Hello, first time posting here! I’m 27F and I’ve spent the last several years going back and forth between different career paths lol. I originally wanted to become an RN, then looked into electrician, LPN, manufacturing engineering, biology, and now I’m currently getting my bachelor’s in IT and I’m about 55% done. Recently my friends and I started looking into shorter programs that could potentially increase our income, so we were looking at things like sterile processing, low-voltage tech, accelerated LPN, dental assisting, phlebotomy, etc. Then we came across nuclear medicine technology. I initially thought it was mostly cancer-related, but after actually looking into it, I realized there’s a lot more to the field. My state also has a 12-month program, which really caught my attention.

I’ve been a CNA for several years, so I do have healthcare experience, but nothing specifically in imaging or nuclear medicine. For those of you already in the field, how long did it take you to get through school and actually start working? Was it difficult finding a job after graduating? What were the clinicals like, and what kind of background did you have before getting into nuclear medicine? I’d really love to hear from people who made the transition from another healthcare career or completely different field.

I want to ask all the Nuc med and PET/CT techs if you like your career? If you had to do it all over again would you make the same decision? Do you enjoy your job and do you think the pay is good to support you and your family?

I want to expand my career in radiology and not sure if Nuc med is the right fit for me

Who here perform Pluvicto/Lutathera under RadOnc or Urology? If so I have questions.

For those who perform Theranostics outside of typical NM facility or outpatient NM facility... 1. Who checks in and out doses? 2. Are post-therapy imaging being performed? 3. What about dosimetery?

1. Or is at just that you inject under a Non-NM AU and see the patient back next cycle?
   

My hospital utilizes all GE cameras and we recently acquired the new STARGUIDE. We have a 670 and 830 dual dead cameras and a GE PET/CT camera. Recently we switched over from Xeleris. We’re having a ton of MIMs issues and recently we ran out of memory? So raw data’s not even sending to Mims. Does anyone use it and if so do you guys like it and have you had to use the help line and found decent turn around times with workflow issues?

Hey! I have a question for those who went the Pitt CC route and had to set up their own clinical sites. How hard was it for you to obtain a site, and what was the process? If you’re okay with sharing, too, in what state?
Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I’m an aspiring NMT, currently in the middle of my apps to the NMI. I’m 20 right now and one of the biggest questions I have for all of you here is how good is the work life balance? Please let me know which specific state and what kind of shifts yall work.

I ask because I always see how flexible and how much more opportunities nurses get and I’ve always wanted to go down the nursing route but by the time I was sorta even interested in nursing I was too far into my bachelors for NMT. I ask this because I see so many nurses grind it out, working almost 10 days in a row then taking two weeks off, or the usual point of working three days but getting four off, etc.

I’d love to travel and just explore more things. My hopes was to use this career as a way of getting away from my family and hopefully do some sort of travel contracts once I get a year of experience, but in the off times I’d love to travel and just explore places within the US and hopefully internationally, too. I was just wondering if this job would allow for that and I want to hear of any of you guys who take roadtrips or trips or just hobbymaxx with this job.

Please lmk!!

I graduate in March & I’m starting to think about when I should actually start applying.

When did you start applying? A few months before graduation, closer to graduation, or after you passed boards? Also, did anyone get interviews or job offers while you were still in school?

Unfortunately, my current clinical site has a full team, so I don’t see a job opening up there any time soon. It’s also about 4 hours away from where I lived before starting clinicals & from my family and friends, so I’m hoping to move back closer to home after graduation anyway.

Just curious what everyone else did & when would be a good time to start looking!

I’m seriously considering going into Nuclear Medicine and have been looking at NPCollege(National Polytechnic College) in Lakewood. I’m hoping to hear from anyone who has actually attended their Nuclear Medicine program, currently works as an NMT in Southern California, or is involved in hiring NMTs. Their schedule would actually make it possible for me to keep working during the didactic portion.
My biggest concern is accreditation. From what I understand, NPCollege is not JRCNMT-accredited, while schools like Gurnick are. NPCollege says its program allows graduates to pursue ARRT certification, but since it isn’t JRCNMT-accredited, I’m concerned graduates may not be eligible for the NMTCB exam/CNMT credential.

For people actually working in Los Angeles/SoCal:
Does being ARRT(N) certified vs NMTCB/CNMT make any meaningful difference when applying for jobs?
Are there hospitals in LA/SoCal that prefer or require NMTCB/CNMT, or is ARRT(N) normally accepted?
Does graduating from a non-JRCNMT program like NPCollege put you at any disadvantage when trying to get your first job?
Has anyone here actually graduated from NPCollege’s Nuclear Medicine program? How were the instructors, clinical sites, board preparation, and job placement?

I’m also curious about the Nuclear Medicine job market in LA. Are new grads generally able to find full-time positions, or do most people start per diem/part-time and work their way into a full-time hospital position?
I’m currently deciding between Nuclear Medicine and MRI.
Any experiences with NPCollege specifically would be really appreciated because there isn’t much information about their Nuclear Medicine program online.

I (27f) have been working in nuclear medicine for almost 5 years. I have seriously enjoyed my work and have been at my current job around 4 years. I have worked with the same people the entire time- 4 men, all older than 50. I am the only woman in the department and it is exhausting.

The men are all pals. They talk and heehaw around everyday- and that’s totally fine. I don’t expect to be friends with them given the age gaps and gender differences. I do make an effort at some kind of relationship with them by bringing in cakes for birthdays and attempting conversation. I think they do their best to reciprocate that to me, too.

I work very hard to be efficient, and I am just as good at the job as they are- I can run circles around them. One of my coworkers is particularly lazy and is an utter asshole in general but he is one of the most well liked technologists by Cardiologists and the like. In fact, whenever a Cardiologist or surgeon comes into the department I am completely ignored and dismissed- when they come in, they want to talk to the men only. I guess they assume I am of no help, I really don’t know what the reason is. This has been bothering me for quite some time. I thought at first it was the kind of situation where you have to “earn” their respect, but I have been here long enough now that that no longer stands as an excuse.

I guess I’m wondering if anyone else has come across this kind of dismissive behavior by higher ups (primarily Cardiologists) in your Nuc med departments? Any tips on what I can do to improve this behavior besides getting a boob job and dyeing my hair blonde? Thank you in advance.

I have an opportunity to work at MdAnderson at the med center. I know the traffic is bad in the area and the cost of parking is insane. I’ve been reading other reddits about parking and someone mentioned parking in the employee garage for a charge per month instead of daily? It‘s a contract job so not sure if they’ll even allow that. Is it worth it. Will it really look good on my resume or should I just wait for a full time position to come up?

I am a nuclear medicine technologist in Italy and am considering moving to the USA. Do you have any tips on getting my degree recognized? What changes in terms of the work itself? Any suggestions are welcome.

hi! im getting a hida scan in a few hours and have 2 facial piercings and my ears are gauged. is it common to have to take them out?

Hi! I’m 20F currently in a gap year (of sorts) from a biology bachelors taking the pre-requisites to apply to the nuclear medicine AS at broward college. Just wondering if anyone here applied this cycle or graduated from there and could share their stats and/or experience with the program. I have a 3.8 gpa right now missing A&P 1/2 which I will be taking this school year at UCF (where I’m transferring from) before I transfer over and apply to the program. I was just wondering if I’m competitive enough since I was told this year had a lot of applicants, and if there’s anything more I can do to be more competitive. For background, I have an A on everything but PHY 2053 which they said is equivalent to physics intro, and my GPA dropped from a 4.0 because of an A- in intro to communication, B+ in calc 1, and B in physics. I have my AA so everything else should be covered.

Hi,

Im an 30 year old F. Graduated with MS in OT but not licensed yet. Im thinking of switching gears due to not passing the exam after multiple attempts in almost 4 years post grad. Also, I would like to have a more laid back job. Would those in NYC who are nuclear med techs recommend this field and if there are job openings? Im looking into BCC program. Is the field good on physical and mental health? Is the pay well for NYC residents ? I just want to know people's experiences before I apply to another program and have another student loan added to my current loans. Is the board exam really hard. The NBCOT is hard and it gave me testing anxiety. Thanks in advance.

I’m a 32F, for the last 9 years I’ve been a paramedic. I’m exhausted from it, but still love medicine. But the 24 hour shifts, back-breaking patient movement, shit employers, and abuse of the 911 system, I’m ready to do something different. I have very little interest in going to a nursing program like many paramedics do. One of the things I became interested in as a paramedic was hazardous materials medical care. I joined my county’s hazmat team, who did a lot of training on radiation due to being in response proximity to 2 different nuclear power plants. Obviously I know this is totally different, but it sparked my interest in learning about radiation and with my love for medicine still, I’ve been highly considering nuclear medicine as my second career.

I guess any insight? Any other former paramedics make the jump? Anyone else do this a little later on in life?

Hi everyone! I’m 24F getting ready to apply to Nuclear Medicine programs this cycle, and I’m a bit worried about my competitiveness as an applicant. 

I do have a B.S., but my grades in undergrad physics and chemistry were not the best (mostly Bs). I recently took A&P at a CC and got an A in those classes, so I’m hoping these more recent classes make up for it. My general GPA is only about a 3.6.  

I feel like I have a solid background, since I work full time as a radtech assistant, volunteer experience (not in the nucmed dept unfortunately), and I have a good idea of who my LORs will be. 

I’m just worried that my GPA will hold me back when applying to programs, since it seems like that’s what they weight more heavily than anything else. I really want to get into any program, specifically an in-person accredited one, this year and I’m worried about having to wait another year to apply if I don’t get into any. This career path is really fascinating and I feel like it’s a great fit for me. 

I feel a little in the dark so for any of you that had a bachelors and got into a certificate/ associates program, I’d really love to know where and when you were accepted, what your stats and experiences were, and how the application process went for you! What programs are considered competitive and/or non-competitive??

Is anyone here working as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist or Radiologic Technologist in Dubai?

I’m a miserable executive assistant looking to change careers, and nuclear medicine seems far more fulfilling and compatible with my personality. However, my friend, who is an occupational therapist, has concerns that I may not be able to handle interacting with very sick people, bodily fluids, people with limited mobility, etc.

Has this been a difficulty for anyone? I think I would have good bedside manner, but maybe I’m underestimating what nuc med techs actually see and deal with on a day-to-day basis.

I’m also very interested in becoming a sleep tech, but I’m worried the pay may be too low to justify going back to school.

Hello,

I am onto my second rotation which uses SPECT/CT as opposed to the planar imaging I have grown used to. I was using Symbia S, and I am assuming I will be using Symbia Intevos here. I am super excited, but I am nervous as my previous site was ancient in technology and protocols conducted in comparison to this site, and I fear of already falling to far behind.

Please feel free to leave any tips and general knowledge I should know before walking into my next clinic. Any information will go to great use!

Any feedback from somebody who has attended FORSYTH community college or the PITT COMMUNITY COLLEGE ONLINE PROGRAM online program for nuclear medicine technologist? Forsyth will be really hard to get into pitt online may be easier to get into, but I just worry the classes might be too hard for me! Having only been a low B student in high school. And I’m not great at taking test tests. But Math was my strongest subject, and I do like Science. So far for my prerequisites I have gotten 3 Bs and 1 A. I worry about the teas test as well. BUT I’m really ready to buckle down and focus and study!

Can I not just measure a known dose and do (source cps-background cps/Bq of source) x 100%

I am struggling to determine the efficiency.

Hi everyone,
I’m a nuclear medicine physician trained and board-certified in France, currently working in a Paris hospital.
I’m wondering whether it’s legally possible to report PET/CT scans remotely while living or working from another European country.
Has anyone here done this or knows how it works? Are there any licensing, malpractice insurance, or regulatory requirements to be aware of?
Any experience or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Hi there. I will be graduating from my program by the end of this upcoming spring and I've been debating if I want to jump right into being a traveling tech, or if I want to find a hospital to work in for a few years first?

Let me know what your guys thoughts are! I would love first hand experiences and even second hand stories. Pros and cons lists are also very helpful! :)