Nuclear Medicine Technologist

Duties and Responsibilities: In nuclear medicine, radionuclides—unstable atoms that emit radiation spontaneously—are used to diagnose and treat disease. Radionuclides are purified and compounded like other drugs to form radiopharmaceuticals. Nuclear medicine technologists administer these radiopharmaceuticals to patients, and then monitor the characteristics and functions of tissues or organs in which they localize. Abnormal areas show higher or lower concentrations of radioactivity than normal.

Salary: Average Median $70,000 per year

Education: Nuclear medicine technology programs range in length from 1-4 years and lead to a certificate, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree. Generally, certificate programs are offered in hospitals, associate programs in community colleges, and bachelor's programs in 4-year colleges and in universities.

Reflection: I would not like to become a Nuclear Medicine Technologist because it seems complicated and it doesn’t really seem to be something I would be interested in.