2009 Mississippi Curriculum Framework: Postsecondary Nuclear Medicine Technology. (Program CIP: 51.0905 - Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist)

As the world economy continues to evolve, businesses and industries must adopt new practices and processes in order to survive. Quality and cost control, work teams and participatory management, and an infusion of technology are transforming the way people work and do business. Employees are now expected to read, write, and communicate effectively; think creatively, solve problems, and make decisions; and interact with each other and the technologies in the workplace. Vocational-technical programs must also adopt these practices in order to provide graduates who can enter and advance in the changing work world. The curriculum framework in this document reflects these changes in the workplace and a number of other factors that impact local vocational-technical programs. The Nuclear Medicine Technology curriculum is a flexible program designed to offer a 2-year Associate of Applied Science degree program of study and/or a certificate of completion in Nuclear Medicine Technology. The program is designed to prepare the technologist to perform imaging procedures by administering radioactive materials to patients in a clinical setting. The nuclear medicine technologist is a highly specialized health-care professional who works closely with the nuclear medicine physician. The program is designed to provide the student the knowledge and skills to enter the field as a nuclear medicine technologist and successfully write the certification examinations of the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) and/or the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB) upon successful program completion. To be admitted into the Nuclear Medicine Program, students must meet the following requirement: completion of an accredited program in radiologic technology. The curriculum was written to follow the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) core curriculum. Standards are based on ARRT content specifications for the examination in Nuclear Medicine Technology and the NMTCB components of preparedness. Appended are: (1) Industry Standards; (2) Related Academic Standards; and (3) 21st Century Skills. A list of suggested references is provided for each unit. (Contains 3 footnotes.)