Nuclear Medicine Technology (NMT)

College of Science and Health

Health Professions Department

4046 Health Science Center, 608.785.6625

www.uwlax.edu/nmt

Nuclear medicine technology is a health professions specialty employing the use of radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Students majoring in this program are provided a substantial educational foundation in the sciences and clinical applications in a hospital internship so that graduates may function as technologists. The pre-professional and professional program collectively requires six semesters on campus to earn a minimum of 90 credits including certain prescribed courses followed by a 12-month internship at an affiliated internship site.

The university sponsors up to 30 clinical internships each year. The size of the nuclear medicine technology program is limited by these internships. Students must make formal application to the program during the spring semester of either their sophomore or junior year (see adviser). Refer to the sample schedules on the next page. A Nuclear Medicine Technology Professional Program Selection Committee composed of representatives from the university and the program’s clinical affiliates evaluates each application on the basis of the applicant’s past academic performance (a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 is required for admission into the professional program), their references, their past work experience, and the results of a formal interview. Based on these factors, the applicants are ranked and accepted for entry into the professional program. Those students admitted to the professional curriculum will be eligible for an internship upon successful completion of the on-campus course requirements and selection by a clinical affiliate. Acceptance into the professional program does not guarantee an internship at a hospital. The hospitals select students for internships. During the senior year, clinical internship students enroll at UW-L for a minimum of 34 semester credits in clinical courses and pay full tuition and fees. Upon successful completion of the internship and all other university requirements, students are awarded a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nuclear medicine technology.

Hospital educational programs of nuclear medicine technology are accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRC-NMT). Graduates are eligible to take the examination for certification as a certified nuclear medicine technologist offered by the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) or as a nuclear medicine technologist offered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

Nuclear Medicine Technology — Affiliated Internship Sites

— Mayo Clinic, College of Medicine, School of Health Sciences

Rochester, MN

— Froedtert Hospital

Milwaukee, WI

— St. Joseph’s Hospital

Marshfield, WI

— Aurora St. Luke’s Hospital

Milwaukee, WI

— Veterans Administration Edward Hines, Jr. Hospital

Hines, IL

— Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Chicago, IL

Nuclear Medicine Technology Major

(Science and Health) 100-101 credits, including internship

Pre-Professional Requirements (65-66 credits): BIO 103* or 105*, 312, 313, 433; CHM 103*, 104, 250, or 325, 301, 461; CHE 460; HP 250, 310; MTH 145*, 150* or higher, NMT 201, 314 or RT 421, 395 or MIC 406; PHY 103* or 125*; PHY 376; SOC 110* or 120*; SOC 420 or 422. Internship: Each nuclear medicine technology intern will enroll in clinical courses for a minimum of 34 credits. (See below)

Recommended Electives: BIO 306, 432; CHM 300, 325; CST 354; ECO 471; ESS 201, RT 310, 350; MIC 230.

*This course can also fulfill General Education requirements.

It is recommended that students have at least 10 hours of observation in a nuclear medicine department before they apply to the professional program. Students must have completed all courses taught at UW-L prior to their clinical internship experience. All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or above. A cumulative grade point average of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale is required for acceptance into the professional program, maintenance of accepted status, and for graduation with a major in nuclear medicine technology.

Professional Program: Internship

(34 credits): NMT 401, 402, 403, 405, 407, 409, 411, 412, 413, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 423, 427, 495, 499. All of the above courses are not required but a minimum of 34 credits must be earned from the above list.

Nuclear Medicine Technology Sample Schedule

First Year

— Semester I (15 total credits)

CHM 103 General Chemistry I 5

MTH 150 College Algebra 4

HIS 101 Global Origins of

the Modern World 3

ENG 110 College Writing I 3

— Semester II (17 total credits)

CHM 104 General Chemistry II 5

BIO 105 General Biology 4

SOC 110 The Social World 3

SOC 120 Social Problems 3

CST 110 Communicating Effectively 3

Appreciation course 2

Second Year

— Semester I (17 total credits)

CHM 301 Analytical Chemistry 5

BIO 312 Human Anatomy

and Physiology I 4

MTH 145 Elementary Statistics 4

SAH 105 Analysis of Health,

Wellness, and Disease for

the Healthcare Consumer 3

NMT 201 Introduction to Nuclear

Medicine Technology 1

— Semester II (16 total credits)

CHM 250 Intro to Organic Chemistry

and Biochemistry 3

BIO 313 Human Anatomy

and Physiology II 4

PHY 125 Physics for the Life

Sciences 4

Appreciation Course 2

Minority Cultures or Multiracial

Women’s Studies course requirement 3

Third Year

— Semester I (15 total credits)

NMT 314 Cross-Sectional Anatomy 2

PHY 376 Intro to Nuclear Science 2

HP 310 Pathophysiology 3

SOC 420 Health Care and Illness 3

SOC 422 Death, Grief, and

Bereavement 3

NMT 395 Immunology for Nuclear

Medicine Technologists 1

CHE 460 Medical Terminology for

Health Education 1

Elective course 3

— Semester II (16 total credits)

BIO 433 Radiation Biology 3

CHM 461 Nuclear Chemistry 4

International Studies course 3

Humanistic Studies course 3

Elective course 3

Fourth Year

— Internship:

NMT 400 level courses

NMT 201 Cr. 1

Introduction to Nuclear Medicine Technology

Orientation to the application and professional aspects of nuclear medicine technology; including radiation safety and protection, types of imaging procedures performed, computer applications, related allied health professions and ethics. Lect. 0.5, Lab. 1. Offered Fall.

NMT 314 Cr. 2

Cross-Sectional Anatomy

This course revisits anatomy specifically from an imaging perspective. Students will learn to identify normal and abnormal structures on CT and MRI scans and locate topographic landmarks on diagnostic and simulation images. Prerequisite: BIO 313 with a grade of “C” or better. Students with credit in RT 421 cannot earn credit in NMT 314. Offered Fall.

NMT 395 Cr. 1

Immunology for the Nuclear Medicine Technologist

A highly focused investigation of the practices of immunology for the student of nuclear medicine technology. Offered Fall.

NMT 401 Cr. 0-2

Hospital Orientation

A survey of hospital administrative procedures including medical terms and medical ethics. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 402 Cr. 1-4

Clinical Correlation: Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology

A lecture series of topics of current interest selected and presented by nuclear medicine physicians. Emphasis on clinical interpretation of organ systems pathophysiology as viewed by the practicing nuclear physician. Lect. 1-4. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits; senior standing; acceptance into a hospital program. Duration: two semesters. Offered annually.

NMT 403 Cr. 2-4

Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology

The anatomy, physiology and pathology of the human organ systems treated in the application of nuclear medicine. Lect. 2-4. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits; senior standing; acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 405 Cr. 2-3

Radiation Protection

Properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiations, their effects upon human beings and methods for protecting patients and staff from unnecessary exposure and possible injury. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 407 Cr. 2-5

Clinical Instrumentation and Techniques

Structure, operating characteristics and practice in use of nuclear radiation detection instruments and radioisotope handling devices used in medical diagnosis and therapy. Lect. 1-3, Lab. 3-6. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 409 Cr. 1-3

Mathematical Evaluation of Clinical Data

A study of the expected variations in results depending on the choice of radionuclide, instrument and patient. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 411 Cr. 1-2

Records and Administrative Procedures

Records and procedures required by federal, state and professional regulatory agencies to insure proper: (1) acquisition, handling, application, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials; (2) awareness of radiation dosages received by patients and staff; and (3) functioning of detection equipment. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 412 Cr. 3-9

Clinical Nuclear Practicum I

The supervised use of radionuclides in imaging and scanning of patients for diagnostic purposes. Lect. 1-3, Lab. 6-18. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 413 Cr. 3-9

Clinical Nuclear Practicum II

The supervised use of radionuclides in vitro and in vivo in patients for diagnostic purposes. Lect. 1-3, Lab. 6-18. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 415 Cr. 1-3

Application of Radionuclides to Medicine

Review of radionuclides and the compounds into which they are formed that are useful in medical research, diagnosis and therapy. Lect. 1-3. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 416 Cr. 1-3

Nuclear Medicine Quality Control Practicum

Elution of Mo/Tc generator, preparation and testing of radiopharmaceutical products. Gamma Camera uniformity, relative sensitivity and spatial linearity and resolution testing. The use of flood field and bar phantoms on in vivo imaging detectors in the nuclear medicine imaging laboratory. Lect., 5-1.5, Lab. 1.5-4.5. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 417 Cr. 2-5

Nuclear Radiation Physics and Instrumentation

Properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiations; their origins and interactions with matter; their control and shielding; and the statistics of counting. Lect. 1-3, Lab. 3-6. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 418 Cr. 1-3

Clinical Procedures Review

Classroom technique to establish clinical practices used in nuclear medicine imaging; develop techniques used in planar and SPECT imaging. The fundamental skills of patient care, radiopharmaceutical preparation and administration. Emphasis is also on computer processing techniques used in coordination with imaging procedures. Lect. .5-1.5. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Duration: two semesters. Offered annually.

NMT 419 Cr. 1-3

Clinical Radiation Biology

Cellular and organ responses to radiation sources and radionuclides employed in nuclear medicine. Lect. 1-2, Lab. 0-3. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 420 Cr. 1-2

Gamma Cameras

This course consists of lectures and laboratory sessions relating to the gamma camera from a physics point of view. It will convey to the student the principles of gamma camera operation, methods of measuring and maintaining camera performance, and the theory and practice of acquiring tomographic studies. Lect. .5-1, Lab. 1.5-3. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 421 Cr. 0-1

Therapeutic Radionuclides

The chemical, physical and biological properties of the radionuclides used in diagnosis and therapy. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 423 Cr. 1-3

Radiopharmacy

A study of the radiopharmacology and the chemistry of radionuclides used in the clinical laboratory. Lect. 1-3. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits; senior standing and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 427 Cr. 1-5

Application of Computers to Nuclear Medicine

A study of data collection, data reduction and data enhancement by computer methods. Lect. 1-2, Lab. 0-9. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 495 Cr. 1-3

Special Topics in Nuclear Medicine

Topics of current interest in nuclear medicine with emphasis on new or experimental methods. Hours arranged. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.

NMT 499 Cr. 0-3

Independent Study

Independent projects under the direction and supervision of a member of the clinical staff. Hours arranged. Prerequisites: completion of 90 credits and acceptance into a hospital program. Offered annually.