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Karista Hogsett
ENG 1201
Professor Enochs
October 20, 2021
Nuclear Med Tech vs Radiologic Tech
Have you ever thought about the in depths of Diagnostic Imaging? No, maybe just a
little? Well, I have. My wonderings have led me in the direction of my possible career path. I
have always had an interest in how images of your inner workings come about and who has a
hand in these. Is it just the doctors? Is it just the techs that take your pictures? So many questions
led me in my interest into Nuclear Medicine and Radiology. Both fields are Diagnostic Imaging
but what exactly do they do? My main question in this essay is: How does Nuclear Medicine
Technologists differ from Radiologic Technologists? I hope to get a better understanding of each
department and their responsibilities.
X-rays were an accidental discovery by a scientist named Wilhelm Röntgen in 1895
(Samueli 3). His experiments led him to the beginning of a whole new era. His most famous x-
ray was the hand of his wife, which was his first official x-ray. Over the years many people have
had a hand in creating the technology we have today. This field has come so far and has
expanded probably far beyond what Wilhelm Röntgen thought possible. Here is a list of the
doors he opened for the world: Computed tomography (CT), also known as a computerized axial
tomography (CAT) scan, including CT angiography, Fluoroscopy, Magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), Mammography, Nuclear medicine, Plain x-
rays, Positron emission tomography, also called PET imaging, PET scan, or PET-CT when it is
combined with CT and Ultrasound (MedlinePlus). With such a wide range in diagnostic imaging
we will be focusing on only two areas: Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Radiologic
Technologists. The sources I will be using are all credible sources. Most are peer reviewed and
the others are educational sites.
In each source they all state the same thing: Radiologic Technologists operate
sophisticated machinery that retrieves x-rays to look at the bones and other dense masses of the
body (Erstad). Some of the machinery spins around you (MedlinePlus) and some you are not in
motion at all. Not all machinery is operated by Rad Techs. Some are operated by NucMed Techs.
Nuclear Medicine machines run tests such as a bone scan, thyroid scan, and thallium
cardiac(heart) stress test (MedlinePlus). Although the two both use highly specialized equipment,
they are very different. Nuclear Medicine deals with machinery for seeing what x-rays cannot
reveal. Nuclear medicine technologists administer drugs with small amounts of radioactive
materials to patients. These substances give off a form of radiation that can be picked up by
specialized imaging equipment, giving doctors a clearer view of what is going on in organs and
other soft tissues (Erstad).
Nuclear Medicine Technologists and Radiologic Technologists can both be acquired with
an Associate's degree. Although most places prefer a Bachelor's degree for a Nuclear Medicine
Technologist (JNMT 5, Erstad). Along with a degree most places also prefer that you have sat
for your board examination (JNMT 5). Both fields require a variety of skills such as being able
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to run multiple machines as well as patient care. You might think that they don’t deal with
patients much but that’s not true. Patient pleasantries are essential to get the patients x-rays
completed without a hitch.
Although there are many similarities in both fields, they each have their own way of
working. Radiologic Technologists not only work with equipment but they also deal with the
tending physicians and doctors (Malvik). Their jobs are more than just handing off the x-rays
after they have been collected. Some of their job duties are to maintain the equipment, ensure
quality images are being produced as well as operate the specialized equipment (Malvik). Their
work allows for doctors to be able to diagnose or cure their patient. Without their help a doctor
would be guessing in the dark.
Nuclear Medicine is different from x-rays. Although they are still a type of Diagnostic
Imaging they pick up where x-rays leave off. They prepare and give small doses of radioactive
drugs (radiopharmaceuticals) to patients, then use high-level imaging equipment to record
images of the radioactive material in the body (MayoClinic). Nuclear Med Technologists will
also give doses of radiation unlike Radiologic Technologists. Bot fileds clearly deal with
radiation but in different forms. Naturally they need to try to protect themselves as well as the
patients.
This brief overview of the two fields just grazes the workings of each. Each source has
provided a sufficient base of what both technologists do as well as some extra information that
was not thought about before researching. After reading through my sources, I've realized that I
now have more questions that need answered. What is the best course of action to pursue these
fields? Does one interest me more than the other? What are the different risks between the two
fields? I do know from my research that I am still very much interested in this field of study.
Upon further exploring I hope to answer my question completely.
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Works Cited

Erstad, Will. “Nuclear Medicine Technologist vs. Radiologic Technologist: A Clear View of

These Diagnostic Imaging Careers” Rasmussen University August

14,2018https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-sciences/blog/nuclear-medicine-

technologist-vs-radiologic-technologist/ Accessed October 20, 2021

Nielsen, Cybil J., Brosmer, Sarah S., Byrne, Patrick J., Jennings, Gregory S. “An Evaluation of

Qualities of Nuclear Medicine Technology Programs and Graduates Leading to

Employability” Journal of nuclear medicine technology March 1, 2019 https://web-s-

ebscohost-com.sinclair.ohionet.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=11bcdfa0-

0654-41bf-9a6e-57e170e6185f%40redis Accessed on October 20,2021

Samueli, Jean-Jacques “Röntgen’s discovery of X-rays" Bibnum February 2009

http://www.bibnum.education.fr/sites/default/files/rontgen-analysis.pdf Accessed October

20, 2021

U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Imaging and radiology” MedlinePlus October 8, 2021

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007451.htm#:~:text=The%20most%20common

%20types%20of%20diagnostic%20radiology%20exams,resonance%20imaging

%20%28MRI%29%20and%20magnetic%20resonance%20angiography%20%28MRA

%29 Accessed on October 20, 2021

Malvik, Callie “What Does a Radiologic Technologist Do? An Inside Look at the Job”

Rasmussen University September 28, 2020 https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/health-

sciences/blog/what-does-radiologic-technologist-do/ Accessed October 20, 2021

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“Nuclear Medicine Technologist” MayoClinic College of Medicine and Science 2021

https://college.mayo.edu/academics/explore-health-care-careers/careers-a-z/nuclear-

medicine-technologist/#:~:text=Nuclear%20medicine%20technologists%20perform

%20tests%20for%20diagnosis%20and,to%20study%20and%20diagnose%20an

%20infection%20or%20disorder Accessed October 20, 2021