79 Nuclear Medicine Technology Professional Development

The purpose of professional development activity is to encourage professional traits and foster an understanding and appreciation of professional continuing education while furthering nuclear medicine knowledge, increasing technical communication skills, and increasing the student’s involvement in the profession. Professional development activities allow the student to further investigate areas of interest or to review information in areas where the student is weak. These activities are designed to integrate the skills learned in general education classes with those learned as a student technologist.

Students are not required to participate in any professional development activity in order to pass a clinical or didactic course. Successful completion of a professional development activity will earn professional development points, which can be used to increase a class or clinical grade. Professional development points do not have to be used in the semester when they were earned. You may save up points and use them for a later semester. Note: Activities performed for Honors courses are not accepted for Professional Development.

Students are encouraged to attend meetings to help develop professionalism and learn about the societies that foster learning in the field of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Sciences. Students may request release time from clinical assignments to attend the following activities: Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) (Chapter or National meeting), Indiana Society of Radiologic Technologists (ISRT) meetings, the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT), or the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) meeting.

Students must provide verification of attendance at professional development events. Absences from clinic are not counted as personal days, and professional development points may be earned for these activities, if guidelines are followed. If guidelines are not followed, the educational release time will be converted to personal time and professional development points will not be awarded.

Professional Development (PD) Points needed to earn a 1% increase in grade in any course. See the following table for how to earn PD points.

*The student must obtain approval of NMT faculty to pursue a professional development activity other than the professional meeting attendance, prior to commencing the activity. 

Professional Development Guidelines

 PD activities must be radiology/nuclear-focused. Some general medical activities may qualify for points.

• The student must request release time (at least 2 weeks in advance) to attend an activity that occurs during class or clinic.
• Students are responsible for their own registration arrangements to attend the event.
• An electronic document or picture of your attendance must be emailed to NMT faculty within one week of the activity as proof of attendance. Professional Development points will not be accepted or approved if documented proof of attendance is not submitted within one week of the event.
• Please remember that, as students, you are representatives of the University. Your conduct should reflect a positive image rather than a negative one.
• Students who behave inappropriately (i.e., disruptive, inattentive, sleeping) will be dismissed from the activity, will have the absence treated as personal time, and may face University sanctions.