Description
Diagnose and treat disease using nuclear medicine imaging and therapies, including PET/CT, SPECT, and radiopharmaceutical procedures. Interpret studies, prescribe and administer radiopharmaceuticals, ensure radiation safety, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams on patient care.
- • Participate in quality improvement activities focused on imaging and radiopharmaceutical safety.
- • Participate in continuing education to maintain nuclear medicine expertise.
- • Develop diagnostic and therapeutic plans for nuclear medicine patients.
- • Establish and enforce radiation protection standards for patients and staff.
- • Review and transmit images and reports using PACS and RIS.
- • Recognize and manage adverse reactions or complications during and after nuclear medicine procedures.
- • Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of PET, SPECT, and planar studies.
- • Obtain and review patient histories and relevant labs before procedures or therapies.
- • Consult with referring clinicians regarding image-based diagnoses and radiopharmaceutical therapies.
- • Instruct nuclear medicine technologists in protocols, positioning, and quality standards.
- • Document performance, interpretation, and outcomes of all studies and therapies.
- • Develop and monitor procedures to ensure quality control of cameras, dose calibrators, and images.
- • Coordinate nuclear medicine services with oncology, cardiology, surgery, and other specialties.
- • Counsel patients on procedure preparation, risks, benefits, and radiation safety precautions.
- • Communicate examination and therapy results to referring physicians, patients, and families.
- • Perform and interpret PET/CT, SPECT/CT, planar scintigraphy, and nuclear cardiology stress tests.
- • Administer or supervise the administration of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnosis and therapy.
- • Advise physicians on indications, limitations, and risks of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals.
- • Calculate, measure, and verify patient-specific radiopharmaceutical dosages.
- • Check and approve image quality and adequacy before patient discharge.
- • Select nuclear medicine procedures versus alternative imaging based on clinical need.
- • Direct technologists on desired dosages, acquisition parameters, and projections.
- • Formulate protocols and policies for the nuclear medicine service.
- • Monitor receipt, storage, handling, and disposal of radioactive materials for compliance.
- • Prescribe radiopharmaceuticals and dosages for diagnostic studies and therapies, such as I-131 and Lu-177.
- • Review procedure requests and medical histories to confirm appropriateness and tracer selection.
- • Teach nuclear medicine and related topics to residents, fellows, or technologists.
- • Test and oversee calibration of dose calibrators, survey meters, and imaging systems.
- • Oversee radiation exposure monitoring and ALARA reviews.
- • Participate in multidisciplinary tumor boards and theranostics programs.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
