Nuclear Medicine Technology
Associate in Arts Degree Nuclear Medicine Technology
Brief Description
This eighteen-month, full-time program leading to an Associate of Arts degree is offered through a cooperative effort between Bellevue College and a number of area hospitals and clinics. Students interested in this selective admission program must meet the admission guidelines published annually. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to apply to take the national certification exams as well as Washington State licensure.
Curriculum covers performing a wide variety of imaging and therapeutic procedures, preparing and administering radiopharmaceuticals, explains the procedures and their risks, taking patient histories, and analyze the results of each study. Students work with a number of radiation detection systems, including gamma cameras and positron emission tomography systems. They also work with computers that analyze data from imaging studies, in addition to those used for administrative tasks. Coursework will include principles and procedures in computed tomography, which is frequently done in conjunction with nuclear medicine procedures. Most important, students work directly with patients, helping to ease their anxiety as well as diagnose their ailments.
Students in the Nuclear Medicine Technology program must earn a C (2.0) or better in all courses required for a degree or certificate.
Learning Outcomes
Degree recipients should possess the skills and abilities described below:
- Perform nuclear medicine functions of all kinds, including imaging, non-imaging, and therapy procedures; quality control procedures; radiopharmacy skills; and radiation safety/protection techniques and procedures
- Operate nuclear medicine equipment including gamma cameras, SPECT systems, PET scanners, and CT scanners co-located with SPECT or PET systems
- Assess technical results of nuclear medicine procedures and functions and determine appropriate actions based on those results
- Review requests for appropriateness and schedule nuclear medicine studies, consulting as necessary to attain the best quality of patient care
- Operate nuclear medicine computers, including scheduling, radiopharmacy, imaging, and archiving systems
- Explain procedures to patients and their family members in such a way that patient cooperation is attained, giving consideration for age and cultural background
- Express their concerns for their patients’ physical and emotional well-being, both verbally and by their actions
- Provide nursing and emergency care as appropriate to the situation and scope of practice.
- Work in a professional manner with other members of the health care team and with members of the general public
- Demonstrate an understanding of laws and ethics as they apply to nuclear medicine and to the field of medicine in general.
- Use appropriate resources to advance their understanding of new directions within the field of nuclear medicine.
Completion Worksheet
Download the completion worksheet for this degree (PDF)
Requirements
| Course No. | Course Name | Credit Hrs. |
|---|---|---|
CMST 280 |
Intercultural Communication | 5 |
| HPRO 105 | Training for Healthcare Workers | 2 |
| NMTEC 200 | Applied Anatomy & Physiology | 1 |
| NMTEC 201 | Basic Nuclear Medicine Science | 3 |
| NMTEC 202 | Instrumentation | 3 |
| NMTEC 203 | Computers in Nuclear Medicine | 3 |
| NMTEC 210 | Radiopharmacy | 1 |
| NMTEC 211 | Patient Care in Nuclear Medicine | 1 |
| NMTEC 212 | Positron Emission Tomography | 1 |
| NMTEC 229 | Introduction to Clinical Education | 3 |
| NMTEC 230 | Clinical Education I | 10 |
| NMTEC 231 | Clinical Education II | 10 |
| NMTEC 232 | Clinical Education III | 12 |
| NMTEC 233 | Clinical Education IV | 13 |
| NMTEC 234 | Clinical Education V | 13 |
| NMTEC 240 | Radiation Safety | 1 |
| NMTEC 241 | Radiation Biology | 1 |
| NMTEC 250 | Sectional Anatomy for Nuclear Medicie | 3 |
| NMTEC 260 | Clinical Nuclear Medicine I | 1 |
| NMTEC 261 | Clinical Nuclear Medicine II | 1 |
| NMTEC 262 | Clinical Nuclear Medicine III | 1 |
| NMTEC 275 | Board Preparation | 1 |
| NMTEC 280 | CT for the Nuclear Med Tech | 3 |
| Total | 93 | |
Courses marked with a symbol changed course number and/or title begining summer 2008 to reflect a new common course numbering system. Courses with previous number/title are still applicable. Learn more about Common Course Numbering.
Professional or technical program offerings and course requirements listed in this website may be altered by the college to reflect the needs of industry, student interests and availability of resources.