Details Report for:
29-1069.05 - Nuclear Medicine Physicians
Diagnose and treat diseases using radioactive materials and techniques. May monitor radionuclide preparation, administration, and disposition.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Interests | Work Values | Education | Wages & Employment
Tasks Save Table (XLS/CSV)
- Interpret imaging data and confer with other medical specialists to formulate diagnoses.
- Administer radioisotopes to clinical patients or research subjects.
- Calculate, measure, or prepare radioisotope dosages.
- Check and approve the quality of diagnostic images before patients are discharged.
- Consult with anesthesiologists regarding recommended dosages or combinations of sedative drugs.
- Consult with patients following radiation treatments to provide information and assess outcomes or to recommend further consultation or treatments as appropriate.
- Compare nuclear medicine procedures with other types of procedures such as computed tomography, ultrasonography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography.
- Determine appropriate tests or protocols based on patients' needs or conditions.
- Direct nuclear medicine technologists or technicians regarding desired dosages, techniques, positions, and projections.
- Interview and physically examine patients prior to testing.
- Monitor quality control of radionuclide preparation, administration, or disposition ensuring that activities comply with applicable regulations and standards.
- Perform cardiovascular nuclear medicine procedures such as exercise testing and pharmacologic stress testing.
- Prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings.
- Prescribe radionuclides and dosages to be administered to individual patients.
- Review procedure requests and patients' medical histories to determine applicability of procedures and radioisotopes to be used.
- Conduct laboratory procedures, such as radioimmunoassay studies of blood or urine, using radionuclides.
- Advise other physicians of the clinical indications, limitations, assessments, or risks of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioactive materials.
- Direct the safe management and disposal of radioactive substances.
- Establish and enforce radiation protection standards for patients and staff.
- Formulate plans and procedures for nuclear medicine departments.
- Monitor cleanup of radioactive spills to ensure that proper procedures are followed and that decontamination activities are conducted.
- Monitor handling of radioactive materials to ensure that established procedures are followed.
- Provide advice on the selection of nuclear medicine supplies or equipment.
- Teach nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, or other specialties at graduate educational level.
- Schedule examinations and staff activities.
- Test dosage evaluation instruments and survey meters to ensure they are operating properly.
Interests Save Table (XLS/CSV)
 Occupational Interest |
Interest |
|
|---|---|---|
78   |
Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally. | |
| 78 |
Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others. | |
| 39 |
Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others. | |
| 28 |
Conventional — Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow. | |
| 22 |
Enterprising — Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business. | |
| 6 |
Artistic — Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules. | |
Work Values Save Table (XLS/CSV)
Extent |
Work Value |
|
|---|---|---|
| 89 |
Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
| 89 |
Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. | |
| 89 |
Recognition — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status. | |
| 83 |
Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
| 78 |
Support — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. | |
| 67 |
Relationships — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
Education
Education data collected from Physicians and Surgeons.
Percentage of Respondents |
Education Level Attained |
|---|---|
| 100 |
Bachelor's degree or higher |
| 0 |
High school or less |
| 0 |
Some college |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
survey of employees aged 25-44.
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Employment data collected from Physicians and Surgeons.
| Category | Occupation Information |
|---|---|
| Employment (2006) | 633,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) | 
Faster than average (14% to 20%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) | 204,000 additional employees |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2008 wage data
and 2006-2016 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2006-2016). "Projected need" represents job openings due to growth and net replacement.