Nursing & Nuclear Medicine

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hello!

I am a pre-nursing student, currently taking all my pre and co reqs. I'm currently learning a bit about nuclear medicine and find it absolutely fascinating. I am wondering what types of jobs are available to nurses in the nuclear medicine field, what additional training or education is needed, etc.

Thanks!

Specializes in Neuro.

I don't think there's a field in nuclear medicine specifically for nurses but you need to research that on your own. Nuclear technologists/technicians obviously do the bulk of the job so I'm not sure what a nurse would do other than educate/inform families on the basics of nuclear medicine but the actual mixing of the nuclear substances is most likely not done by the nurse, don't take my word for stone because I'm obviously not an expert. Google is a great tool you know.

That's exactly what I'm doing - trying to hear first hand from experienced nurses what their experience has been in or around the nuclear medicine field.

Google is a wonderful tool but didn't provide me with what I was looking for, and therefore, it is nice to go right to the source.

Thanks for your opinion though! ;)

Specializes in RETIRED Cath Lab/Cardiology/Radiology.

I worked Radiology for 21 yr.

Our role as Radiology nurses was mainly supportive within the department.

Our scope of practice as nurses was different than that of the Rad Techs or Nuc Med Techs.

We sedated for patients who needed sedation in order to lie still for a Nuc Med test.

We started IVs if the Tech needed us to start an IV (they are capable of starting their own, usually).

We administered Morphine for a gall bladder exam.

If you are interested in becoming a Nuclear Medicine Technologist I suggest you look into what pathway would get you into that area.

It is a different pathway than Nursing, if you want to exclusively work there.

Perhaps interview or shadow a Nuc Med Tech?

Good luck! :)

+ Add a Comment