Monitor Surveillance Technicians work in hospitals where a large number of patients are connected to telemetry monitors. The minimum educational requirement for Monitor Surveillance Technicians is high school graduation or a GED equivalent. To earn a Technician certificate, additional training is required. Work Settings Nuclear Medicine Technologists report to a supervisor or a nuclear medicine physician. Technologists usually work alone when operating equipment and conducting laboratory tests.
Work usually is performed in a specialized laboratory or other hospital or clinical setting.
A potential hazard of exposure to radiation exists while preparing doses and handling body products that contain radioactive isotopes. However, using protective lead shielding and constantly monitoring the laboratory with radiation detectors help to safeguard the work surroundings. Specially designed film badges are worn by all nuclear medicine personnel to measure radiation exposure. All workers wear disposable gloves and use special equipment when preparing radiopharmaceutical doses. Rigid adherence to established laboratory techniques and standards of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission minimize hazards.