What Do You Learn in a Nuclear Medicine Degree Program?

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Nuclear Medicine may sound like something right out of science fiction, but in reality, it’s grounded solidly in science fact. You are probably familiar with some aspects of nuclear medicine already since it includes any diagnosis or treatment that uses radioactive substances.

What is Nuclear Medicine?

Nuclear medicine differs from something like an X-Ray where the radiation comes from. When a patient has an X-Ray taken, the radiation originates outside the body, but when a patient is treated using nuclear methods, the radiation will originate from within the body. This is accomplished by combining radionuclides with other elements or compounds to form chemical compounds or radiopharmaceuticals, which are then administered to the patient. The advantage of this practice is that the radioactive substances can be localized to specific organs or cell receptors.

There are essentially two aspects to nuclear medicine; diagnostics and treatment. Diagnostics involves imaging technology called gamma camera that are used in connection with radiopharmaceuticals that were administered to the patient either orally or intravenously. The images may be created as either 2D Scintigraphy (“scint”) or 3D SPECT images. There are also techniques were nuclear images can be combined with traditional images, such as CT or MRI, to create hybrid scans.

Both thyroid cancer and some blood disorders can be treated using nuclear medicine. When used for treatment, the radioactive substance will be administered to the patient in the same manner the radiopharmaceuticals are administered for diagnostics. Depending on the condition being treated, different radioactive substances will be used. For example, if the intention is to treat thyroid cancer, the technician will administer Iodine-131, but for palliative bone pain, the technician will administer either Samarium-153 or Strontium-89.

Nuclear Medicine Degree Programs

While each program will included different things based on the faculty and the general requirements of the college or university offering the program. There are certain elements that every nuclear medicine degree program must include in order to fully train competent nuclear medical technicians.

•Diagnostic procedures that include both imaging and non-imaging functions as well as quality control.
•Treatment procedures.
•Safety procedures and handling techniques of radioactive material.
•Operation of nuclear medicine equipment including scint, SPECT, and CT/MRI equipment used to create hybrid scans.
•Patient and family communications.
•Provide emergency first aid and nursing services when required.
•Understand and interpret the results of both diagnostics and treatments.

Often times, the degree offered for a nuclear medicine technician is an Associate of Arts Degree, and as such, usually will take about two years to complete. Most programs will offer a combination of classroom work together with hands on work at a local hospital or clinic. By putting the students into the field during their education, it helps them apply what they are learning in a real world situation — making their education that much better.

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a nuclear medicine technician, you should contact your local college or university and talk to them about the programs they offer. By becoming a nuclear medicine technician, you will learn how to you use some amazing technology and enjoy a fulfilling career.