A nuclear technologist is one who is expert in multiple diagnostic methods and nuclear cardiology. He works in hospitals and health care centers. The most common form of nuclear imaging technology are the x-rays. In nuclear medicine, radionucleides are used are used to diagnose and treat diseases. Radionucleides are purified and compounded before administering to the patient. The compounded form of radionuclieds is known as radiopharmaceuticals. These radiopharmaceuticals are administered to the patient to monitor the characteristics and functions of the tissues and organs where the drugs localize. The technician uses computerized equipments to visualize the changes in the organs. Before starting the procedure, the nuclear medicine technologist explains the procedures to make them comfortable during the imaging.
After explaining the procedures to the patients, the technician prepares a dosage of the radiopharmaceutical and administers through mouth, injection, and inhalation. After the administration of the radiopharmaceutical, the technician positions the patients in front of a gamma scintillation camera or scanner. The camera creates images of the pharmaceutical distribution in the body. The equipment is connected to a computer screen or film that shows the images where the radiopharmaceuticals are administered. The technician makes a note of the changes in the metabolic activities of the organ and prepares a report. A nuclear medicine technologist prepares and maintains the reports of the patients. He works under the orders of the physician.
The job of a nuclear medicine technologist is very strenuous as he has to stand for long hours of time. He should have good physical fitness to work both with the equipment and patients. While working with the pharmaceuticals the technician is careful to prepare them since over or under dosage of these drugs may result in sever health hazards. There are 2 main areas of specialty a nuclear technician works in, they are nuclear cardiology and positron emission tomography. Nuclear cardiology deals are used in myocardial perfusion imaging which gives a 3D image of the body. Positron Emission Tomography is used to take images at the site where the radiopharmaceuticals are administered.
