Summary 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 | Wages & Employment
Tasks
- 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.
Interests
Interest code: IS
| 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. |
| Social — Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others. |
Work Values
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employs to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Employment data collected from Physicians and Surgeons.
| 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.