Nuclear Medicine Methodology II Syllabus for 2019-2020
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Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

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Course

NMTT-2274-001 Nuclear Medicine Methodology II

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: NMTT 2209

Course Description

Focus on the basic principles involved in all diagnostic and therapeutic tests and procedures normally found in a nuclear medicine facility with emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, radiopharmaceuticals, instrumentation, data analysis and diagnostic value. Includes the cardiovascular, respiratory and lymphatic systems; the adrenal and parathyroid glands; tumors; and inflammatory processes; and miscellaneous procedures.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(2 sem hrs; 1 lec, 2 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT:  Technology and Techniques, 8^th Edition, Christian

Practical Mathematics in Nuclear Medicine Technology, Wells

Review of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 5th Edition, 

SNM Quick reference protocol manual for nuclear medicine technologists. 

Supplies

Scientific Calculator

The ability to create electronic documents: PDF, word doc, Google doc, and the ability to scan in or attach for blackboard assignments as ONE DOCUMENT.

Ability to download the respondus lockdown browser on personal computer/tablet and take online exams from home. 

Student Performance

Workforce Education Course Manual (WECM)

Course Description:  Focus on the basic principles involved in all diagnostic and therapeutic tests and procedures normally found in a nuclear medicine facility with emphasis on anatomy, physiology, pathology, radiopharmaceuticals, instrumentation, data analysis, and diagnostic value. Includes the cardiovascular, respiratory, and lymphatic systems; the adrenal and parathyroid glands; tumors; and inflammatory processes; and miscellaneous procedures.

End-of-Course Outcomes: Identify the most common reasons for ordering each study (pathology for which nuclear medicine procedures are of diagnostic value); list clinical findings that are consistent with the suspected pathology; describe the historical and current radiopharmaceuticals used for each study; cite any procedures and/or substances that may interfere with the performance of a valid test; explain any contraindications or adverse reactions associated with the study; and outline any associated patient preparation; specify equipment required for valid performance of the study; summarize the entire test procedure; discuss technical pitfalls associated with the study and methods of preventing and/or correcting technical problems associated with the study; relate possible alterations in the routine procedure; and identify normal and abnormal patterns of radiopharmaceutical distribution on typical studies.

In addition, this course is aligned with the Master Educational Plan of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program and students must meet these course goals/objectives:

The student should complete each of the following goals as evaluated by the faculty by using the course textbooks, personal notes, handouts, and other course materials deemed necessary.

Review A&P of the endocrine system

Discuss radionuclides used for thyroid imaging.

Discuss role of radioiodine uptake, thyroid scan, whole body imaging for RAI therapy planning.

Discuss written directive.

Evaluate symptoms of hyperthyroidism/hypothyroidism.

Evaluate lab values of the endocrine system.

Recognize pathology of the endocrine system.

Recognize radiopharmaceuticals for adrenal imaging.

Recognize radiopharmaceuticals for parathyroid imaging.

Differentiate the clinical features of euthyroidism.

Recognize dose ranges thyroid imaging, whole-body imaging, hyperthyroidism, ablation, mets.

Manage the thyroid cancer patient based on risk assessment.

Evaluate perchlorate washout test for organification defect.

Recognize 3 basic approaches to selecting dose range of I-131 for hyperthyroidism.

Describe somatostatin receptor imaging techniques.

Discuss nueroendocrine imaging to include Ga68

Review A&P of CNS.

Describe CSF dynamics.

Discuss properties of radiopharmaceuticals for BBB imaging and SPECT.

Recognize clinical indications for planar brain imaging, PET imaging, SPECT imaging of brain.

Evaluate concepts of brain death.

Recognize pathology.

Evaluate shuntograms, cisternograms, and CSF leak.

Discuss DatScan

Discuss PET imaging for Alzheimer’s

Evaluate clinical PET and SPECT studies.

Describe use of PET for epilepsy.

Review A&P of GI system.

Describe/evaluate GER procedures and imaging techniques for pulmonary aspiration, GER index.

Recognize clinical aspects of gastric emptying studies.    

Evaluate imaging techniques for hepatobiliary imaging, including use of morphine & CCK.

Label RBCs for hemangioma and GI bleed.

Recognize imaging techniques for GI bleed imaging.

Recognize imaging techniques for liver hemangioma imaging.

Recognize imaging techniques for liver/spleen imaging.

Recognize imaging techniques for Meckel’s imaging

Recognize imaging techniques for peritoneal venous shunt patency (LaVeen)

Recognize imaging techniques for liver-lung shunt mapping (arterial)

Recognize pathology for GI system.

Discuss/analyze the role of nuclear medicine in evaluating patients for infections/tumors.

Compare/contrast use of gallium, indium, and technesium for infection imaging.

Describe imaging procedures for parathyroid, prostate, colorectal, neuroendocrine tumors.

Describe imaging procedures for adrenal, breast, and lung tumors.

Recognize all radiopharmaceuticals used for infection/tumor imaging.

Discuss bone marrow imaging.

Analyze lab values.

Discuss radioimmunotherapy for lymphoma.

Discuss radionuclide therapy for metastatic bone pain.

Recognize methods for using selective internal radiation therapy ( SIRT-microspheres and I125 seeds)

Discuss authorized user and the therapy procedure including preparation, documentation, patient care and radiation safety

Identify any contraindications to the therapy including pregnancy and/or lactation status, prior to the procedure

Verify the patient preparation/education

Verify completion of informed consent, written directive, radiation safety instructions, and patient and family education

Verify and document patient identity, radiopharmaceutical, route of administration and dosage for the therapy

Discuss room preparation, instructing hospital staff, patient and/or caregivers in appropriate patient care and radiation safety precautions

Discuss radiation safety procedures during the preparation and the administration of therapy

Discuss surveys of designated patient areas and/or the patient, when indicated

Assure appropriate post therapy monitoring, documentation and follow up is performed

Discuss monitoring and release criteria.

Calculate GBEF.

Calculate GER.

Calculate Gastric Emptying Time.

Calculate thyroid uptake with/without decayed standard.

Perform data acquisition processing for each system indicated.

Identify indications for performing imaging and physiologic quantitation.              

Identify the name of the radiopharmaceutical(s) for a specific procedure.

Identify the acceptable dose ranges for the radiopharmaceutical(s).        

Identify the route of administration for the radiopharmaceutical(s).         

Explain the appropriate methods to administer the radiopharmaceutical(s).         

Describe the method of localization of the radiopharmaceutical including route of excretion.

Discuss appropriate sequence when multiple procedures have been ordered.     

Review and evaluate patient medical history in preparation for the nuclear medicine procedure.

Discuss the written order for the procedure and evaluate procedure appropriateness.    

Discus verifying the patient’s identity prior to radiopharmaceutical or adjunctive pharmaceutical administration.

Identify any contraindications including pregnancy and/or lactation status, prior to the procedure.           

Verify patient’s preparation/education of exam.

Explain the impact of patient preparation on the procedure, imaging and quantitative data.          

Explain the procedure, patient involvement, length of study and radiation safety to the patient and family.           

Verify informed consent for stress tests.                               

Select appropriate instrument and parameters for the procedure.            

Administer the radiopharmaceutical and/or adjunctive pharmaceutical in accordance with institutional guidelines.                               

Discuss nuclear cardiac stress testing performed in conjunction with nuclear medicine procedures.           

Acquire appropriate imaging view(s) and/or non-imaging data for complete procedure.                 

Discuss the importance of reviewing acquired images and processed data critically in order to assure diagnostic quality.

Analyze normal and abnormal bio-distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in nuclear medicine images and correlate with physiology and /or pathology.         

Recognize image or patient artifacts and how to correct.

Research and present a case study in class to a panel of judges (local technologists/physicians).

Engage on group presentations.

Participate in individual case study presentations.

Pass all exams and other graded assignments with final grade of 79.5 C or better.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

MAKE-UP POLICY

If a student is absent on the day of a major exam, the work will be graded as follows:

1.  In order to be fair to students who take scheduled exams at the designated time, makeup exams will lose 15% of the original value for the first exam missed, 20% for the second, 25% for the third, and so on of an additional 5% loss for each missed exam.
2. Major exams must be made up within one school day.
3. Make up exams may not be eligible for bonus points. 
4. Any exam score of an 80 or below must remediate. Remediation must be emailed to the instructor within 48  hours of taking the exam. If remediation is not turned in on time, 2% for each day for each remediation late, will be deducted from the students overall final grade. Remediation is elaborating on why the correct answer is correct, you may not submit just the question and the answer.  
5. Bonus points do NOT count toward NOT remediating. The base exam score is the score used to evaluate if a student needs to remediate. 
6. Class activities cannot be made up.  It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor to acquire material due to absence. from class.
7. NOTE:  Other arrangements may be made with instructor’s permission on a case-by-case basis.  It is the sole responsibility of the student to communicate the need for other options regarding make-up policies.

 WITHDRAWAL DEADLINE

The last day to drop or withdrawal is provided on the college Web site.

NOTE:  Nuclear medicine technology students who withdrawal from this course will be delayed in completing the major components on the AAS degree in nuclear medicine.

To continue in the program, a student may repeat a NMTT course only one time and may repeat no more than two NMTT courses while enrolled in the program. The term “repeat” shall be interpreted to mean re-enrollment following withdrawal, drop or unsatisfactory grade.

Program must be completed within 36 months of start of core nuclear medicine program/classes.

 ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  It is the responsibility of the student to attend class so that learning objectives are met successfully.  Prompt arrival is expected.  Attendance will be recorded.

Two absences is 5 points off the final overall grade, three absences is 10 points off, four absences is a final grade of an F.

PHONES/PAGERS/LAPTOPS/OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES

Cell phones and other electronic devices detract from the learning environment.  For this reason, they should be turned off and put away out of view upon entering the classroom.  Personal laptops may be used if the student is using it to take notes only.

 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Any student, who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements.

Contact disability Services at 345-5639 for any special need.

 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

A student who may have concerns or problems with the course or course instructor should make every attempt to resolve the problem with the course instructor.  In the event that it is not successful, the student may appeal the decision of the instructor to the program director, then the Dean of the Health Sciences Division, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, and the College President, in that order.

 STUDENTS RIGHTS/RESPONSIBILITIES

Please refer to the Students Rights and Responsibilities publication of Amarillo College (Web site or hard copy available in student services).

Students are responsible for maintaining all aspects set forth within the publication so that professionalism is maintained.

THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT

Mutual respect is foremost in this classroom.  Please make yourself at home within the classroom, regarding your peers and instructors with utmost respect.

Students should feel free to express ideas/thoughts without making others in the classroom feel uncomfortable.

 AC ONLINE COMMUNICATION (BlackBoard)

Use your personal account to check grades, emails, download course lecture material, etc. 

Students are responsible for checking their accounts daily so that communication about program/course information is current.

Students may also use any of the instructor contact information provided on the syllabus or classroom schedule provided each semester.

Grading Criteria

NOTE:  The course content is comprehensive in nature so that students are expected to carry information from one semester to the next. 

NOTE: Exams are not to be looked at at home, only on campus with the instructor. If an exam is turned on for a student on campus and a student at home looks at it, it will result in immediate expulsion from the program. After an exam is turned on for review, if all students aren't present,  a report for Blackboard will be run to show if any students logged on from home and viewed the exam. 

   

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  It is the responsibility of the student to attend class so that learning objectives are met successfully.  Prompt arrival is expected.  Attendance will be recorded.

Calendar

Additional Information

Course content is comprehensive in nature, and relates to the task analysis of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board and The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

The NMTT program at Amarillo College is fully accredited with the Joint Review Committee on Education in Nuclear Medicine Technology.

The instructor has the right to revise the calendar, as necessary, so that content is delivered adequately.

AC-Connect Online (BlackBoard)) Communication-www.actx.edu

This is the major source for program communication.

Students will use the AC Online personal account to check grades, e-mails, etc.  Students are responsible for checking their accounts daily so that communication about program/course information is current.

            https://www.actx.edu/resources/

            This website was created to assist Amarillo College employees and students. Many times, students come to us with individual concerns/situations that need to be addressed in order for the student to be successful in school.

This website can be used to find those needed resources for our students and their families. Feel free to copy any of this information for a student and to refer students as needed.

Our goal is to provide as much information as possible for employees and students to be able to access campus and community resources when needed. There are many more resources in this community that are not listed on these pages. Some of these agencies and programs will change; so if you call and cannot get assistance or cannot access a broken link, please contact me for more updated information.

This website will be updated as often as possible; therefore, most will be current. If the resources listed do not serve the needs you have or if you have any questions concerning this website, please call or email:  Jordan Fajardo, LMSW, Coordinator of Social Services, 806-371-5439, j0333462@actx.edu.

Student Injury information

https://www.actx.edu/allied_health/index.php?module=article&id=33

HB 1508 Statement 

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense.  For further information, please contact your advisor, the legal clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in.  The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.