Nuclear Medicine Technology Seminar Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Instructor Information

Office Location

West Campus Allied Health 135

Office Hours

NUCLEAR MEDICINE TECHNOLOGY

Spring 2025 Schedule

Tamra Rocsko, MEd, CNMT, ARRT (N), Program Director

Office 354-6071  Cell 208-841-2533  Email: tlrocsko@actx.edu   

 

 

 

MONDAY

 

TUESDAY

 

WEDNESDAY

 

THURSDAY

 

FRIDAY

7:00

Clinical Rounds as needed

 

Clinical Rounds as needed

Clinical Rounds as needed

Clinical Rounds as needed

7:15

 

 

 

 

 

7:30

 

  

 

 

 

7:45

 

 

 

 

 

8:00 

Office/Advising 

Office/

Advising

 

Advising

Office/Advising

Clinical Rounds as needed/Office/

Advising

8:15

 

 

 

 

 

8:30  

 

 

 

 

 

8:45

 

 

 

 

 

9:00

 

Class Capstone

Radiopharm

    

 

9:15

 

9-4

9-4

 

 

9:30

 

Building AH 158

Building AH 158

 

 

9:45

 

 

 

 

 

10:00

 

 

 

 

 

10:15

 

 

 

 

 

10:30

 

 

 

 

 

10:45

 

 

 

 

 

11:00

 

 

 

 

 

11:15

 

 

 

 

 

11:30

 

 

 

 

 

11:45

 

 

 

 

 

12:00

 

 

 

 

Home

12:15

 

 

 

 

 

12:30

 

 

 

 

 

12:45

 

 

 

 

 

1:00

 

    

 

 

 

1:15

 

 

 

 

 

1:30

 

 

 

 

 

1:45

 

 

 

 

 

2:00

 

 

 

 

 

2:15

 

 

 

 

 

2:30

 

 

 

 

 

2:45

 

 

Office/Advising

 

 

3:00

 

 

 

 

 

3:15

 

 

 

Home

 

3:30

 

 

 

       

 

4:00

Home

Home

Home

 

 

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-2235-001 Nuclear Medicine Technology Seminar

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: NMTT 2274

Course Description

Capstone course focusing on the synthesis of professional knowledge, skills and attitudes in preparation for professional employment and lifelong learning.

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, 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

  Required Course Materials

  1. Textbook-Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT, Technology & Techniques, by Christian 8th
  2. Textbook-Practical Mathematics in Nuclear Medicine Technology, by Wells
  3. Textbook-Review of Nuclear Medicine Technology, 5th
  4. Quick Reference Guide 
  5. Any and all lecture notes, handouts, etc.
  6. Computer for online testing
  7. External webcam for online testing 
  8. Ability to create and upload PDFs, word docs, Google docs. as ONE document 

Supplies

Scientific Calculator without memory. Calculators with memory will not be allowed. 

Study Materials

A computer or device compatible with the lockdown browser and an external webcam. 

Student Performance

Course Goals/Objectives

Course Description:  A capstone course focusing on the synthesis of professional knowledge, skills and attitudes in preparation for professional employment and lifelong learning.

End-of-Course Outcomes:  Synthesize professional skills, knowledge and attitudes for entry level for professional employment and lifelong learning.

Given the course textbooks, personal notes, handouts, and other course materials, the student should complete each of the following goals as evaluated by the instructor:

Review the terms, facts, theories, principles, and procedures related to each topic.

Apply the knowledge learned from the didactic/clinical experiences.

Review relevant content from the previous NMTT courses

Review NM instrumentation.

Review NM physics and radiation safety

Review NRC regs.

Review NM methodology.

Review NM radiopharmacy/radiochemistry.

Review patient care.

Review PET and PET CT

Review CT and cross sectional anatomy

Review all aspects of NM math calculations.

Complete and examine various practice exams/unit exams per syllabus

Review all material as indicated on course syllabus.

Must complete ALL practice exams and review book with a grade of 50 or better.

Pass comprehensive program exit exams per syllabus with flat passing grade of 80 or better.

Turn in competency profile form containing the required patient competencies. (If not completed you receive a grade of Incomplete (I) for this course and cannot graduate or take board exam) 

Turn in completed COPs

Participate in 8 hours of CE

Fill out registry/Texas Licensure application forms.

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

Makeup/Withdrawal Policy

It is not possible for students to miss any aspect of the assigned work, since this is the capstone course. However, exams taken at times other than scheduled times will be graded at 85%.

The student cannot withdrawal from the class due to failure and expect to complete the goals/objectives of the capstone experience as scheduled.

Any withdrawal or failure of the course requires student to enroll in course at a later time to finish degree plan.

Upon the first failure of a EXIT EXAM (1-3) a student will receive a grade of an F and cannot withdraw due to failing the course. 

Upon four failures (you can fail three) of UNIT EXAMS (including unit mock exams) a student will receive a grade of an F and cannot withdraw due to failing the course. *There are two mock exams that count as UNIT exams.*

Students with Disabilities

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disability Services of Amarillo College at 345-5639 as soon as possible.

Grievance Procedures

A student who experiences problems with the course or the course instructor should make every attempt to resolve the problem with the course instructor.  If that is not successful, the student may appeal the decision to the program director, the chairperson of the Health Sciences Division, the dean of instruction, and the college president, in that order.

Student Rights/Responsibilities

Refer to the Student Rights and Responsibilities publication of Amarillo College, which is located on the Amarillo College Web site, www.actx.edu.

Electronic devices, such as: beepers, cell phones, or any other communication device is prohibited in the classroom.

Students may, however, use personal laptops to take exams only.

Course Communication Methods

It is imperative that clear communication lines/methods have been established among students and the course instructor.

BlackBoard is the official communication site for email, grades, syllabus, etc. 

Student is provided with the instructors email address, class schedule, and relevant phone numbers on the office schedule’.

Students sign the ‘acknowledgement form’ that they have received this information and the form is maintained within the student file.

 

Student Success in Nuclear Medicine Technology Seminar Course:

  1. This is a capstone course, which means that it is geared to prompt students to focus on the synthesis of professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes in preparation for professional employment and lifelong learning.  Now is your chance to prove your knowledge retention in all aspects of the didactic and clinical training.
  2. You will be given UNIT EXAMS, which will cover all aspects of radiopharmacy, federal regulations, instrumentation, patient care, retention of records, radiation safety,  and methodologies. *There are two mock exams that count as UNIT exams.*
  3. Please do not get behind in studying for the material, because it is hard to catch up, since you will be given material to study and test on each week.  
  4. Any question that you are given to answer during this course is subject to possibly be on the Exit Exams, which you must pass with a score of 80 or better. 
  5. You may not take any national registry/certification exam until being released from the program, and that is proven by passing the course (to include the unit and exit exams), and the final exit exams will be given on Tuesday May 10, 2022 at 10 AM.
  6. I feel confident that all students here will pass the course and exams the first time, but in the event that one failure occurs of an EXIT EXAM or four (you can only fail three) failures of UNIT EXAMS, the student grade will be changed to an “F”, whereby the student will have to repeat the course In Spring 2023. Note: you may only repeat a course in the program one time.
  7. In the event of any failure, it is my responsibility to notify the testing agencies and state (NMTCB/TMB) of student outcomes, and a restriction is immediately placed on predetermined test appointments and temporary licensure.  Students with this status may not sit for any national board exam until competency has been proven.
  8. Schedule your national exams immediately and as close to May 10, 2022 as possible.  Once you prove competency by passing the course and unit and exit exams, you are ready for your boards, and consequently, to become a registered nuclear medicine technologist and colleague by passing national certification tests.
  9. You may not take the exit exams if you have a failing grade in the course. 
  10. One make up exam MAY be given but will not count as part of the grade, they will be pass/fail.
  11. The instructor may drop the lowest exam grade due to community service assignments. If this is done, it is not to take a student from failing to passing. If you are failing the course, dropping the lowest exam grade due to community service will not be allowed to pass the course. It may bump your final grade up for passing students, but is not allowed to be utilized to go from failing to passing. 
  12. 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. 

NOTE a student may only have the chance to view their exam one time in class so do not wait to review it. Once you have reviewed the exam once you will not be able to review it again. Alert the instructor if you are not able to view your exam. 

Viewing of any exams from home without the instructor is immediate removal from the course for cheating. This is tracked in Blackboard. 

Testing policy per handbook: No phones or smart watches on your body. You may not get up and go to the bathroom. You may take three pieces of scratch paper (must show to proctor prior to exam) and calculator. No baseball caps and must show arms to proctor. You may write down what you missed but you may not write down the whole exam. You must show your scratch paper to the proctor. You MAY NOT take pictures of the exam at any time. 

Good luck to you all.

Grading Criteria

  Grading throughout the course is as follows:

  1. Student must pass seven of ten UNIT exams and ALL EXIT exams with a minimal score of ‘80’.  
  2. If a failure occurs in the course EXIT exams in Spring 2022, the student with receive an ‘F’ for the course and must repeat the course in Spring 2023. 
  3. If four (you can fail three) failures occurs in the course UNIT exams in Spring 2022, the student with receive an ‘F’ for the course and must repeat the course in Spring 2023. 
  4. A student must have a passing grade in the course to move into taking the EXIT Exams. 
  5. A score of ‘zero’ will be given for any unit or mock exam missed and grade of ‘F’ will be given for this course, and student must repeat the course, to complete requirements.
  6. If comp card is not complete: If not completed you receive a grade of Incomplete (I) for this course and cannot graduate or take board exam. 

A passing grade of a 80, student must achieve an 80 or greater. 

Letter grades are assigned as follows: 

Grades Scored Between Will Equal
95% and 100% A
85% and less than 95% B
80% and less than 85% C
0% and less than 79.4% F

Weighting is 60% exit eams, 40% unit exams 

Note: Exam content shall not be discussed among the students until all students have taken the exam. If a student who has taken the exam discloses exam content to a student who has not taken the exam, this is considered cheating.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement of this course.  Attendance and tardiness will be recorded.

Classroom time start promptly at 10 am.

Online mock exams in the testing center or classroom, times are located in the course outline/syllabus and within Blackboard.

We do not cancel class for inclement weather, we meet virtually, regardless if AISD is closed. 

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

Course Outline

Jan 18 Week 1-meet in classroom for Syllabus, Acknowledgment Form and overview of class. MOCK EXAM in class on your computer.

Jan 25 Week 2- Unit exam 1: Radiation Physics, Radiation Safety, Quality Assurance, Instrumentation, Image quality. Homework assignments: Instrumentation in math book Chapter IV math DUE Jan 24 at 11:59 PM

Feb 1 Week 3- Unit exam 2: NRC, Patient Care, Radiopharmacy

Feb 8 Week 4- Unit exam 3 Skeletal and Central Nervous System

Feb 15 Week 5- Unit exam 4 Cardio

Feb 22 Week 6- Unit exam 5- Endocrine (no neuroendocrine)

Mar 1 Week 7- Unit exam 6 Respiratory and Genitourinary

Mar 8 Week 8- Unit exam 7 Gastrointestinal

Bring NMTCB application and money.

Spring Break Mar 15

Mar 22 Week 9- Unit exam 8: Oncology, Infection, Therapy (includes neuroendocrine and some skeletal)

Mar 29 Week 10- Unit exam 9: PET and CT

Turn in COPs April 4 11:59 PM

Apr 5 Week 11-

Take a mock exam (probably online and will review over zoom)

Apr 12 Week 12 Take exit exam 1 (This exam consists of all material ever)

Must complete practice exams, RB exams, and easy/med/hard exams prior to taking exit exam 1

Apr 19 Week 13

Work from home via BlackBoard and STUDY

Study Mock Exams in RB, practice exams, easy/med/hard

Review Book-Chapters 1,2,3

Review Book Supplemental info-Appendix A.

Math Book- Chapter 1, # 9-11, and all of Chapter 3.

Review Book-Chapters 4, 5,6,7.

Math Book-Chapter V-Radiopharmacy Math

Apr 26 Week 14-Take exit exam 2 (This exam consists of all material ever)

May 3 Week 15-Work from home via BlackBoard 

Study Mock Exams in Review Book, practice exams, easy/med/hard

Review RP, kit and eluate purity, Generator, methods of biodistribution, physics, TDS math, instrumentation

Review Book-Chapters 8, 9, 10, 11.

Math Book-Chapter VI-Clinical Procedures (include MUGA frame math)

Review Book-Chapters 12, 13, 14.

Math Book-Chapter IV-Instrumentation

Review instrumentation, image/data reconstruction, PET, rad safety/regs

Review Book-Chapters 15 and 16

Refresh therapy products pages 606-620.

Know interventional drugs for NM on pages 26 and 27 of Review Book.

Review PET/CT Material.

Know QC/QA of gamma camera and PET and dose calibrator (use of phantoms, testing frequency, recognition of artifacts, COR, intrinsic/extrinsic, FWHM, Chi Square) 

May 10 Week 16 - take exit exam 3 (This exam consists of all material ever) TURN IN COMP CARD

The last six weeks is an outline of the program contents simply to help you streamline if you need it. It does not mean that is all that is on the exam. The exits exams cover all content from day one.

Additional Information

The course content is aligned with the Master Educational Plan of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Program at Amarillo College.
In addition, the lecture content aligns with the task analysis of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board and The American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

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

It is very important that students do not get behind with the course schedule. 

Additional Information:
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.

Student Resources

            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 Injuries Information (class and clinical)

https://www.actx.edu/health_sciences/index.php?module=pagesmith&uop=view_page&id=17

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.

Syllabus Created on:

01/10/22 10:25 AM

Last Edited on:

09/08/22 11:45 AM