Nuclear Medicine Technology – Major

For information, contact Prof. Judith Malitsch, jamalits@cedarcrest.edu, 610-606-4666, ext. 3605

Program Description

Nuclear medicine is the scientific and clinical discipline concerned with diagnostic, therapeutic, and investigative use of radionuclides. The program leading to the BS degree in nuclear medicine technology spans four years (3+1), the first three of which are spent at Cedar Crest College. The fourth year consists of clinical training at one of the affiliated hospitals* of the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences (PA College). Admission to Cedar Crest College does not guarantee admission to the hospital clinical year. Students must earn a minimum of 2.0 in each of the required prerequisite courses however, a strong overall GPA is highly recommended for the competitive selection and acceptance into the clinical year at PA College. At the end of the fall semester of the junior year, the student applies for admission to the clinical year through the Coordinator of Nuclear Medicine at Cedar Crest College. The Admissions Committee of the PA College decides which students will be accepted into the clinical year and also designates the hospital assignment. Prior to beginning the clinical year, the student must complete the required number of shadowing hours at the assigned hospital. The clinical year begins in August and is twelve months in duration. The student will spend three days per week in clinical practice at an affiliated hospital and one day per week in classroom instruction at PA College.

Upon successful completion of the Nuclear Medicine Technology program, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology from Cedar Crest College and a certificate in Nuclear Medicine Technology from the PA College will be awarded. The program at PA College is approved by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology.

*The affiliated hospitals are: Wellspan Good Samaritan Hospital (Lebanon, PA), Lancaster General Hospital (Lancaster, PA), Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, PA), Wellspan York Hospital (York, PA), Meritus Medical Center/Diagnostic Imaging Center (Hagerstown, MD), Peninsula Regional Medical Center/ Peninsula Imaging (Salisbury, MD), St. Luke’s University and Health Network (Bethlehem, PA), University of Maryland at St. Joseph's Medical Center (Towson, MD), and York Hospital (York, PA).

Program Mission Statement

The mission of the program is to provide the health community with intelligent and technically skilled entry-level technologists who are competent in the performance of nuclear medicine procedures for patient studies and work effectively with members of a health care team.

Program Outcomes

All Majors within the Department of Biological Sciences have the following three outcomes:

• Students can apply the foundation concepts and principles of the Biological Sciences, including cellular structure and function, genetics and molecular biology, evolution and organismal diversity, and ecology.
• Students can discuss the interaction of science and society, including the ethical practice of science, within the local, national, and global community.
• Students can write about and interpret the methodologies of scientific research.
  

Nuclear Medicine Technology Major Outcomes

• Students can apply anatomical and physiological concepts of the organization and interrelationships of body organ systems and homeostasis to diagnostic imaging and health care using nuclear medicine protocols.
  Clinical Year Educational Outcomes (PA College)
• Work effectively with members of the health care team.
• Demonstrate competency in the performance of nuclear medicine procedures.
• Show ability to think critically by applying didactic knowledge to clinical situations.
• Assume responsibility for continuous learning, professional growth and service to the community.
• Respect the ethical, legal, moral and cultural issues that impact the care of patients
  

Program Requirements

A student should declare the major upon matriculation. A student is required to declare a major once completing 45 credits.

Prior to eligibility for completing the Nuclear Medicine Technology academic certificate curriculum at PA College, the following prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or above:

• Anatomy & Physiology I and II with labs
• Physics –one course with lab
• Chemistry –one course with lab
• College Algebra or above such as Precalculus
• English Composition –one course
• Public Speaking – one course
• Humanities – one course
• Social Science – one course

A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 is required to remain in the major. Any student who withdraws from a course or earns a grade lower than a C- may repeat the course only one time at Cedar Crest College.

Cedar Crest College Major Requirements

BIO 123 Foundations in Biology 4 credits
BIO 124 Principles of Cell and Molecular Biology 4 credits
(Students with Advanced Placement credit for BIO123 and/or 124 are required to take the BIO 123 and 124 Labs.)
BIO 239 Animal Ecology, Development and Evolution* 4 credits
BIO 231 Genetics* 4 credits
BIO 127 Clinical Microbiology 4 credits
BIO 117 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4 credits
BIO 118 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 4 credits

BIO 304 Pathophysiology 3 credits
CHE 111 Chemical Principles 4 credits
CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis 4 credits

OR
CHE 111
CHE 203 Survey of Organic Chemistry 4 credits

MAT 110 Probability and Statistics 3 credits
Precalculus (recommended) or Algebra 3 credits
PHY 101 Introductory College Physics I 4 credits
PHY 102 Introductory College Physics II 4 credits
THS 105 Public Speaking 3 credits
Health Care Administration (9 credits from list below) Or Health Care Management Certificate* (12 credits and highly recommended)
ACC 101 Financial Accounting 3 credits
*BUA 211 Intro to Health Care Systems* 3 credits
*BUA 258 Health Care Management* 3 credits

*BUA 340 Health Care Finance* 3 credits
*BUA 341 Health Care Practice Management* 3 credits
BUA 220 Human Resources Management 3 credits
BUA 258 or BUA 341 must be used as a prerequisite for PHI 210 at PA College

Liberal Arts Curriculum Requirements

Students fulfill the Technology, Oral Presentation, Information Literacy and Public Speaking requirements through successful completion of the following required courses:
BIO 123, 124, 239, 231, THS 105, NMT 201, NMT 202, NMT 203, NMT 211, NMT 212, and NMT 213.

All courses in the major and liberal arts curriculum must be completed before beginning the fourth, clinical year at PA College.

PA College Clinical Year Requirements

No student will be allowed to begin the clinical year unless all of the following requirements have been met:

• Completion of all prerequisite courses with a grade of C or above
• Acceptance to the Nuclear Medicine Technology certificate program at the PA College; Acceptance into the clinical year is competitive and not guaranteed by satisfaction of the minimum requirements. It is based on strong academic performance and the available number of positions in the clinical program.
• Completion of all required health history, physical exam, certifications, clearances, and background checks as required by the PA College
• Completion of all other documents required by the affiliated hospitals
• Documentation of health insurance; CCC health insurance is acceptable
  

Nuclear Medicine Technology students are responsible for any fees involved in the fulfillment of the above requirements.

The nuclear medicine clinical training begins in August and is 12 months in duration. This will involve commuting one day per week to the PA College for classroom instruction and commuting to the affiliate hospital three days per week for clinical practice that includes the following areas: radionuclide imaging and external monitoring, radiation safety and protection, patient positioning and clinical nursing procedures, and nuclear medicine administrative procedures. Students are required to learn and perform venipuncture and to inject radio pharmaceuticals.

Clinical Year Coursework at the PA College and Affiliated Hospitals

(The minimum acceptable grade to make academic progress is a “C” in the theory courses and a “B” in the clinical courses)

Fall Semester
HSC 100 Medical Terminology 1 credit
HSC 101 Methods of Patient Care 1 credit
NMT 201 Nuclear Medicine Theory I 4 credits
NMT 211 Nuclear Medicine Clinical I 
 5 credits
PHI 210 Ethical and Legal Dimensions in the Health Sciences 1 credit

Spring Semester
HSC 195 Cross-Sectional Anatomy 1 credit 

NMT 202 Nuclear Medicine Theory II 6 credits
NMT 212 Nuclear Medicine Clinical II 5 credits
Summer Session
NMT 203 Nuclear Medicine Theory III 2 credits
NMT 213 Nuclear Medicine Internship 6 credits

Total number of credits required for the major and clinical program: 127

Nuclear Medicine Technology, as any health profession, has some potential risks/hazards related to the occupation; students may be exposed to ionizing radiation, blood and body fluids including urine, feces, vomitus, etc. on a daily basis. Nuclear Medicine Technology students are required to assess patients and provide general nursing care to patients while in nuclear medicine departments of the affiliated hospitals
An extensive amount of verbal communication and self-motivation is required in the clinical year which necessitates working with patients in a professional setting. Therefore, it is important that the student has advanced interpersonal skills, mature judgment, and appropriate professional demeanor. The clinical year is accelerated and students are required to immediately begin interacting with patients and instructors and perform procedures under the supervision of clinical instructors.

Travel Policies

Travel to and from the affiliated hospitals and PA College required in the fourth, clinical year is the responsibility of the student.

Health Requirements

Dental and eye examinations, immunizations and an annual complete physical examination are required, as well as freedom from any physical, mental, medical or drug impairment that would prohibit the candidate from practicing as a professional nuclear medicine technologist.

Program Completion

Upon completion of the Nuclear Medicine Technology program at PA College of Health Sciences, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology (and possibly a Health Care Management Certificate) from Cedar Crest College and a Certificate in Nuclear Medicine Technology from the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences will be awarded. Since the clinical year is a twelve month curriculum, a graduating student will be allowed to participate in Cedar Crest College’s May Commencement however, the B.S. degree will be issued following completion of all requirements from the clinical year ending in August.

After successful completion of the clinical year, students are then qualified to take one of the national registry examinations (ARRT or NMTCB) in order to become a Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologists (CNMT).
The granting of a degree from Cedar Crest College and a certificate from the PA College of Health Sciences does not guarantee that a student will be licensed, certified, or accepted for practice by professional licensing agencies.