Nuclear Medicine Methodology II Syllabus for 2021-2022
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

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. 

External webcam for online testing.

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.

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

Describe somatostatin receptor imaging techniques.

Discuss nueroendocrine imaging to include Ga68

Discuss therapy using Lu177 DOTATATE and I131 MIBG 

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

Evaluate hepatobiliary Meckel’s, GER, imaging techniques in the pediatric patient.

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.                                   

Select appropriate instrument and parameters for the procedure.            

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

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).

Review NRC regs

Engage in group presentations.

Participate in individual case study presentations.

Pass all exams and other graded assignments with final grade of 80 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 will be done on campus after the exam and handed in to the instructor at that time. If remediation is not turned in on time because you miss class, 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.

PHONES/PAGERS/LAPTOPS/OTHER TECHNOLOGICAL DEVICES

Cell phones/smart watches 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.  If you need to record a lecture you must use a recording device other than your phone. 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

REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS

The course will consist of the following activities to be scored for course credit:

1. **Major Exams (70%) Comprehensive Final Exam (counts as major exam). The final exam counts as one exam. 
2. **Assignments/Quizzes/Discussion Board/Presentations (30%)
3. **At the end of the course, the grades earned worth 30% from all assignments/quizzes/DBs (any work besides exams) will  be added into the student's course grade average if the student has earned at least an 80% average on the exams. In other words, until all exams are graded, the "Course Grade" visible in Blackboard will be a grade earned from exams only at 100% weighting. Upon an 80 overall exam average, then the exams will count for 70% and assignments 30% and that will be your final grade reflected in the grade book. In the event points are taken off your final overall grade due to not responding to feedback, etc. the final grade is reflected on the transcripts not BB.
4. Any missed assignments to include quizzes and Discussion Board will be recorded in the grade book as a zero. Please communicate with the instructor if you will not be able to complete an assignment on time due to extenuating circumstances. You must complete assignments regardless in order to move on to the exams. Partial credit for late assignments may be given, however Missed quizzes will be recorded as a zero in the grade book.. When information is missing from an assignment and feedback is left in the grade book for what needs to be corrected, the student has 48 hours to email the missing information to the instructor or 10% of the assignment grade will be reduced for each day it is late. It is the students responsibility to check Blackboard everyday. For example if you log on on Tuesday and there is in no bubble indicating feedback, but there is a bubble on Wednesday indicating feedback was left, you have until Friday at midnight to submit the missing information. 
5. A passing grade for each exam is expected.  If a student does not pass an exam, the student is assigned an "at risk score". Mandatory remediation occurs on a score of 80 or below for the exam and is available right after the exam and turned in at that time, or the next class meeting if it was an online exam. The student will come an hour early and remediate and turn it in at that time if it was an online exam. See below.  

6. Any assignment or exam with a score of 80 or below requires mandatory remediation. Exam remediation takes place in class right after the exam, or the next meeting if it was an online exam (student must come in an hour early), and is turned in at that time. For each remediation, each day it is late, 2% per day per remediation will be taken off the total course grade if the student misses class and cannot remediate as remediation must be scheduled. Remediation is elaborating on why the correct answer is correct, you may not submit just the question and the answer.  Remediation may only be done on single, blank paper, not a notebook.

7. The course content is comprehensive in nature so that students are expected to carry information from one semester to the next.
8. NOTE:  Chapter objectives/key terms/study guide/chapter summary from review book will be used to prepare for exams utilizing textbooks and PowerPoint/discussion.  These items will be turned in by each student prior to each exam.  Failure to turn in the items will result in a drop in a letter grade  (10 points) for each exam that the items are linked to. Key terms and objectives that do not meet the benchmark example will be returned to the student to be redone and 10 points taken from the exam. Incomplete work will result in 10 points off the exam. (example only completing 7 out of 20 objectives or key terms, or not meeting the % of pages on a study guide or chapter summary).
9. Study guide must meet the following criteria: One or more question per slide count. If there are 300 slides your study guide needs to have 300 questions. If there are 50 slides your study guide needs to have 50 questions, etc. If it does not meet the criteria it is 10 points off the exam. This may change throughout the course based on exam grades. 
10. NOTE: You must complete your assignments in order to take the section major exam
11. If this course is selected to participate in community service to have the lowest exam grade dropped, this is only applicable to students passing the course. Community service cannot be used to take a student from failing to passing. 

FINAL GRADE EVALUATION (NO ROUNDING of grade)

A= 94.5-100            C=80-84.4

B=84.5-94.4            F=less than 79.9

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, the second missed exam is 25% reduction, the third exam missed is 25% reduction, and so on. 
2. Major exams must be made up within one school day.

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. Please do not wait until an exam failure to notify the instructor of extenuating circumstances. 

NOTE on Plagiarism. Copying my notes word for word or the text book is plagiarism, you must paraphrase it in your own words. Copying another students assignment, even if you worked together is cheating and plagiarism. Self-plagiarism is also considered cheating. If you are repeating this course, you may not turn in the same work from the course you failed. This is self-plagiarism and is not allowed. Self-plagiarism is grounds for removal from the class with a final grade of an F. The course cannot be repeated, so you are then removed from the program. In order to avoid self plagiarism, all assignments in repeated courses must be hand written if they were originally typed, and typed if they were originally hand written. 

NOTE: Copying and Pasting Instructor notes to complete assignments is considered plagiarism. Copying each others assignments is cheating. Complete assignment in your own words while utilizing instructor notes, and working together. 

Taking exams online or in person: scratch paper must be single (not a notebook) and both front and back shown to the instructor before and after the exam. Items allowed in the testing space: pen or pencil, blank single scratch paper, and calculator.

Reviewing exams from home is not permitted and is considered cheating. There is a zero tolerance for viewing exams at home. BB reports are run to verify. Taking pictures of an exam,writing an entire exam down, asking for answers during an exam, copying and pasting an exam, screen shots of an exam, are all considered cheating. Passing information from an exam to a student (first or second year) that has not taken the exam is cheating. There is zero tolerance for cheating and you will be removed immediately.  You may not wear a hat or cap during an exam and arms and palms of hands must be visible for in person or online testing. You may not leave during an exam. You must have an adequate environment scan if testing online (see handbook). You must have an external webcam for online testing.

Reviewing exams on campus: you may not write down the entire exam, only what you missed and is to be shown to the instructor upon completion. The student must use single sheets of paper and not use a notebook. At no time during exam review will the student be allowed access to a phone, smart watch or any type of camera.

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. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Likewise, prompt arrival to class is also expected. Attendance will be recorded. Late students will not be allowed into the classroom as we will start on time and it is a distraction to students when someone comes in late. Missing class or being late counts as an infraction, simply be there and be on time. Five points from your overall grade for being late and ten points for missing. Three tardies or two missed days equals an F for the course. 

To be successful and your attendance is critical to your success.  In order to be fair, there is no distinction between an excused and an unexcused absence.  If/when you do miss class, it is your responsibility to obtain notes from your classmates. Do not ask the instructor for notes.

HOWEVER, if you are ill please provide a positive COVID or COVID quarantine note, flu, or strep test and stay home. If these are negative and you feel that you must attend class and are coughing, running fever, vomiting, etc... get a mask and sit away from other students.  Another option is to get a digital recorder and have a classmate record the lecture if you must miss class.

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.