrs/day. But yet there are hospitals where you can work 3 twelve’s, or 4 tens, or 4 eights... it all depends. Also, some only work PT, Sat & Sun, or only couple of days/week... From your question I could guess that are new to the NMT field as well. But do you homework before you get deep into it!!! Have you read this forum at all???

Saly in Charlotte, North Carolina said: Marv Z answer to your questions is: depending of what kind of position you take. Genraly speaking 5days/week, 8hrs/day. But yet there are hospitals where you can work 3 twelve’s, or 4 tens, or 4 eights... it all depends. Also, some only work PT, Sat & Sun, or only couple of days/week... From your question I could guess that are new to the NMT field as well. But do you homework before you get deep into it!!! Have you read this forum at all???

I've never been lucky enough to get any of those great hours! I'm on my 12th straight day as I write this. I work mon-fri take call every 3rd week. I go in at all hours of the night....

Saly in Charlotte, North Carolina said: Marv Z answer to your questions is: depending of what kind of position you take. Genraly speaking 5days/week, 8hrs/day. But yet there are hospitals where you can work 3 twelve’s, or 4 tens, or 4 eights... it all depends. Also, some only work PT, Sat & Sun, or only couple of days/week... From your question I could guess that are new to the NMT field as well. But do you homework before you get deep into it!!! Have you read this forum at all???

thx Saly.. well I am thinking about becoming a NMT but first am almost into radiology school in about a year and after that I want to go school for NMT. I did a lot of research about ultrasound or Xray field. which ultrasound in California is really hard to find a job. but am still researching about NMT.

Tim in Lake Villa, Illinois said:

I didn't come here just to spout random facts and opinions at you. I have some ideas for solutions, and I think it's up to the licensing boards to fix this. First of all, I think it's unfair that an Associate's Degree in Nuclear Medicine carries the same weight as a Bachelor's. I think that policy should be changed so that only students who complete a Bachelor's study can be board-eligible. I'm not saying that Associate Degree technologists are of lesser quality, I just feel like a lot of people probably look at the fact that you can obtain an Associate's, get a license, and make $50k/year and see it as the easy road to a well-paying career. Make new students get a Bachelor's Degree and I guarantee that the number of new students entering the field will drop.

So you feel that if somebody wants to get 50k/year job in 2 years instead of 4 you want to mandate bachelor's? Well, I opted for an associates, knowing that all you get out of a 4 year NM degree is more debt, and the same amount of clinical experience. Let's face it, a technologist does NOT need 4 years of school, especially when the bulk, if not all, of your NM education spans over 13 months....the last 13 months of one's education (4 months academic, 9 month clinical).

I feel really bad for all of you that went into this field. I owned a registry service that finally went out of business last year. I saw the writing on the wall and found a job with a secure company 3 years ago. My friends thought I was crazy, but I saw the flood of new grads and I knew that the end was near. I ran the registry on the side until everyone found new jobs. Needless to say I took a significant pay cut, but I have a job. I have a ton of experience (Certified in PET, CT and Nuc Med) and I consider myself lucky to have a job. If I would have known about this site earlier I would have warned people to stay out of this field. As a former employer I can tell you that I did not care whether someone had a bachelor's. In fact my best employees were x-ray technologists that completed certificate programs. I hired one person with a bachelor's from a school in Ohio and it was a disaster. Employers only care that you can do the job and have a license.

Marie Dunn in Houston, Texas said: FYI no one really cares whether or not you have a bachelors or an associates. Nor do they care what kind of grades you made, they just want to know if you are licensed and can they abuse you...and abuse you they will.

After over 25 years of this crap ( nuc med ) I ABSOLUTELY AGREE, AS PATHOLOGY IS NOW A COMMODITY

Marv Z in Sunland, California said: Hey guys, i am new to this forum.. but I had a really quick question. How many days out of the week do nuclear medicine work? Is it 3 days a week 12 hours a day. or m-f 8 hours a day.

it really depends on where you work and what their schedules are... for instance one place i did my internship the techs worked M-F 7am-330pm and then every week one tech would be on call after those hours for STATS.

in another place where I did my perdeim they had over lap in coverage so some techs would work the 7am-4pm schedule and then another tech would come in from 3pm-9pm with an hour overlap coverage...

where i work now we do 10hr shifts 7 days a week and it is split between me and another tech some week i'd work 4 10's and the next week 3 10's....

Wow, you guys are all stupid. Have you noticed many people in ANY field getting jobs??? Do you know how bad the economy is?!?! Really... it's not just the nuclear medicine technology field, it is everything so if you're just going to give up on something you like then you really are dumb. The job market is horrible right now, keep with it and you'll find a job soon enough.

Wow! I wish I knew this forum existed. I graduated two years ago with a BS in Nuclear Medicine and I have not found a job either. I have driven over 12 thousand miles interviewing & meeting people trying to break into this market. Any student trying to break into this market should look elsewhere. To add to what someone else posted earlier, unfortunately, providers (hospitals, clinics, private physicians, & etc.) do not care about a BS degree nor do they care about the level of care you can render b/c of your training; they just care about money. I have 2 daughters and a wife who is depending on me and I thought I had positioned myself nicley to be able to provide for them..What a sad, very sad day for me & you who have invested what I have invested.

Yours truly,

William, BS., CNMT, ARRT(N). Looks nice but @ the moment worthless

"Have you noticed many people in ANY field getting jobs???"

Yes actually I have...NURSES...we're hiring nurses do you know any???

fire in Saint Paul, Minnesota said: Wow, you guys are all stupid. Have you noticed many people in ANY field getting jobs??? Do you know how bad the economy is?!?! Really... it's not just the nuclear medicine technology field, it is everything so if you're just going to give up on something you like then you really are dumb. The job market is horrible right now, keep with it and you'll find a job soon enough.

OKAY, Fire in Saint Paul, SHOW ME JUST HOW BIG YOUR FIRE IS!!!??

Dear Fire in Saint paul,

I just want to tell YOU and ALL the Nuclear Medicine Technologists, in the Mid-West or else where, to hang on!!! Looking for a job in ANY STATE in the Medical Imaging Field right now has become............... SO VERY DIFFUCULT. YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT WERE PROMISED AND DID NOT GET WHAT YOU WANTED!!!!!!!!!!! BLAME MEDICARE AND !!!! YOU WILLFIND and ( I dare to mention ) vote on someone that is not going to give you access to the HEALTH CARE. They are the ones taking YOUR JOBS FROMDID you VOTE FOR THE RIGHT PRSON????????????????????????????????????????? Go to SAVEFLORIDAHEARTS.ORG

What gives you the right to refer anyone as stupid? Yes blame the economy..even try to blame the current president...This profession has been heading this way for quite some time now...Hell, you don't even have to be certified in some states to practice. Unless the Baby Boomers retire soon, assuming that they are great in numbers practicing Nuclear, forget it! The only bright part in Nuclear is PET/CT...Good luck trying to find a job period in this market with the surplus of techs, & technologists available. Blame greed! Blame the schools! Everybody wants a piece of the pie...They'll even tell you that there are plenty of jobs if you are willing to move....Do the research and call around to different facilities in many states and you will find what I am saying is true...Even the Society of Nuclear Medicine knows the problem there is in this field currently. According to a letter issued by them, this happened once before and the problem fixed itself; not this time! There has to be intervention or legislature passed in order to remedy the problem...If not the surplus of techs & technologist will continue to rise.

There are no jobs.

Ive been applying... I now work as a medical assistant (my old job from before nuc med school) at a hospital which has 2 locations...

There was one opening... in our second location.

I even had the manager of this hospital (a friend of mine) call and try to convince the manager of the other location to hire me... He said they had way too many good applications to try a new tech out of school.

I've read most of the posts here and I'm in agreement with a lot of it.
My school (1 of 2 in Kentucky) is a little smarter than you'd expect. They have reduced the number of students in the Nuke Med program over the years from 20 down to 10.

I'm EXTREMELY grateful because I graduated in May, 2009 and found a job, in Kentucky, in September, 2009. Actually ALL of the 9 of us who graduated have found jobs except ONE guy.

My position is this: I've got a job and part of my interview included this statement from me... Hire me and I'll stay with you for the next 20 years. I don't know if that helped sway them toward me or not but I'm working and I'll actually stay with the hospital until I'm ready to retire. I'm also 41 years old so that may have helped too.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU IN FINDING and KEEPING a Nuke Med job !

I will bet that you are Caucasion! That seems to help! Try being a little darker and see how you are embraced! Everytime I enter into a Nuclear Medicine Department all I see is one race 99% of the time. I am also 41! Hell the only reason I do occasionally get interviews is because I select white as my race when applying. When I select African-American I never received an invitation. This is the truth not an excuse! It sickens me to my stomach. The only hope I have resides with God because He and only He knows the. truth. I might not ever be treated fairly in this life, but I will surely be rewarded later! For those of you who take offense to this post..well forgive me but this is and have alwys been my reality!

With all of the respect it's not true. It all depends on the clinical site. Yes there are some departments with white techs...but there are plenty of them who have all African-American. Try to get a job in Atlanta, you walk into the hospital and you see 80-90% African-American population running the business. It all depends on the location and management.
"I might not ever be treated fairly in this life, but I will surely be rewarded later! For those of you who take offense to this post..well forgive me but this is and have alwys been my reality!" In respond to the quote, I'm tired of people trying to get an "excuse". Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to hurt anybodies feelings, but i get the same response when i go to a business with most African-American folks. If African-American people feel abused, !!!! I think it about time to get over it. Come on. We all make mistakes. My grandfather died in WW2. It does not mean i am not going to give a job to a German guy. It was along time ago, forget it. I know a lot of African-American friends and my opinion on that is that there are African-American people and there are "n#$gers". Same goes for Caucasian and "white trash". Thank you and one more time

William in Pooler, Georgia said: I will bet that you are Caucasion! That seems to help! Try being a little darker and see how you are embraced! Everytime I enter into a Nuclear Medicine Department all I see is one race 99% of the time. I am also 41! Hell the only reason I do occasionally get interviews is because I select white as my race when applying. When I select African-American I never received an invitation. This is the truth not an excuse! It sickens me to my stomach. The only hope I have resides with God because He and only He knows the. truth. I might not ever be treated fairly in this life, but I will surely be rewarded later! For those of you who take offense to this post..well forgive me but this is and have alwys been my reality!

I have to agree with the others. It really depends on where you are at. I am a multi-racial female who was from Miami, Fl. If you walked into any facility around my area 90% of the techs there are spanish/latin and PLEASE you could not get an interview unless you were latin. And yes when I was in New Orleans the majority of techs were african american. Now I am in rural California and of course its 90% white. It really does depend on the demographic and population around that facilities area...but I do understand that there still are some people with racisim in their minds. Sorry if you feel that way. I had a guy in an interview tell me that it was going to be impossible to find a job since I was female...so there is still sexism out there as well...it sux to feel that way especially since things are hard enough out there to feel like you are not even looked at becuase of your race or sex! Sux but not everyone is like that

William in Pooler, Georgia said: I will bet that you are Caucasion! That seems to help! Try being a little darker and see how you are embraced! Everytime I enter into a Nuclear Medicine Department all I see is one race 99% of the time. I am also 41! Hell the only reason I do occasionally get interviews is because I select white as my race when applying. When I select African-American I never received an invitation. This is the truth not an excuse! It sickens me to my stomach. The only hope I have resides with God because He and only He knows the. truth. I might not ever be treated fairly in this life, but I will surely be rewarded later! For those of you who take offense to this post..well forgive me but this is and have alwys been my reality!

I'm sorry you feel this way....I can only speak for MY Hospital, we could care less what color you are, as long as you have experience!! We DO NOT interview or hire recent graduates. There are very few jobs out there so you really have to ask yourself why would we hire a recent graduate over someone with 10 plus years of experience. Most of the hospitals these days don't even post positions in Nuc. Med., we hire someone we know who has been layed off. Sorry, but thats the real reality!

I stumbled across this forum today while researching a paper I was working on for possible submission to the SNM. Truthfully I was shocked! After spending 4 years in the United States Marine Corps I thought I had seen it all. After reading the post from just 1 thread I was appalled at the total lack of professionalism in the nuclear medicine community. I have always taken great pride in the service I provide and the way I conduct myself professionally. A pride that seems to be lacking on this site.(Except for a few most notably Marie Dunn) As far as the technologists on this site complaining about not being able to find a job, the truth is you're not trying hard enough. The jobs are out there. You might have to send out a hundred resumes and God forbid you might have to relocate. It won't be easy, but I don't remember anyone promising me that life was going to be easy. Stop blaming your universities and the ole boy system. Then take the first step towards accepting responsibility for your situations and do something proactive to change them. I wish all of you the best of luck in nuclear medicine, but the attitudes must change.

"Be the change you want to see in the world"
Mahatma Gandhi

Well, mr overflowing with optimism, statistics do not lie. 300 graduates a year minimal job openings. Since 2006 the nuclear med market is virtually non existent. Budgetarily speaking thats approximately 1000 techs and how many jobs. The majority of us are not 21 years old with a two year program. most of are are holding multiple degrees in a plethora of areas. Please be still and observe before speaking out of turn. Do your homework first. most of us here have forgot more than you may ever know. keep searching for the ever elusive nuclear tech job. Insanity is doing the same thing again and again, getting the same result yet not changing the formula. Time for most of us to move on, don't believe the lie.

Are you Marie's husband, by any chance? Just joshin, keep your shirt on.

I agree with you about the lack of professionalism in some of the drivel posted on this site by rude people, but I do not agree with you about jobs being out there. I don't see many postings, and I know what happens when a fresh post comes up, from talking to people who evaluate and hire NM techs, the post-er receives a blizzard of resumes. Any time a head hunter calls here to promote an unemployed NM tech with 10+ years experience, after I tell them I'm not hiring, I ask them how it's goin' placing NM techs. Every single one that I have asked this says it is the worst part of their job, impossible or very nearly. I haven't seen any evidence that willingness to relocate is any advantage at all. I myself spent a very frightening 18 months searching with deepening fear and a heavy heart before I secured the position I am in now. I have sympathy and understanding for the people who posted here who are scared and getting no where though they are trying hard to find something. I would hire 1 or 2 if I could, but I can't (1-man dept.). There are orders of magnitude more unemployed NM techs than there are open NM jobs. Willingness to relocate, ceasing to complain....i.e. hard work & determination aren't enough anymore. One has to get lucky. Very.

Whatever

Safe New Year's to all, peace on earth.

LEGION in Cleveland, Ohio said: I stumbled across this forum today while researching a paper I was working on for possible submission to the SNM. Truthfully I was shocked! After spending 4 years in the United States Marine Corps I thought I had seen it all. After reading the post from just 1 thread I was appalled at the total lack of professionalism in the nuclear medicine community. I have always taken great pride in the service I provide and the way I conduct myself professionally. A pride that seems to be lacking on this site.(Except for a few most notably Marie Dunn) As far as the technologists on this site complaining about not being able to find a job, the truth is you're not trying hard enough. The jobs are out there. You might have to send out a hundred resumes and God forbid you might have to relocate. It won't be easy, but I don't remember anyone promising me that life was going to be easy. Stop blaming your universities and the ole boy system. Then take the first step towards accepting responsibility for your situations and do "

I believe that is was unprofessional of you to come on here and judge peoples professionalism by reading one thread of posts. Some of us have have been on this site posting for years and its not all been negative. I always encourgage people to pursue Nuc Med if it is their dream....and I am one of the "lucky ones" and yes I said lucky who got a job a few months after I graduated. Yes, it did take filling out about a hundred applications...but so many of my classmates are not as lucky they have been looking for over a year now and it is not lack of motivation or not wanting to relocate...shoot I moved from Miami a tropical paradise to a remote part of Cali that snows for my job...so people are willing to relocate...but it is true what is said its very hard for new grads to land much at this point...not that it is impossible but it is definately a uphill battle....

I believe that some of you took my post the wrong way. The lack of professionalism was concerning the name calling, insults, and elitism. These are things that have no place on a professional forum. I believed that this forum was set up to help people find jobs, and be used as a clinical resource. Although I am new, I see very little of that actually taking place. Instead, there is post after post focusing on the negative aspects. I never said finding a job was easy. I, like everyone else in the community know what the educational programs are doing, is wrong. Focusing on what is wrong with the system and crushing the hope of everyone out there looking for a job helps no one. This forum would benefit more from the stories and lessons learned like that of Flabbalanche and Jane. What you both call luck I call hard work, dedication and perseverance. Congratulations to the both of you.

"Confidence... thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

LEGION in Cleveland, Ohio said: I believe that some of you took my post the wrong way. The lack of professionalism was concerning the name calling, insults, and elitism. These are things that have no place on a professional forum. I believed that this forum was set up to help people find jobs, and be used as a clinical resource. Although I am new, I see very little of that actually taking place. Instead, there is post after post focusing on the negative aspects. I never said finding a job was easy. I, like everyone else in the community know what the educational programs are doing, is wrong. Focusing on what is wrong with the system and crushing the hope of everyone out there looking for a job helps no one. This forum would benefit more from the stories and lessons learned like that of Flabbalanche and Jane. What you both call luck I call hard work, dedication and perseverance. Congratulations to the both of you.

"Confidence... thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live."
Franklin D. Roosevelt

Well then I do apologize I did take it the wrong way. I appreicate your statments and I do believe that we really should be helping others out and not discourage anyone out there from pursuing Nuc Med. Like I said an up hill battle but it can be won, with like you stated wether you want to call it luck and hard work or dedication and perseverance there is something out there it just might take a while. And it might not be your dream place but take what you can get and get in your expereince until things do pick up again, cause trust me if anyone thought I wanted to leave Miami to live in snow and cold they are crazy, but I did see my opportunity to get my foot into a door. . And I think it was said anything worth having is worth fight for! And you are right we should be using this forum a little more for help then damage to our own field, that is true!

Legion I agree with you 100%. You are spot on sir. Hard work, determination and a strong will to survive has percisely made me the man I am today. There's one thing I've learned is that anything worth having is worth working for. You have to remember, advantages are taken not handed out. I can still remember my first year at sea sitting the deck of a freighter thinking that My Dad was right and I should return back home were things came easy. But my captin would remind me that this country was built by men who were willing to work and sacrifice for the American dream. I could have very well went back but I would not be the man I am today if I took the easy way out.

Whao....I am 33yrs old and really sick of being in law enforcement...I need a change and started researching other careers....Nursing isn't really my cup of tea and nuclear med seemed like a great fit.....After reading all of the posts I am a little shook....is it really that bad out there for NMT's? I did a job search and tons of jobs popped up. 80% only required a cert. The pay is decent and some even offer a sign on bonus. So I am floored with all the posting on here. NO JOBS? I see alot of jobs. Now I am a bit confused and disappointed. It's great that everyone is giving their input and advice. However I am beyond discouraged right now. Besides nursing what else is there? Boy oh boy!!!!

Just stumbled on this forum as well. I'm pretty surprised by a lot of the comments on here. The market is tight, but like a few others have mentioned, it's like that everywhere in almost every field.

Let me put it this way -- if you went to a school with a GOOD program, with say 8-12 students MAX per year, at a well respected, busy research hospital, you won't have much of a problem getting a job. These programs require bachelor's degrees, and you are guaranteed to get good training. Now, if you happened to go to one of the programs where 100 students or whatever per year are pumped out.... 9 times out of 10, it will be harder for you to get a job. I say this because 1)I've worked with people who went to such programs and 2) you don't get anywhere near the networking opportunities, or even quality training that you will get at a more competitive program. Employers see that and know, and most of the time these new grads can't hack it, don't get hired, get fired, etc etc. Now of course, there are exceptions, and good techs can be made anywhere if they have the right attitude.

LEGION has a good post. I was applying to jobs in the 3 months before I graduated, and I had several offers. I had a job, sign on bonus, moving expenses paid, etc, a month before school was even done. Now, this was in Aug of 07, but I know this is still possible. Everybody in my class had NO problems getting jobs...if you are willing to put in the legwork, willing to move, and have a good attitude, you can get a job. It helps to network, to know people, and to get your name out there any way you can, but it's not impossible. This field is definitely not as "hot" as it was 5 years ago, but I would never discourage somebody from going into the field. I would maybe steer them away from certain programs, but never from the field. This is a great field, and there are so many different aspects to it. Nobody said you have to be a tech at a hospital and that's it...

Well, I think more schools need to be shut down to help correct the problems or at least reduce the graduates

john in Booneville, Mississippi said: Well, I think more schools need to be shut down to help correct the problems or at least reduce the graduates

maybe the new mandatory accred rules from the ACR will help our cause some in 2012

Inappropriate.

[QUOTE I know a lot of African-American friends and my opinion on that is that there are African-American people and there are "n#$gers". Same goes for Caucasian and "white trash". Thank you and one more time

Inappropriate.

John in Lithonia, Georgia said: I know a lot of African-American friends and my opinion on that is that there are African-American people and there are "n#$gers". Same goes for Caucasian and "white trash". Thank you and one more time