question about radiation exposure

not true...

The amount of radiation THEY are exposed to is usually about the same as an xray. And how could the amount they emit be dangerous for you, when the amount receive is so much larger, and it's safe for them?

I worked in nuclear medicine doing adenosine stress test for years before becoming an RN. I was exposed to thousands of patients that had been emitting radiation, and we were all tested quarterly for our levels. We were always safe.

You'll be fine.

Also, I worked with a handful of pregnant nuclear techs over the years. Their pregnancys were uneventful and their kids are fine :)

As I've learned it, patients only emit radioactivity when some source of radiation is implanted or retained in them, i.e. cervical implant, or bladder instillation respectively.

I thought when patient's get IV radioactive isotopes only their body fluids are radioactive for a couple hours...or am I wrong on this?

We used technetium almost exclusively, barring the times the nuclear reactor in Canada failed, then we used Thallium. I would personally do anywhere from 15-20 stress tests/day. Each receiving technetium. I would stand only a few feet from the person, as they were on the treadmill and I was next to them getting BP's/ using computer. I always wore a radiation badge to measure the amount of exposure and they were tested quarterly. My exposure levels were never high. So, 15/day, 5 days/week, 50 weeks/year = roughly 3,500 radiated people/year that I was in close proximity to for about 20 minutes at a time, and my exposure numbers were fine.

I never suffered any short term effects, such as being sick more often or anything like that. As far as long term effects, I guess we'll see, but so far so good.

I've been a Nuclear Medicine Tech since 2006, and have always worked in Nuclear Cardiology. Radiation safety follows the principles of time, distance, and shielding. There is an inverse square law with radiation. When you double the distance, the radiation exposure from the patient is cut in half. We were always taught that pilots have more accumulation of radiation from atmospheric radiation compared to nuclear medicine techs. The highest does of radiation exposure for nurses are patients who have to take I 131 for thyroid cancer. Personally, I am trying to get a position at a Cardiology office doing stress testing as an RN in their Nuc department. Hope the interview goes well.