Program Overview

Nuclear Medicine Technology Program

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program is fully accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT). Nuclear medicine technology is one of two undergraduate majors in the field of medical imaging offered by the Carver College of Medicine.

Overview

Nuclear medicine technologists are professionals in a medical specialty that uses radioactive tracers for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research purposes. Technologists provide direct patient care and generally are employed in hospitals and clinics. They work hand in hand with nuclear medicine physicians, health physicists, radiopharmacists, and radiochemists as an integral part of a highly trained specialty team.

Responsibilities

In addition to using sophisticated detectors and computers to trace the movement and localization of radioactive tracers in the human body, nuclear medicine technologists have responsibilities that include:

• Radiation safety
• Quality control testing
• Radiopharmaceutical preparation and administration
• General patient care

Undergraduate Program of Study

Major

• Major in Nuclear Medicine Technology (Bachelor of Science)

Courses

The following courses are part of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program:

• RSNM:3120 Nuclear Medicine and PET Clinical Procedures I: Introduction to medical specialty of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging; basic theories of radiation protection, radiation physics and nuclear medicine instrumentation, radiopharmacy, nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography (PET) clinical procedures, professional standards of nuclear medicine technologist. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:3121 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship I: Hands-on clinical experience working with patients and performing routine nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging procedures under direct supervision of qualified clinical instructors. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:3131 Radiopharmaceuticals: Introduction to radiopharmaceuticals; emphasis on physical, chemical, and biologic properties and their clinical use; fundamental aspects of radiopharmaceuticals including characteristics, preparation, quality control, and clinical use. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:3132 Radiation Safety and Regulations in Nuclear Medicine: Continuation of RSP:3130; geared towards students enrolled in the nuclear medicine technology program.
• RSNM:3140 Foundations in Nuclear Medicine and PET: Foundational instruction in the math and chemistry associated with radiopharmacy and instrumentation in the nuclear medicine technology profession, such as positron emission tomography (PET). Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:3220 Nuclear Medicine and PET Clinical Procedures II: Proper execution of nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography (PET) procedures from a technical point of view; published protocols and procedures specific to University of Iowa Health Care; routine setup, common errors, artifact identification, computer processing protocols, and patient care concerns identified for each procedure; review of human anatomy, physiology, and pathology germane to understanding and proper execution of nuclear medicine procedures. Prerequisites: RSNM:3120. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:3221 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship II: Progressive responsibility working with patients and performing nuclear medicine and PET clinical procedures under direct supervision of qualified clinical instructors. Prerequisites: RSNM:3121. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:3231 Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation: Instruments used in medical imaging to generate and detect ionizing radiation (i.e., SPECT/CT and PET/CT scanners, dose calibrators, well counters, survey meters); focus on instrument quality control testing. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:3320 Foundations in Nuclear Medicine Instrumentation: Instruction in physics and statistics associated with nuclear medicine and positron emission tomography (PET) instrumentation. Prerequisites: RSNM:3220. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:3321 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship III: Progressive responsibility working with patients and performing nuclear medicine and PET clinical procedures under direct supervision of qualified clinical instructors. Prerequisites: RSNM:3221. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:4121 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship IV: Progressive responsibility working with patients and performing nuclear medicine and PET clinical procedures under direct supervision of qualified clinical instructors. Prerequisites: RSNM:3321. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:4221 Nuclear Medicine Technology Clinical Internship V: Progressive responsibility working with patients and performing nuclear medicine and PET clinical procedures under direct supervision of qualified clinical instructors. Prerequisites: RSNM:4121. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.
• RSNM:4222 Nuclear Medicine Technology Capstone and Certification Exam Preparation: Students prepare to take the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) and American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) national certification exams. Requirements: Nuclear Medicine Technology Program enrollment.

Program Directors

• Director: Jay J. Smith
• Director, Medical: Yusuf Menda
• Director, Technical: Daniel Petersen

Related Programs

• Radiation Sciences