NUM-1450 Nuclear Medicine Procedures I

Credits 3
This course is the first of two courses that presents nuclear medicine imaging and therapeutic procedures. This course provides the theory and concept foundations students will need to practice as entry-level nuclear medicine technologists. Utilizing a body-systems approach, students acquire knowledge about specific nuclear medicine exams so that they will be able to select the correct radiopharmaceutical(s) used to perform each exam, as well as select the equipment and acquisition parameters required to obtain diagnostic information. Next, students apply knowledge of human physiology in order to properly evaluate various patient health data and patient preparation for appropriateness for an imaging procedure and to predict exam outcomes. Additionally, students apply human anatomy knowledge to diagnostic images in order to differentiate normal from abnormal results and to distinguish between true pathology and artifacts. Finally, students identify the various indications and both relative and absolute contraindications for performing the procedures. Additional course activities prepare students to summarize basic concepts of healthcare research and to analyze the characteristics of modern US healthcare.

Prerequisite(s): BIO-2060, CHM-1010, MAT-1250 all with grade of C or higher

Course Outcomes

Select the appropriate instrument(s) and parameters for imaging procedures performed on various body systems.
Identify indications/contraindications for imaging procedures for various body systems.
Select the correct radio-tracer(s) and administration method(s) for the imaging procedures for various body systems.
Differentiate between normal vs. abnormal nuclear medicine images of various body systems.
Identify common pathology associated with various body systems.
Distinguish between true pathology/physiologic findings and artifacts.
Evaluate a patient’s history, laboratory results and symptoms for relevance to nuclear medicine imaging procedures for various body systems.
Explain the impact of patient preparation on the procedure, imaging and quantitative data.
Summarize basic concepts for healthcare research methods.
Analyze the characteristics of modern US healthcare systems.