Mar 29, 2024  
2019-2020 GCC Catalog 
    
2019-2020 GCC Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy: Nuclear Medicine Technology, AS


Information about the Diagnostic Imaging and Therapy Programs  

The Associate in Science degree and certificate programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology prepare students for employment as nuclear medicine technologists in hospitals, medical offices, or ambulatory clinics. Upon completion of the program, the student may apply to take the certifying board examinations administered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technology (Nuclear Medicine) and the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB). The program requires approximately twenty-two (22) months of clinical and academic course work. The curriculum includes appropriate didactic content and ample supervised clinical education to assure sufficient opportunity to achieve all didactic and clinical requirements. Students are assigned to a clinical practicum at Yale-New Haven Hospital, Yale New Haven Hospital St. Raphael Campus, Yale University PET Center, the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Health Care System (West Haven), Middlesex Hospital (Middletown), Griffin Hospital (Derby), Cardinal Health Nuclear Pharmacy Services (East Hartford), Midstate Medical Center (Meriden), Milford Hospital, William W. Backus Hospital (Norwich), Lawrence & Memorial Hospital (New London), and UCONN Medical Center (Farmington). Simulated labs are held in the Nuclear Medicine lab at the Gateway campus and are scheduled on lecture days. Students
are required to attend all orientation sessions scheduled in the summer in order to begin the program in the fall semester. For more information, call the Enrollment Services Assistant, Mary Beth Banks at (203) 285-2388 or e-mail at (MBanks@ gatewayct.edu) or the Program Coordinator, Ann-Marie Jones at (203) 285-2381 or e-mail at ajones@gatewayct.edu). Please see the Radiologic Technology Programs webpage for more information about the admissions process.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Gateway Community College Nuclear Medicine Technology program is to offer high-quality instruction to a diverse population of students in an environment conducive to learning. We respond to the changing academic, occupational, technological, and cultural needs of both students and the community by strengthening our graduates through the inclusion of advanced technology, unique clinical internship experience, and quality patientcare.

Program Outcomes

1.  Students will demonstrate skills in effective oral and written communication

      1.1  Students will demonstrate oral communication skills

      1.2 Students will demonstrate written communication skills

 

2.  Students will demonstrate skills in critical thinking and problem solving in the principles and practices of Nuclear Medicine

      2.1  Students will assess patient requisitions in order to perform proper imaging procedures

      2.2  Students will use critical thinking to overcome clinical challenges

 

3.  Students will demonstrate clinical competence in the practice of Nuclear Medicine

      3.1  Students will apply As Low as Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principles and practices of radiation protection

      3.2  Students will provide appropriate patient care

 

The major categories of the nuclear medicine technologist’s scope of practice include, but are not limited to, the following areas (as defined in the “Scope of Practice for the Nuclear Medicine Technologist 2017”, SNMMI Technologist Section: www.snmmi.org):

Patient Care: Requires the exercise of judgment to assess and respond to the patient’s needs before, during, and following diagnostic imaging and treatment procedures and in patient medication reconciliation. This includes record keeping in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Instrumentation/Quality Control: Involves the operation of: Nuclear medicine and PET imaging systems: With or without sealed sources of radioactive materials, x-ray tubes, or MR systems for attenuation correction, transmission imaging, or diagnostic CT or MR (when appropriately trained and/or credentialed).

Quality control: The evaluation and maintenance of a quality control program for all instrumentation to ensure optimal performance and stability.

Diagnostic Procedures: Requires the utilization of appropriate techniques, radiopharmaceuticals, imaging medications and adjunctive medications as part of a standard protocol to ensure quality diagnostic images and/or laboratory results. Obtains biological samples to perform testing as required for the optimization of patient care and quality of diagnostic procedures.

Therapeutic Procedures: Requires the utilization of appropriate techniques, radiopharmaceuticals, and adjunctive medications as part of a standard protocol to ensure proper treatment of the disease process. Obtains biological samples to perform testing as required for the optimization of patient care.

Adjunctive Medications: Involves the identification, preparation, calculation, documentation, administration, and monitoring of adjunctive medication(s) used during diagnostic imaging, or therapeutic procedures. Imaging Medications: Involves the identification, preparation, calculation, documentation, administration, and monitoring of imaging medication(s) used during diagnostic imaging studies.

Imaging Medications: Involves the identification, preparation, calculation, documentation, administration, and monitoring of imaging medication(s) used during diagnostic imaging studies.

Radiopharmaceuticals: Involves the safe handling and storage of radiopharmaceuticals. This includes, but is not limited to, the procurement, identification, preparation, dose calculation, and administration of radiopharmaceuticals. It involves the safe handling and storage of radiopharmaceuticals. This includes, but is not limited to, the procurement, identification, preparation, dose calculation, and administration of radiopharmaceuticals. It also includes all associated documentation and disposal as appropriate.

Radiation Safety: Involves practicing techniques that will minimize radiation exposure to the patient, health care personnel, and general public. These include using protective devices, shields, dose reduction, and monitors consistent with ALARA principles. Establishing protocols for managing spills and unplanned releases of radiation.

Program Requirements


Total Semester Credits: 17


Winter Intersession


(Practicum at affiliates Monday through Friday, 40 hrs./week)

Total Semester Credits: .5


Total Semester Credits: 14


Summer Session


(Practicum at affiliates Monday through Friday, May through August)
(40 hrs./week at clinical affiliates)

Total Semester Credits: 3


Third Semester


(Practicum at affiliates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday)

Total Semester Credits: 14


Winter Intersession


(Practicum at affiliates Monday through Friday 40 hrs./week)

Total Semester Credits: .5


Total Semester Credits: 11


Total Program Credits: 60


Total Clinical Practicum at the affiliates, (includes Clinical Internships I, II and III), is approximately 1,800 hours