Required General Education Courses

• All required learning support courses bases on college testing
• BIOL 2010 & 2020 with lab
• MATH 1130 or higher
• ENGL 1010
• CHEM 1010
• PHYS 1030
• NUCM 1100 (Only offered Spring Semester)
• Behavioral/Social Science Electives: See A.A.S. Career Degree Information - Approved General Education Courses for All Degrees
• Humanities/Fine Arts Electives: See A.A.S. Career Degree Information - Approved General Education Courses for All Degrees
• Please see Chattanooga State catalog for course descriptions

The Nuclear Medicine Technology Program courses at Chattanooga State Community College begin in spring semester and is 5-semester program. Full-time student status is required. Students must periodically come to campus to exchange dosimeter badges.

The goal of all Chattanooga State health programs is to prepare practitioners who can function in the health care arena to ensure the safety of patients. Program standards are in place to assure that students have the potential to perform as entry-level practitioners. Acceptance into a health program is contingent upon the student's demonstrated ability to meet these standards.

Recommended Preparatory Courses

All courses in the NUCM curriculum must be completed with a grade of C or better and a minimum GPA of 2.0 maintained to advance in the program. Program courses follow an attendance policy and excessive absenteeism may result in final course grade reduction and/or program dismissal. Points are awarded to applicants to applicants with completed general education requirements prior to program admission. The program has a competitive admission process; completion of the application process and general education courses does not guarantee program acceptance.

Affiliates

Clinical assignments for each student, totaling approximately 1,000 clock hours, are required at one of our affiliated clinical sites listed below. The Program only operates in those specific states for the traditional student.

Program Affiliates 

• Athens Limestone Hospital, Athens, AL 
• Beckley Appalachian Regional, Beckley, WV
• Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta / Egleston, Atlanta, GA
• CHI Memorial Hospital, Chattanooga, TN
• CHI Memorial Northpark, Chattanooga, TN
• Commonwealth Health Corporation – The Medical Center at Bowling Green, KY
• Cookeville Regional Medical Center, Cookeville, TN
• Emory Decatur Medical Center, Decatur, GA
• Erlanger Medical Center, Chattanooga, TN
• Hamilton Medical Center, Dalton, GA
• Huntsville Health Systems, Huntsville, AL
• Huntsville Imaging Center, Huntsville, AL
• Jackson Madison County General Hospital, Jackson, TN
• Jubilant Radiopharma, Chattanooga, TN
• Maury Regional medical Center, Columbia, TN
• Mountain States-Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City, TN
• Navicent Health, Macon, GA
• Northside Hospital, Atlanta
• Northside Hospital Duluth, Duluth, GA
• Parkridge Medical Center, Chattanooga, TN
• Phoebe Putney Medical Center, Albany, GA
• Princeton Community Hospital, Princeton, WV
• Raleigh General Hospital, Beckley, WV
• Redmond Regional MC, Rome, GA
• Southern Tennessee Regional Medical Center, Winchester, TN
• St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville, TN
• Tanner Health System, Carrollton, GA
• Tennova North, Powell, TN
• TriStar Summit Medical Center, Hermitage, TN
• University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville, Knoxville, TN
• Wellmont Bristol Regional Medical Center, Bristol, TN
• Wellmont Holston Valley, Kingsport, TN
• West TN Imaging Center, Jackson, TN

Progression Policy / Retention Policy 

A grade of 75% or better is required in each course. The NMT faculty will make all fair and reasonable efforts to help the student be successful in the NMT Program. Efforts usually include extensive counseling and remediation with faculty and/or referral to Career Services and Counseling for additional assistance. However, all courses must be passed with a grade of 75 or better in order to proceed to the next NM course in the sequence. Individual course and laboratory requirements are indicated in each course syllabus. A student who develops significant physical limitations or emotional distress during the course of the program, may be asked to undergo additional physical or psychological evaluations to determine their ability to continue in the program. The program courses follow an attendance policy. Excessive unexcused absences, as defined in the NMT student handbook and course syllabi, will result in lowering the student’s final grade.

Nuclear Medicine Study Abroad Option

Students have the opportunity to travel abroad to places like London, England, Lisbon, Portugal, or Sydney, Australia to experience global nuclear medicine for one week to ten days while in the program at their own expense. Students studying abroad will enroll in the NUCM 2145: Global Experiences in Allied Health course.

In the "NUCM 2145: Global Experiences in Allied Health" course, students will journey to international locations to explore allied health professions. Procedures and technology not used or performed in the United States will be the focus of this course. Students will have the opportunity to visit hospitals and clinics in other countries and not only experience how their chosen profession is performed, but also gain an understanding on how health care in the host country works compared to the United States. Guest lecturers in the host country will present on various topics, including procedures, patient care, and healthcare policies. (1 Credit) 

The course requires pre-travel planning and study classes, in collaboration with other colleges, to learn about the location and nuclear medicine and molecular imaging in the host country, along with cultural information.   Several post-travel classes will occur to finalize the project and to plan for a presentation to the Chattanooga State Allied Health Community. There are limited seats for these trips and they are offered on a first come first serve basis.

• Prerequisite: NMTCB or ARRT(N) certified or successful completion of NUCM 2200, NUCM 2301, NUCM 2204, NUCM 2214, NUCM 2205, NUCM 2607.
   
• Course Cost: The course cost will vary depending on location of trip. Please contact Leesa Ross at Leesa.Ross@chattanoogastate.edu for current cost estimate. Cost will include hotel, some meals, airfare, and some excursions.
   
• Application Fee: A $100 nonrefundable application fee is due in December and final payment is due approximately 10 weeks before traveling.

Additional Requirements

Students must provide proof of current CPR certification for health professionals. This must be maintained throughout the nuclear medicine technology program. The requirement can be met with the American Heart Association BLS for Health Professionals and remain current through entire program.

Health Verification

Prior to enrollment, students must provide evidence through a health verification form and all required tests, including a drug screen and specific immunizations, that they are in good health and free from communicable diseases prior to the beginning of the fall term. Because nuclear medicine technology involves the direct care of patients, it will be required that students receive the Hepatitis-B vaccination series and an annual flu shot. Some sites do require the Covid-19 vaccine. Other specific immunizations and/or tests include MMR, Varicella, Tdap and N95 Fit Test. All screenings and tests are the financial responsibility of the student.

Criminal Background Checks

Following acceptance and prior to entering the first clinical course in designated health care programs, each student must undergo a criminal background check in order to comply with policies of affiliating clinical practice agencies. It shall be the student’s responsibility to comply with instructions provided upon acceptance and provide the results by a designated date. The check will be at the expense of the student. Students who do not meet this requirement in a timely manner or whose background does not meet agency standards will not be able to successfully complete the program. Additionally, a criminal background may preclude licensure or employment. Individuals with a question concerning this should schedule an appointment with the Program Director.

Confirm Eligibility: Write Certification Examination Boards if Applicable

Individuals who have been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic violation could be ineligible for certification by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) or the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB), even though they have successfully completed a nuclear medicine technology program. Individuals with a question should file a pre-application with the ARRT or NMTCB in order to obtain a ruling.

Essential Functions/Technical Standards

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students must be, with reasonable accommodation, physically and mentally capable of performing the essential functions of the program.

• Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgement.
• Interpersonal abilities sufficient for interaction with individuals, families and groups.
• Communication abilities sufficient for interaction with others in verbal and written form.

Technical Performance Standards:

Major Tasks of Job Performance and Clinical Education

• Position patient and/or camera to obtain desired image.
• Perform patient retrieval and dispatch including the assistance of patient from a wheelchair, stretcher or stool using proper body mechanics to avoid injury to patient or self.
• Observe patients for adverse reactions and if necessary, monitor vital signs in order to provide for the patient's safety.
• Communicate with the patient concerning medical history, pregnancy, identity, and exam procedures to provide accurate information and promote quality care and patient comfort.
• Select, prepare, and operate nuclear medicine imaging systems and related equipment, including the performance and analyzation of quality control procedures.
• Prepare, and administer appropriate oral and intravenous radioactive materials, following all radiation safety and aseptic guidelines.
• Properly label images with information necessary for identification and interpretation and evaluate the quality of the image for accuracy.
• Communicate with the physicians and fellow employees to complete of job tasks in a manner that is efficient, correct, at high quality and fosters an atmosphere of cooperation.
• Perform record keeping necessary for proper department operation and compliance with governing regulations and clinic policy.
• Survey and inspect all incoming radioactive materials for using appropriate equipment and record as prescribed by governing regulations.
• Properly store all radioactive material, with appropriate shielding in appropriate restricted areas.
• Properly perform and record contaminated material and radioactive waste according to department disposal protocol and governing regulations.
• Perform appropriate documentation and monitor contamination from the handling of radioactive material and perform appropriate containment, clean up and action to minimize exposure to, and spread of, contamination
• Properly handle and maintain patient support systems such as IVs, catheters, ventilators, central lines, nasogastric tubes, etc.

Capabilities Necessary to Perform Major Tasks

• Ability to move wheelchairs, stretchers, etc., alone or with assistance as available.  Must be able to lift, support, and/or transfer a patient.
• Ability to visualize patient for identification, positioning, camera placement and alignment, and image analysis.  Ability to move the body and body regions in order to provide patient care and support, and to position patient for imaging and/or treatment.
• Ability to reach, position, and operate imaging tables, camera control panels, film processor, collimators, dose calibrators, etc., at standard locations and placements.
• Ability to handle and safely use radiopharmaceuticals, vials, syringes, sterile items, pharmaceuticals, catheters, IVs, etc.
• Ability to read written passages, to communicate orally, and to write.  Ability to hear or lip read for reception of spoken communication.
• Ability and stamina to withstand lengthy periods of physical activity to include moving quickly and continuously.
• Ability to perceive events realistically, to think clearly and rationally, and to function independently in routine, stress, and/or emergency situations.
• Any student who may require accommodations should schedule an appointment with the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program Director.