nuclear

[noo´kle-ar]

pertaining to a nucleus.

nuclear magnetic resonance a phenomenon exhibited by many atomic nuclei: when placed in a constant magnetic field, the nuclei absorb electromagnetic radiation at a few characteristic frequencies. By applying an external magnetic field to a solution in a constant radio frequency field, it is possible to determine the structure of an unknown compound. An application of this technique, called magnetic resonance imaging, permits imaging of soft tissues of the body by distinguishing between hydrogen atoms in different environments.

nuclear medicine technologist a health care professional whose duties include positioning and attending to patients undergoing nuclear medicine procedures, operating imaging devices (scintillation cameras and rectilinear scanners) under the direction of the nuclear medicine physician, preparing radiopharmaceuticals for administration to patients, making dose calculations for in vivo procedures, performing quality control procedures, and utilizing a knowledge of radiation physics and radiation safety to minimize the radiation exposure to patients, to the technologist and coworkers, and to the public. There are currently three organizations that certify nuclear medicine technologists: the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB). Individuals certified by the ARRT are designated RT(N)(ARRT); those certified by the ASCP are designated NM(ASCP); and those certified by the NMTCB are designated CNMT.

nu·cle·ar med·i·cine tech·nol·o·gist

(nū'klē-ăr med'i-sin tek-nol'ŏ-jist)

Someone skilled in injecting and following the course of radioisotopes in the body in the diagnosing of disease.

Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

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References in periodicals archive

The profession is gender diverse compared with most allied health professions, with the majority of active nuclear medicine technologists being women who are in their mid-40s.

"With this information, we will be able to take the lead in determining how the nuclear medicine technologists of today may broaden their scope to become the imaging specialists or molecular imaging technologists of the future," said SNMTS President D.

Small doses of ecstasy harm the brain

1 Nuclear Medicine Technologist Certification Board PET certification examination content.

The second consensus statement addressed licensure of personnel who operate PET-CT equipment: "States that do not currently license radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists or radiation therapists are encouraged to adopt laws that regulate the education and credentialing of these individuals." (2) It was noted that licensure laws for radiologic technologists vary from state to state and are in place for the protection of the public and to ensure equipment is operated only by qualified individuals.

Educating the hybrid technologist

therefore, the present research work was planned to evaluate the radiation exposure to nuclear medicine technologists from radioactive patients who have gone through these nuclear medicine diagnostic techniques.

Table 3 shows the equivalent dose received by the nuclear medicine technologists from the selected scans.

Radiation exposure to nuclear medicine technologists during different diagnostic techniques

Although the future looks bright for the hybrid technology, a shortage of nuclear medicine technologists could sharply affect the total number of procedures that can be performed.

Gilmore is confident that nuclear medicine technologists can and will meet higher expectations.

The future looks bright for combined modalities

To determine the association of hand dominance and radiation exposures, we conducted a pilot study to identify which hand received more radiation exposure during dose preparation, administration and other routine tasks performed by nuclear medicine technologists. Three nuclear medicine technologists were studied retrospectively in a study approved by the institutional review board at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Left vs right: ring badges in nuclear medicine

In today's fast-moving and dynamic departments, radiographers, nuclear medicine technologists and radiation therapists alike must be open to changing trends in their chosen professions.

Technologists need nursing skills. (Open Forum)

The program graduated its first class in 1987, and has since graduated 5 or 6 nuclear medicine technologists annually.

The last is an invited nuclear medicine educator from outside Kuwait, typically the United States, whose primary objective is to independently assess the students' clinical competency compared to entry-level nuclear medicine technologists in other countries.

Nuclear medicine education in Kuwait. (Global Outlook)