1⟩ Tell me what method would you use to calm a stressed patient?
Demonstrates candidates' interpersonal and communication skills.
Nuclear Physician
Home Medical Nuclear Physician
“Nuclear Physician Frequently Asked Questions in various Nuclear Physician job interviews by interviewer. The set of questions are here to ensures that you offer a perfect answer posed to you. So get preparation for your new job interview”
57 Nuclear Physician Questions And Answers
2⟩ Tell me what side effects or reactions should you look for when monitoring a patient during scanning?
Demonstrates candidates' knowledge of radiopharmaceuticals and their side effects.
3⟩ Explain me what type of clinical settings have you worked in?
Clinical settings you may have experience with are in-patient, out-patient, ICU, ER, family practice, community clinics, other settings within hospitals. Tell the interviewer which setting you've worked in and how you've been successful in them. If this will be your first job out of school, tell the interviewer where you did your clinicals or what type of setting you've volunteered in.
4⟩ Tell us what are the main job duties and responsibilities of "nuclear medicine physician" employee?
Nuclear medicine physician responsibilities are to advise other physicians of the clinical indications, limitations, assessments, or risks of diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radioactive materials;
Check and approve the quality of diagnostic images before patients are discharged; compare nuclear medicine procedures with other types of procedures such as computed tomography, ultrasonography, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography; consult with patients following radiation treatments to provide information and assess outcomes or to recommend further consultation or treatments as appropriate;
Determine appropriate tests or protocols based on patients' needs or conditions; direct nuclear medicine technologists or technicians regarding desired dosages, techniques, positions, and projections; establish and enforce radiation protection standards for patients and staff; formulate plans and procedures for nuclear medicine departments; interpret imaging data and confer with other medical specialists to formulate diagnoses; interview and physically examine patients prior to testing;
Monitor cleanup of radioactive spills to ensure that proper procedures are followed and that decontamination activities are conducted; prepare comprehensive interpretive reports of findings; prescribe radionuclides and dosages to be administered to individual patients; review procedure requests and patients' medical histories to determine applicability of procedures and radioisotopes to be used; monitor handling of radioactive materials to ensure that established procedures are followed; provide advice on the selection of nuclear medicine supplies or equipment; direct the safe management and disposal of radioactive substances; monitor quality control of radionuclide preparation, administration, or disposition ensuring that activities comply with applicable regulations and standards; teach nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology, or other specialties at graduate educational level; administer radioisotopes to clinical patients or research subjects; perform cardiovascular nuclear medicine procedures such as exercise testing and pharmacologic stress testing; schedule examinations and staff activities; calculate, measure, or prepare radioisotope dosages;
Test dosage evaluation instruments and survey meters to ensure they are operating properly; conduct laboratory procedures, such as radioimmunoassay studies of blood or urine, using radionuclides; consult with anesthesiologists regarding recommended dosages or combinations of sedative drugs.
5⟩ Tell me why did you decide to specialize in nuclear medicine?
Because of my interest in physiology, I discovered that I truly love nuclear medicine. My first real exposure to it was when I followed one of my otolaryngology patients who had a melanoma of the helix of the ear to the NM department for a lymphoscintigraphy. When I found out that the specialty of NM uses the tracer principle to visualize physiologic processes in addition to chemistry, physics and plenty of math (that day I even used the Pythagorean Theorem), I fell in love. Yes, I’m a proud geek and was so happy to find a specialty that married many of my interests.
6⟩ Tell me how many hours a week do you work?
This is a tough question to answer. I work until all the patient work is done. We occasionally have work-related meetings after work and I take call for a week at a time roughly every third week. I also will review some things after hours on my own at home for certain situations or patients. If I were to estimate the number of hours I work doing nuclear medicine-related things, it would be around 60 to 80 hours per week.
7⟩ Tell us from your perspective, what is the biggest problem in health care today?
This is a very difficult question, since in truth there’s quite a lot that can be improved. From the perspective of education, I think it would be great for medical students to have a better understanding of costs of care and the business side of medicine.
8⟩ Tell us do you have family? If so, do you have enough time to spend with them? How do you balance work and life outside of work?
I have a wonderful husband and two beautiful dogs (a sweet three-year-old Goldendoodle and a crazy seven-month-old Sheepadoodle puppy). We all enjoy dog parks and long walks. My husband and I will be celebrating our five-year anniversary this year and are considering expanding the family with some human children within the next few years.
9⟩ What is nuclear medicine?
medical specialty that uses radioactive substances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease
10⟩ What is small bowel follow through?
study that traces the passage of barium in a sequential manner as it passes through the small intestine
11⟩ Tell me what recent innovation in the field are you most excited about?
Demonstrates candidates' willingness to stay up-to-date in the field.
12⟩ Explain me what is your experience preparing radiopharmaceuticals?
As a Nuclear Medicine Technologist, you know that radiopharmaceuticals are drugs that contain radionuclides that emit radiation. The distribution of the radiopharmaceutical within the body is determined by the physiochemical properties of the drug, the stability of the radiolabel, the purity of the radiopharmaceutical preparation, the pathophysiologic state of the patient, and the presence or absence of interfering drugs. If you are new to the field explain that you are looking forward from learning from your Sr. Technologists. If preparing radiopharmaceuticals has become second nature, tell the interviewer about your experience preparing and administering them to your patients.
13⟩ Explain me what are the skills required from nuclear medicine physician employee in order to success in his work?
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems, Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making, Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents, Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience, Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
14⟩ Tell us when did you first decide to become a doctor? Why?
I first decided to become a doctor in the second grade after reading the biography of the first woman doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell. Along the way I had several other experiences that solidified that early notion. In particular, my undergraduate work in zoology, physiology and microbiology with a minor in chemistry further cemented my aim of practicing medicine one day.
15⟩ Tell me what do you like least about being a specialist in nuclear medicine?
This is a tough question, but I think the best answer I can give is that not many people know what nuclear medicine is. This is a small specialty with a different knowledge set. We have a lot of work ahead of us educating our colleagues in other specialties as well as the public.
16⟩ Tell me in your position now, knowing what you do – what would you say to yourself when you started your medical career?
I would say, “Go for it! You’ll love nuclear medicine!”
17⟩ What is alpha (α) (alpha radiation)?
a particle emitted by a radioisotope and formed from a nucleus of helium containing two protons and two neutrons with potential therapeutic uses owing to strong ionizing power.
18⟩ What is curie (Ci)?
unit of radioactivity; one curie equates to the radioactivity emitted by one gram of pure radium-226, one of the first natural radioactive materials available and isolated at the beginning of the last century. In principle, this unit should no longer be used because it was replaced by the becquerel in the 1980s.
19⟩ What is contrast studies?
radiopaque materials are injected to help visualize a specific part, organ, tube, or liquid when shown on x-ray film
20⟩ Tell me what steps would you take to ensure an imaging machine is working correctly?
Demonstrates candidates' technical and mechanical skills, as well as attention to detail.
