Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine Technology
Announcement - July 2010
The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at the University of Utah Health Care, Department of Radiology and the University of Utah, College of Health, Department of Health Education and Promotion (HEDU) have established an Academic Partnership offering a:
BS Degree in Health Education and Promotion with an Emphasis in Nuclear Medicine Technology
Application deadline for the 2011 class that will begin in Summer 2011 will be November 19, 2010
Detailed information is available on this website, the H EDU website or by contacting the HEDU academic advisor:
Anna Adams at 801-581-8548.
What is Nuclear Medicine?
Nuclear Medicine, specialists use safe, painless, and cost-effective techniques to image the body and treat disease. Nuclear medicine is unique and broad to include nuclear medicine imaging, PET/CT and molecular procedures. It provides doctors with information about both structure and function. It is a way to gather medical information that would otherwise be unavailable, require surgery, or necessitate more expensive diagnostic tests. Nuclear medicine combines computer technology, advanced medical instrumentation, chemistry, physics, and radioactivity to diagnose and treat disease.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist
The Nuclear Medicine Technologist is a highly specialized healthcare professional who works closely with the nuclear medicine physician. Some of the technologist¿s primary responsibilities are to:
- Prepare and administer radioactive chemical compounds, known as radiopharmaceuticals
- Perform patient imaging procedures using sophisticated radiation-detecting instrumentation
- Accomplish computer processing and image enhancement
- Analyze biologic specimens in the laboratory
- Provide images, data analysis, and patient information to the physician for diagnostic interpretation. During an imaging procedure, the technologist works directly with the patient.
- Gains the patients confidence by obtaining pertinent history, describing the procedure and answering any questions
- Monitors the patients physical condition during the course of the procedure
- Notes any specific patient comments which might indicate the need for additional images or might be useful to the physician in interpreting the results of the procedure.
Today, nuclear medicine offers procedures that are essential in many medical specialties, from pediatrics to cardiology to psychiatry. New and innovation nuclear medicine treatments that target and pinpoint molecular levels within the body are revolutionizing our understanding of and approach to a range of diseases and conditions. If you have a keen interest in the health sciences and computer technology and are looking for a people-oriented career, consider Nuclear Medicine Technology! Individuals who have a strong academic background in science and the desire to assist others are strong candidates for a nuclear medicine program. A job shadow experience in a nuclear medicine department will provide you with insight into the daily responsibilities of a nuclear medicine technologist.
Nuclear medicine technologists must be knowledgeable in a wide range of subjects to include anatomy, physiology, mathematics, chemistry and physics. This scientific background will assist them in developing the technical knowledge needed in the profession to include radiation protection, radionuclides and radiopharmaceuticals, instrumentation and quality control and the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Nuclear medicine procedures are performed in a variety of categories to include skeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, genitourinary, CNS, gastrointestinal, hematopoietic, endocrine, oncology and PET/CT.
What are the technical and physical aspects expected of Nuclear Medicine Technologists?- Routinely lift more than 25 pounds, push, pull and stoop,
- Full use of their extremities and distinguish audible sounds
- Adequately view nuclear medicine images
- Interact compassionately and effectively with the sick and injured
- Intricately handle radiopharmacueticals and perform venipuncture
- Assist patients, family members and physicians
- Communicate effectively with patients and other professionals
- Organize and accurately perform the individual steps in a nuclear medicine procedure efficiently.
Nuclear Medicine Technologists work in a wide variety of clinical settings:
- Community hospitals
- University-affiliated teaching hospitals and medical centers
- Outpatient imaging facilities to include cardiology centers
- Public health institutions
- Government and private research institutes.
Technologists have a wide variety of alternative career paths available.
- Senior staff technologist
- Research technologist
- Education to include faculty, clinical instructor or program educator
- Department supervisor or team leader
- PET/CT or Cardiology specialist
- Hospital administrator
- Industry sales representative, technical specialist, or research-and-development specialist
Nuclear medicine descriptions created by the Society of Nuclear Medicine.
Visit www.snm.org for more information on nuclear medicine.
SalariesSalaries for nuclear medicine technologists are high relative to similar health professions. NMTs working in PET/CT command the highest salaries among NMTs providing imaging services. Average starting hourly salary is approximately $26.00/hr. (www.asrt.org) and the mean total annual salary for full-time including call is $70,470, with a median at $67,000. (2005 Survey)
How can I become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist?The University Health Care, Department of Radiology, sponsors an accredited nuclear medicine technology (NMT) program that includes CT certification. The program is currently accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT-2005). Two academic options are available for studying NMT at the University, the Certificate Course of Study and the BS in Health Education and Promotion with Emphasis in Nuclear Medicine Technology. The application deadline for both options is the 3rd Friday in November and selection of students is announced by the first week of January. The NMT program officially starts Summer semester.
1. Certificate Course of Study
The Certificate course of study is an option for students who already have earned a BS degree. The "Certificate" applicant must complete all prerequisite courses that are identified below and submit a formal application to the Department of Radiology. Final applicants will be selected for an in-person interview and a "shadow" experience. Students who are selected will be required to complete all of the "NMT Required Content Classes". At the completion of this course of study, the student will earn a Certificate of Completion in NMT and Computerized Tomography (CT) and be eligible to sit for the NMT and CT certification examinations. (NMTCB and/or ARRT) The tuition for the certificate student is $1,600.00 semester (special fee) for a total of $6,400.00 This includes the NMT and CT curriculum.
2. BS in Health Education and Promotion (H EDU) with Emphasis in Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT)
The Nuclear Medicine Technology Emphasis is the second educational option to study NMT at the University of Utah and is structured for students who do NOT have a BS degree. Upon completion of the NMT Emphasis, the student will earn a BS in H EDU with Emphasis in NMT and be qualified to take the national NMT and CT certification exams. Emphasis students will also receive certificates of completion. This educational opportunity has been made possible due to an academic agreement between the Department of Radiology and the H EDU Department of the University of Utah formed in 2010.
The "Emphasis" applicant must complete all prerequisite courses that are identified below and submit a formal application to the Department or Radiology. Final applicants will be selected for an in-person interview and a "shadow" experience. Emphasis applicants have H EDU courses to complete in addition to the Math/Science prerequisites and must be declared as a H EDU major. This option is also available for students who have been accepted as a certificate student and want to complete a second BS degree.
An Admissions Committee committee from NMT program representatives will interview and select students based on their ability to successfully complete the program and become competent and compassionate NMT's. If the Emphasis applicant is selected he/she will become a declared NMT Emphasis student within the H EDU department. The tuition costs for the NMT Emphasis student will be the current University of Utah tuition and fee schedule per credit hour in addition to the $1,600.00 per semester (special fee).
Radiologic Technologists RT (R) Applicants who hold an Associates of Science Degree (AS) can qualify as a Certificate applicant but are encouraged to apply as an Emphasis applicant. RT(R)'s are required to complete all pre-requisites identified below with the exception of Physics 1010. Radiographers who do not have a minimum of an AS degree must apply as an Emphasis student.
Entry Level Requirements for Nuclear Medicine Technologists
By the year 2015, education leading to the baccalaureate degree will become the standard for entry level nuclear medicine technologists. At this time, the certificate option for Registered Radiographers who do NOT hold a BS degree will be eliminated.
Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologists (NMTCB and/or ARRT) are also eligible to complete the BS degree in H EDU with Emphasis in Nuclear Medicine Technology. The certified technologist must establish a time to meet with Marlene Johnson (marlene.johnson@hsc.utah.edu) and discuss their past NMT course of study. The required NMT content courses may be waived for the certified NMT, allowing the student to complete all other requirements of the H EDU degree to include: the 7 required H EDU courses for a total of 21 credit hours of H EDU courses and all other university requirements. The addiational 21 hours of H EDU courses must be taken at the University of Utah to satisfy residency requirements.
The annual Maximum Student Capacity will not exceed 6 students from both the Emphasis and Certificate applicants. This does not include Certified NMT's completing requirements for the baccalaureate degree. A minimum of 2 H EDU qualified applicants will be selected from the pool each year. The required content of the NMT program is structured to be completed in four semesters, which equates to 15 months. The accepted student will dedicate 3 semesters or 12 months to the NMT curriculum and the final semester (3 months) to the dedicated CT curriculum.
Students who wish to pursue the H EDU BS with an Emphasis in NMT may declare the H EDU major at any time. Students will not be allowed to choose the NMT Emphasis until they are accepted into the program.
NMT Emphasis and Certificate Option Prerequisites* for the NMT Program
(Must be taken within the last 7 years)
AP Credits are accepted as prerequisites. Course numbers are University of Utah's. Please see advising for Course articulation from other Colleges and University'
* Higher level prerequisites in the same content area may be acceptable. You must see an advisor to have this approved
+ These courses may be taken for non-credit. BLS certification must be current at time of application.
| Prerequisites* | Cr Hours | Course Title |
| WRTG 20103 | 3 | Intermediate Writing |
| PHYS 1010 | 3 | The Way Things Work |
| MATH 1050 | 4 | College Algebra |
| MATH 1040 | 3 | Introduction to Statistical Inference |
| BIOL 2325 | 4 | Human Anatomy |
| BIOL 2420 | 4 | Human Physiology |
| CHEM 1110 | 4 | Elementary Chemistry |
| CHEM 1120 | 4 | Elementary Biorganic Chemistry |
| H EDU 1950+ | 4 | First Aid and CPR |
| H EDU 3030+ | 3 | Medical Terminology |
Required Emphasis Courses
H EDU 3050 3
Community Health Issues F S Su H EDU
4200 3 Foundations of Health Education and Promotion F
H EDU 4300 3
Introduction to Research and Assessment FH EDU 3150 2
Health and Human Relations F SH EDU 3290 3
Living with Chronic Disease SElective Courses: Must take 2 courses
H EDU 1010 3 Healthy Lifestyles F S Su
H EDU 3000 3 Human Sexuality F S Su
H EDU 3020 3 Patient Education F S Su
H EDU 3160 3 Stress Management F S Su
H EDU 3190 3 Death and Dying F S Su
H EDU 3700 3 Environmental Health Su
H EDU 4350 3 Personal Resiliency S
ESS 4360 3 Body Composition F
Application Guidelines and Requirements for the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program
Students applying to the NMT Program either as an Emphasis Student or Certificate Student Must:
-
1. Meet with the Education Director, Marlene Johnson prior to submitting an application
-
2. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5
-
3. Have taken all prerequisite courses within the last 7 years
-
4. Have a letter grade of C- or better in all major courses and prerequisite classes
-
5. Have completed all prerequisites with the exception of CHEM 1110/Chem 1120 or PHYS 1010 but be enrolled in either Chem 1110, Chem 1120 or PHYS 1010 at the time of application
-
6. Must complete all prerequisites enrolled in at time of selection before starting the NMT program.
-
7. EMPHASIS STUDENT ONLY. Graduate within one semster after finishing H EDU 4810. If a students does not graduate within one semester of finishing the NMT required certification courses, the student may not be eligible to sit for the certification exams or practice as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist.
-
8. Be able to successfully pass a drug screen and background check and be able to pass the ethical eligibility requirements of the NMTCB and/or ARRT in regards to criminal convictions after being admitted. If a student has had a prior criminal conviction, they are advised to pre-apply through the NMTCB and/or ARRT to ensure that they will be eligible to complete the national exam.
-
9. Complete a student observation time in nuclear medicine prior to applying. Please contact Marlene Johnson, Education Director, to schedule the observation at 801-585-6753. Only students who are academically prepared to apply will be granted observation times.
-
10. CERTIFICATE STUDENTS ONLY. Complete a BS degree before or during the semester you are submitting an application. If the student is accepted and does not complete the degree, their reserved place in the program will be relinquished.
-
11. Be admitted to the University of Utah.
-
12. Complete all GENERAL APPLICATION MATERIALS by the 3rd Friday in November. (Either postmarked or delivered)
- Nuclear Medicine Program Application. http://test.medicine.utah.edu/radiology/technologist/Applications%20Process/applicationform.pdf.
- Write a short biographical essay about yourself that includes: Your educational and work related background. How you became interested in Nuclear Medicine and your career plans.
- Three Selection Preference Evaluations from employers, colleagues or professors. You can send the references in together with the application if they are sealed or you can have them sent directly to the address below.
- Official college transcripts from all colleges and/or Universities you have attended. Please send directly to the Nuclear Medicine program, Department of Radiology, attn: Marlene Johnson at the address below.
- A current resume
- $25.00 application fee, checks made payable to the University of Utah.
-
Submit all application materials to:
- University of Utah Hospital Department of Radiology
- Attention: Marlene Johnson/Education Director
- 30 North 1900 East Salt Lake City UT 84132-2140
- Telephone (801) 801-585-6753 Fax: (801) 801-581-2414
SELECTION
Student selection is completed by an Admissions Committee that will evaluate the students ability to successfully complete the program and become competent and compassionate nuclear medicine technologists. A point system is utilized and considers the students' total GPA, prerequisite GPA, scores on structured reference forms and interview rating scores. Personal interviews are required and at the students travel expense.
Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony?ARRT and NMTCB requires that all misdemeanor and felony convictions be reported including charges resulting in pleas of guilty, pleas of nolo contendere (no contest), withheld adjudications, suspended sentences, or military court-martial. An Ethics Committee will determine if the student is eligible to take the certification exams. Each medical insititution that the student will attend for clinical orientation has requirements for their screening process. If there is a concern, the applicant can be pre-screened.
Nuclear Medicine Program
The Nuclear Medicine Technology program at the University Health Care is a 12 month hospital sponsored program that received a full 5 year accreditation by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT) in 2005. With the addition of the 3 month CT component, the course duration is 15 months. Upon successful completion of the program the student will earn a Certificate of Completion for educational training in nuclear medicine and eligibility to sit for the national examinations with the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (NM-ARRT). Students will earn an additional certificate with the successful completion of the 3 month CT curriculum and be eligible for the CT-ARRT certification exam. The program combines didactic and clinical education that offers the student the knowledge and skills necessary to become a competent Nuclear Medicine Technologist. College credit can be earned for the program and is thoroughly explained under the Emphais portion of the web site. Please visit the H EDU Department's website below:
http://www.health.utah.edu/healthpromotion/undergraduate/nuclearmedicine.html
Clinical Education
Experiences occur at the University Hospital, Huntsman Cancer Hospital, the VA Medical Center, the Radiopharmacy and beginning in 2010, St.Mark's Hospital and Primary Childrens. (Minor rotation) Program faculty are radiologists, physicists, radiopharmaceutical experts and experienced technologists. The sponsoring institution and the affiliate institutions offer clinical experiences designed with a competency-based clinical educational system. All of the clinical affiliates offer a wide variety of patients, examinations and state-of-the-art equipment. The clinical experiences does include PET/CT.
Program MissionTo provide an accredited high quality, progressive and comprehensive educational program in Nuclear Medicine Technology servicing the community and the region.
Program Objectives
The purpose of the Nuclear Medicine Technology program is to prepare graduates who are clinically competent and provide quality diagnostic imaging and therapeutic services to patients while maintaining compassion and respect.
Program Goals- Ensure that 100% of program graduates are clinically competent in diagnostic imaging and therapeutic studies.
- Graduate competent entry-level nuclear medicine technologists who are effective communicators, problem solvers and critical thinkers.
- Maintain the following:
- A credentialing examination pass rate of not less than 80% at first attempt.
- A job placement rate of not less than 80% within six months of graduation.
- A program completion rate of not less than 80%.
- Maintain a full accreditation status with the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology.
- Graduate students who are satisfied with their Nuclear Medicine educational experience and feel that it was beneficial to their professional development and growth.
Education in nuclear medicine is achieved by blending and coordinating didactic and clinical learning experiences. Educational hours of the NMT Program are between 6:30 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday for a 15 month period, not to exceed 40 hours a week. The curriculum structure adheres to accreditation requirements and includes the following courses: The course numbers are the credit hour courses that are currently approved through the University of Utah.
Patient Care in Nuclear Medicine - H EDU 3600 - 3 credits- Patient care in nuclear medicine is a required course in the NMT program that provides the knowledge, learning experiences and skill assessment necessary for technologists to safely and effectively care for nuclear medicine patients.
Nuclear Medicine Clinical Education I - H EDU 3610 - 1 credit Clinical experience in health care integrates didactic learning into practical settings at JRCNMT(Joint Review Committee in Education in Nuclear Medicine Technology) approved clinical sites. Students complete 105 contact hours progressing through levels of responsibility/involvement relevant to level of didactic learning. Students progress from observation to assisting the technologist, to performing the nuclear medicine procedure under direct supervision, to completing the procedure independently under indirect supervision. Current clinical rotations include: University Hospital; Huntsman Cancer Hospital; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Radiopharmacy St. Mark's (2010) and Primary Childrens'.
Nuclear Medicine Statistics/Physics - HEDU - 3650- 3 credits - A required quantitative intensive course that provides content and inferential decision making activities utilizing descriptive statistics to analyze and interpret numerical data utilized in nuclear medicine. Applications in nuclear medicine include: calculations of halflife, radiopharmaceutical dosages and decay; percentages of error, standard deviations, average values, mean, medium and mode. Concepts and physical principles that govern radioactivity and the interactions of radiation with matter will be presented.
Radiation Protection and Biology -HEDU - 3900 - 2 credits - The radiation biology section covers the background knowledge needed to understnad the concepts and importance of radiation protection to include: interactions of radiation with living systems and radiation effects of molecules, cells, tissues and systems. Radiation protection content provides knowledge of the principles and applications of radiation protection to include the applicable regulations.
Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation-HEDU 3820 - 4 credits Course includes knowledge relevant to the principles, operation and quality control for non-imaging instruments incluing monitoring equipment, dose calibrators, well counters, uptake probes, liquid scintillation systems and the gamma probes. In depth information presented on the components, use and quality control of the various types of systems used for gamma and positron imaging. Students will participate in the study of the configuration, function and application of computers in nucelar medicine. A study of CT instrumentation as it relates to PET/CT will be studied.
Nuclear Medicine Procedures I-HEDU 3800 - 3 credits- This course provides the student didactic knowledge of diagnositc procedures currently being performed in nucelar medicine and will focus on the following systems: musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, genitoiurinary and gastrointestinal. The student must master knowledge required of each procedure to include anatomy and physiology, pathology, radiopharmaceuticals, contraindications, possible adverse reactions, patient preparation, imaging techniques and interpretation of images for diagnostic quality.
Nuclear Medicine Clinical Education II - HEDU 3810 - 5 credits- Clinical experience in health care integrates didactic learning into practical settings at JRCNMT approved clinical sites. Students complete 525 contact hours progressing through levels of responsibility/involvement relevant to level of didactic learning. Students progress from observation to assisting the technologist, to performing the nuclear medicine procedure under direct supervision, to completing the procedure independently under indirect supervision. Current clinical rotations include: University Hospital; Huntsman Cancer Hospital; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St. Marks and Primary Childrens' Hospital (2010)
Nuclear Medicine Procedures II- HEDU 4000 - 3 credits- This course provides the student didactic knowledge of diagnositc procedures currently being perfomred in nucelar medicine and will focus on the following systems and areas: respiratory, central nervous, hematology, endocrine/exocrine, immunology, oncology/inflammation and radionuclide therapy. The student must master knowledge required of each procedure to include anatomy and physiology, pathology, radiopharmaceuticals, contraindications, possible adverse reactions, patient preparation, imaging techniques and interpretation of images for diagnostic quality.
Nuclear Medicine Certification Preparation - HEDU 4050 - 2 credits- This course will provide the students with the necessary information, tools and guidelines to successfully pass the national certification examination in nuclear medicine technology offerred by the NMTCB (Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board) and the ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologists).
Introduction to Nuclear Pharmacy PCTH 5641 - 2 credits - the theory and practice of radiopharmacy, including preparation, calculation of the dose to be administered, quality control, radiation safety, and applicable regulations. It also deals with nonradioactive interventional drugs.
Nuclear Medicine Clinical Education III- HEDU 4010- 5 credits - Clinical experience in health care integrates didactic learning into practical settings at JRCNMT(Joint Review Committee in Education in Nuclear Medicine Technology) approved clinical sites. Students complete 525 contact hours progressing through levels of responsibility/involvement relevant to level of didactic learning. Students progress from observation to assisting the technologist, to performing the nuclear medicine procedure under direct supervision, to completing the procedure independently under indirect supervision. Current clinical rotations include: University Hospital; Huntsman Cancer Hospital, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St. Mark's and Primary Childrens' Hospital (2010)
At the completion of the nuclear medicine curriculum to include the fundamentals of CT, the student is eligible to complete the NMTCB and/or the ARRT in Nuclear Medicine Technology. The student is encouraged to complete both examinations. Once they have received a certification in NMT, the student progresses to a full-time curriculum in CT.
Computerized Tomography - A comprehensive curriculum in CT to include the didactic and clinical experiences necessary to practice and complete the CT-ARRT examination.
- Didactic coursework in cross-sectional anatomy, CT procedures, patient care, physics and instrumentation.
- Clinical Education to include an additional 220 dedicated clinical hours performing CT procedures
CT Anatomy/Procedures - HEDU 4800 - 2 credits- Content provides detailed coverage of sectional anatomy and procedures for CT imaging. Procedures include, but are not limited to, indications, patient education, preperation, orientation and positioning, patient history and assessment, contrast media usage,scout image, selectable scan parameters, filming and archiving of the images. CT anatomy will be identified and studied in axial, sagittal, coronal and 3D planes. CT procedures will be taught for differentiation of specific structures and pathology. CT images studied will be reviewed for quality anatomy and demonstration of pathology.
CT Physics/Protection - HEDU 4850 - 1 credit -Content is designed to impart an understanding of the physical principles and instrumentation involved in computerized tomography. Physcis concepts covered include; characteristics of x-rays; CT beam attenuation; linear attenuation coefficients, tissue characteristics and Hounsfiled numbers. CT image processing and display will be examined from data acquisition through post-processing and archiving and patient factors related to other elementsaffecting image quality will be discussed.
CT Clinical Education - H EDU 4810 - 4 credits - Clinical experience in health care integrates didactic learning into practical settings at approved clinical sites. Students complete clinical rotations attending 24-32 hours a week for an approximate total of 220 clinical hours. The student progresses through a competency based clinical expereince program in CT. Clinical rotations include: University Hospital; Huntsman Cancer Hospital; Imaging Neuroscience Center, Redwood out-patient center and other rotations to include Primary Childrens'. The students is required to demonstrate the ability to perform a minimum of 25 of the 53 ARRT required CT examinations with a total exam number of 125. Experiences in trauma, biopsies, post-processing and heart imaging are completed. .
Tuition
Refer to the current tuition and fee rates for the 2011/2012 academic year to determine the total cost of tuition for the Emphasis student. The Emphasis and Certificate student will both pay a $1,600.00 per semester special fee for a total of $6,400.00. To determine the total cost for the Emphasis student, tuition must be included.
Note: There WILL be financial aid assistance available for the Emphasis student through the Financial Aid office of the University of Utah. Certificate students will need to visit the financial aid department and discuss their level in college and other information that will influence financial aid.
Additional Fees
Approximate costs include: Lab Coats or Scrubs: 200.00, Parking Pass: 130.00 Textbooks: 700.00 Licensing Fees: 145.00
Scholarships
Scholarships for educational expenses are not available through the Department of Radiology. Scholarship opportunities are occasionally offered through ASRT (www.asrt.org) and SNM (www.snm.org) and the University of Utah.
Student Refund Policy
The following University of Utah policies apply to students taking credit and noncredit classes:
Nonrefundable fees include application fees for admission and readmission fees. Courses with irregular start/end dates, workshops, and short term courses, which do not correspond with the first and last weeks or the regular term, may be dropped if no more than 15 percent of the coursework has been completed. Refunds will be based on the length of the class. Refer to Income Accounting and Student Loan Services for specific drop dates of each semester. http://fbs.admin.utah.edu/index.php/students/rp/.
Petition to Refund
A petition form to request an exception to the refund policy is available at the Income Accounting/Student Loan Services Office, 175 SSB, or through this web site at Tuition/Late Fee Petitioning Procedures. Exceptions will be granted only for extenuating circumstances beyond a student¿s control.
Withdrawals
Requests for medical withdrawals are reviewed individually with NMT program personnel and follow the University of Utah withdrawal policy.
Student Transfers
The NMT program does not accept transfer students from other NMT programs. Contant the University of Utah for information regarding the transferability of courses related to the pre-requisites.
Student Benefits
Students enrolled in the NMT Program will be awarded the same benefits as students attending the University of Utah. Students will be invited to employee functions of University Health Care
HEALTH COVERAGE and TRANSPORTATION
Atudents are responsible for their own health care and transportation. TRAX passes are awarded to U of U Students and Student Insurance is available.
Attendance
The program begins in Summer semester at complete the program four sesmesters later. Full-time day attendance is required with the exception of hospital recognized holidays and scheduled NMT program breaks. Upon request, a detailed calendar of the previous academic year is available for review. Students are scheduled 28 - 36 contact hours a week between clinical and didactic courses.
Non-Routine Clinical Assignments
Students are never required to work evenings, night shifts, saturdays, sundays or holidays. Missed clinical time can be made up during the week or on program breaks.
Academic and Clinical Performance
All major, prerequisite and NMT emphasis course must be completed with a C- or higher. Students who do not complete all coursework with a C- or better will not be eligible to sit for the national exam until coursework is completed. Students must complete the Bachelor Degree within one semester of finishing H EDU 4810. Grading and counseling sessions are conducted on an ongoing basis to include the following:
- Clinical evaluations completed at the end of each rotation
- Quarterly clinical evaluations completed 4 times throughout the NMT program
- Testing and percentage grades are granted at the end of each course.
- Updated transcript with grades are always available through the U of U.
Failure to earn C- grade and passing clinical scores of an overall 70% or better is terms for probation or dismissal depending on the number of courses involved and the severity of the failures. For example if the student missed a C- by 1 percentage point as opposed to 15. The following constitutes the scale for percentage to grade conversions for academic units:
- 93-100 A
- 90-92 A-
- 87-89 B+
- 83-86 B
- 79-82 B-
- 75-78 C+
- 73-74 C
- 70-72 C-
- 69-69 D+
- 68-68 D
- 0-67 E (Failure)
Graduation Requirements
In order to receive a Certificate of Completion and be eligible to sit for registry examinations conducted by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT-NM/CT), students must:
- Successfully pass each course with a C- or higher.
- Complete the required nuclear medicine clinical competencies and clinical contact hours
- Complete the required CT clinical experiences and clinical contact hours.
- Be in good standing as outlined by the Policy and Procedure Manual
Student Pregnancy Policy
The student has the right to not declare pregnancy and remain in the program with no modification option.
Pregnancy during the course of the program may present problems for program completion at the expected time. If the student continues to attend both class and clinic as scheduled during her pregnancy, minimal disruption will occur. If the student has difficulty maintaining the routine schedule of the program, advancement and completion will be jeopardized. It is the policy of the program to be supportive to pregnant students. The student must understand that all program requirements must be completed in order for her to graduate and receive a Certificate of Completion.
Due to the potential danger to an unborn fetus, especially during the first trimester, the student is encouraged to inform the Technology Administrator, Program Director or any other member of the Nuclear Medicine program if they expect a pregnancy. If the student declares a pregnancy, plans for program continuation and completion must be made. The student has the following options:
A. Remain in the program as scheduled. This option requires the following:
- All courses must be completed with a C- or better grade. Continued attendance and successful progress must be maintained. In the event that a student cannot complete a course, they will be required to retake the course the next time it is offered. It is possible for the student to continue and successfully complete the academic courses without disruption.
- The student's clinical rotation will be monitored so that the student will NOT receive unnecessary radiation. The student will be expected to satisfactorily perform in the clinical setting and to make-up competencies and time missed at the completion of the pregnancy.
- The student will be allowed a leave of absence in length as agreed upon by the student and the program and in accord with the policies of the University of Utah Health Sciences Center. The student is encouraged to return to the classroom at the earliest possible date.
- If the student wishes to complete courses as scheduled, she must attend class on an ongoing basis during and after the pregnancy.
B. The student may choose to take a leave of absence until after the pregnancy.
The terms for this are as follows:
- The student will be allowed to take a leave of absence for a period of one year. At the end of the year, she must reenter the program as a full-time student or relinquish her position in the program.
- Once a student voluntarily withdraws from the program due to pregnancy, she must reapply to reenter.
It is both policy and practice of the program and the clinical education setting to offer the utmost radiation protection to student technologists. The program will NOT assume liability in any case of pregnancy. Should a pregnant student choose to remain in the program, the program members will provide support to the student¿s completion of the program. The student will be given an additional radiation monitoring badge for the fetus and will be monitored so that the dose limit in one month does not exceed .05 rem and the total dose limit does not exceed .5 rem.
Radiation Monitoring/Protection
Working with ionizing radiation and radioactive materials requires the student to wear a personnel dosimeter that measures the amount of occupational exposure received. Dosimeter service is supplied by the facility and students are required to wear dosimeters during their clinical education experiences. A radiation safety officer will monitor the student¿s exposure levels. Students will be counseled quarterly by the radiation safety officer regarding their radiation exposure and safety practices. Students are provided with the knowledge necessary to keep patient and occupational exposure at a minimum early in the program. Students are provided the use of syringe shields for protection from ionizing radiation during their training.
Dress Code
Students are always required to be neat and professional in appearance while in the nuclear medicine department. Upon acceptance, students will be granted a detailed document addressing the parameters of dress code to include the appearance of body piercing and tatoos.
Disciplinary and Due Process Procedures
Available in student handbook.
Non-Acceptance Procedure
Students will be notified by mail of their selection status no later than January 15th. Students are welcome to reapply the subsequent year. Reapplicants are required to submit 3 new reference forms, an updated resume/biography and documentation of any pre-requisite changes. Students not accepted during their second attempt will not be considered for acceptance the subsequent year.
Governing Body
The NMT program is under the direction of the department of radiology medical director, technology program administrator and program director. An advisory board of physicians, technologists, pharmacists, educators and student representatives is responsible for the administration and review of this program with final decisions residing with the Chairman. The V.A.Medical Center is a program affiliate and joins the University in providing clinical experiences. The H EDU Department has representation on the advisory committee.
Affirmative Action Employment Policy
University president's statement -- August 1983
"The University of Utah is fully committed to policies of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination. Accordingly, the University pursues a vigorous program of affirmative-action in all its classifications of employment in order to prevent any form of discrimination, Rasmussen or prejudicial treatment on the basis of race, color, religion, the national origin, sex, age, or status as a handicapped individual, disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. All University administrative and supervisory personnel are required in turn to assure that this policy will be furthered by imposing only valid requirements for employment decisions and for promotional opportunities, and to see that all personnel actions such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, institutionally -- sponsored training, education, social and recreational programs will be instituted and administer to comply with the standards of fairness and nondiscrimination which are the basis for the equal opportunity policy."
An Exciting Future!
Nuclear medicine has a very bright future and will continue to be a field at the forefront of modern clinical medicine and technological development. The future has never been brighter thanks to¿
- The development of new radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
- Promising research and development of cancer-detecting and cancer-killing agents, such as genetically engineered antibodies
- The expanding clinical use of exciting new technology known as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), which provides new and unique means of studying biochemistry and metabolism within living tissues.
- The addition of hybrid imaging in PET/CT which has expanded the technologists role.
Related links:
Society of Nuclear Medicine (www.snm.org)
American Society of Radiologic Technologists (www.asrt.org)
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (www.arrt.org)
Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (www.nmtcb.org)
Application Procedures Download the application here: As a Word document As an Acrobat document