Nuclear Medicine Technology

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Nuclear Medicine Technology

Cedar Crest College’s program provides an innovative model to help to ensure an adequate supply of people trained to meet the changing and expanding health care needs of society. Students in this program are afforded the teaching experience and strength of both the Cedar Crest College faculty and the teaching faculties of the Lehigh Valley Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital, which includes physicians, physicists and technologists.

The certificate is beneficial to those who currently hold a bachelor’s degree and wish to receive the scientific and clinical expertise needed to acquire positions as Nuclear Medicine Technologists. The Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology approves the Cedar Crest College program.

I. Curriculum

The following courses must be completed with a grade of C or above and an overall cumulative (past and present) GPA of 2.75 must be achieved before admission to the clinical year. (Essentials and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for the Nuclear Medicine Technologists. Revised 2003)

Bio 117/217, Anatomy & Physiology I (4 credits)
Bio 118/218, Anatomy & Physiology II (4 credits)
Bio 320, Biomedical Ethics (3 credits)
Bio 236, Cell and Molecular Biology (4 credits)
Bio 342, Radiation Biology (4 credits)
Phy 101, Introductory College Physics I (4 credits)
Phy 102, Introductory College Physics II (4 credits)
Math, College Algebra or above (3 credits)
English, Two courses (6 credits)
Chemistry, One course (4 credits)

II. Admission to the Program

Prior to declaring for a post-baccalaureate certificate in Nuclear Medicine Technology the following requirements must be met:

1. Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and be admitted to the College.
2. Completed and with a grade of C or above in the following courses:
   1. Anatomy & Physiology I and II
   2. Physics I and II
   3. Chemistry – one course
   4. Algebra or above
   5. English –two courses
3. Have a minimum cumulative (past and present) GPA of 2.75

III. Admission to the Clinical Year

Nuclear Medicine Technology, as any profession, has some potential risks/hazards related to the occupation; students may be exposed to ionizing radiation, blood and body fluids including urine, feces, vomitus, etc. on a daily basis. Students are required to learn and perform venipuncture and to inject radiopharmaceuticals. Nuclear Medicine Technology students are required to assess patients and provide general nursing care to patients while in nuclear medicine departments of our affiliated hospitals.

An extensive amount of verbal communication and self motivation is required in the clinical year. If you are a shy, introverted individual who prefers to stand back and observe before attempting something new and/or who hesitates to speak up, please consider other career options. The clinical year is accelerated and students are required to immediately begin interacting with patients and instructors and attempting procedures.

No student will be allowed to begin the clinical year without documentation that she/he meets all of the following requirements:

1. Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75
2. Have completed the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program application and letter of intent forms.
3. Have successfully completed an interview with the NMT program director and clinical coordinators.
4. Have a completed Health History Form and Physical exam form.
5. Titers documenting immunity to Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella, and Hepatitis B. Proof of Tetanus/Diptheria (TD or Tetanus/Diptheria/acellular Pertussis (Tdap) within the last ten years.
6. Have a negative two-step TB skin test within three months prior to start date.
7. Have completed a CPR Certification (Health Care Professional Level)
8. Have completed one of the following:
   • If the student is a Pennsylvania state resident and has been for the preceding two years:
     1. PA State Police Criminal Record Clearance
   • If the student is not a Pennsylvania state resident or has not been a state resident for the preceding two years:
     1. PA State Police Criminal Record Clearance
     2. FBI Identification Record Request – Federal Criminal History Check
9. Have completed and submitted a Child Abuse Check.
10. Have proof of health insurance. CCC health insurance is acceptable
11. Have completed all other documents required by the affiliated teaching hospitals.
12. Return the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program application and letter of intent forms to the NMT Program Director no later than 5:00p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on the last day of classes, fall semester.
13. Incomplete and/or late applications and letters will not be considered for admission into the clinical year.

There are mandatory standards of minimally acceptable professional conduct for all persons applying for examination and certification by ARRT and NMTCB in order to become a Registered Nuclear Medicine Technologist.

Candidates who have convictions, criminal proceedings, or court-martials as described below may be required to submit a pre-application review of eligibility for certification in order to obtain a ruling as to their eligibility for certification and registration as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist.

1. Conviction of a crime, including a felony, a gross misdemeanor, or a misdemeanor, with the sole exception of speeding and parking violations. All alcohol and /or drug related violations must be reported. Offenses that occurred while a juvenile and that are processed through the juvenile court system are not required to be reported.
2. Criminal proceeding where a finding or verdict of guilt is made or returned but the adjudication of guilt is either withheld, deferred, or not entered or the sentence is suspended or stayed; or a criminal proceeding where the individual enters a plea of guilty or nolo contender (no contest).
3. Military court-martials that involve substance abuse, any sex-related infractions, or patient-related infractions.

Students are required to receive a grade of C or above in all required courses for the certificate and must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 to remain in the program.

Acceptance into the clinical year is competitive and not guaranteed by satisfaction of the minimum requirements. It is based on academic performance (minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75), the available number of positions in the clinical program and student interviews conducted by the educational and clinical program coordinators.

Students completing a certificate in Nuclear Medicine Technology are required to complete a clinical experience. Because this requirement necessitates working with the public in a professional setting, it is important that the student has advanced interpersonal skills, mature judgment and appropriate professional demeanor. Thus faculty will review students prior to the clinical experience and make recommendations up to and including removal from placement.

Clinical Year

The clinical year begins in early June and is generally completed by the end of April of the following year. Students in the clinical year are required to receive a grade of C or above in all required courses and must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 to remain in the clinical year and the program.

Academic instruction for the professional nuclear medicine technology curriculum will include the following daytime courses:

NMT 411, Nuclear Imaging and Instrumentation (6 credits)
NMT 413, Clinical Practicum (2 credits)
NMT 415, Cross sectional Anatomy (2 credits)
NMT 421, Nuclear Physics and Radiation Safety (2 credits)
NMT 425, Patient Care (1 credit)
NMT 426, Quality Assurance (1 credit)
NMT 461, Introduction to CT (1 credit)

NMT 412, Nuclear Imaging and Instrumentation (6 credits)
NMT 414, Clinical Practicum (2 credits)
NMT 424, Statistics (1 credit)
NMT 428, Computers in Medical Imaging (1 credit)
NMT 430, Radiopharmaceuticals (1 credit)
NMT 432, Non-Imaging Procedures (1 credit)
NMT 441, Nuclear Oncology (1 credit)
NMT 451, Clinical Seminar/Research (2 credit)
NMT 452, Patient Ethics (1 credit)

Clinical Training in Nuclear Medicine Technology
The nuclear medicine clinical training begins early June and ends in April of the following year. Students in the clinical year of this program will earn Cedar Crest College credit and will pay one-half of the comprehensive nonresident student tuition fee. Resident students will also pay the full-room and board fee.

The training is performed in nuclear medicine departments of the program’s affiliated hospitals. Teaching and clinical instructors are physicians, physicists and technologists on the hospital staffs. Student’s progress and performance are monitored by the program director, who makes periodic visits to the hospital departments. Readings, problem assignments and project work are an integral part of the student’s clinical training.

The hospital training includes the following areas: radionuclide imaging and external monitoring; radiation safety and protection; patient positioning and nursing procedures; and nuclear medicine administrative procedures. Students are required to learn and perform venipuncture and to inject radiopharmaceuticals. The training also includes: nuclear oncology, nuclear cardiology, molecular imaging (PET, and PET/CT), single photon emission tomography, immunology and cross-sectional anatomy. Thirty-one credits are awarded for the satisfactory completion of the clinical year.

Travel Policies
Travel to, from and within the affiliated hospitals is the responsibility of the student.

Health Requirements
Dental and eye examinations, immunizations and an annual complete physical examination are required, as well as freedom from any physical, mental, or drug impairment that would prohibit the candidate from practicing as a professional nuclear medicine technologist.

After completing the program, each student should have attained a level of knowledge and skill to be capable of performing the various tasks as outlined in the Essentials and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for the Nuclear Medicine Technologist, Revised 2003.

The granting of a degree or certificate from Cedar Crest College is no guarantee that you will be licensed, certified, or accepted for practice by professional licensing agencies.