Is Nuclear Pharmacy Safe??

[jshelzz]

I have the opportunity to work as a pharmacy technician in a nuclear pharmacy, but im kind of hesitant because im scared of any potential health risks. I dont plan on working there for more than a year, i just want to use this as an opp. to get some experience before applying to pharmacy school. Do you think this would be a good opp. for me to pursue or are the risks greater than the benefits?

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[patmcd]

Great opportunity to work in smaller part of the pharmacy world. They take plenty of precautions to prevent exposure. They'll teach you all the safety stuff you need to know.

 

[Glowwyrm]

It's safe. But I wouldn't work in a nuclear pharmacy until after I had all the children I planned on having. I'm the kind of person that would lay awake at night and wonder what sort of teratogens I was being exposed to. If you aren't a worrier, then yeah, go for it.

 

[Kaipo]

As long as you are wearing your radiation badge you can track your exposure. There is a certain amount of radiation exposure that is considered safe. I was so nervous drawing up my first dose I dropped the safety shield! The pharmacist I was working under was very calm and helped me through it.

 

[ethyl]

Not sure how much handling you do as a tech, but a nuclear pharmacist gets a monthly full-body exposure of about 20mrems per month... or 240mrems per year. The average person will get about 360mrems of radiation per year just from natural background radiation. Although some people average up to 600-800mrems per year depending on their elevation and if they live near particular natural metal deposits.

So add your natural radiation from your environment to your workplace and you still have a pitifully low level of radiation exposure. 🙂

 

[ForcedEntry]

Sure there are there more inherent risks by working in a nuclear pharmacy; however, the techniques employed and the safety systems used have been in place for years. They were specifically designed to mitigate risks. Just be diligent and aware.

Besides, this is great experience and a superb resume builder.

 

[DownonthePharm]

It's safe. But I wouldn't work in a nuclear pharmacy until after I had all the children I planned on having. I'm the kind of person that would lay awake at night and wonder what sort of teratogens I was being exposed to. If you aren't a worrier, then yeah, go for it.

But it will make you more Glowwy! 😀

 

[Gauden44]

What does nuclear pharmacy involve? Do they produce radioactive medications... ?

 

[Glowwyrm]

But it will make you more Glowwy! 😀

haha I hadn't thought about that! 😀

 

[Añejo]

Safe? Absolutely!

 

[davidgayz]

Most of the the things produced are radio pharmaceuticals (drugs labled with technetium, indium, thallium, gallium, f18, I123, I131 etc) but some limited regular drug services are provided like dosing adenoscan, depending on where you work. Its also one of the few things you can do in pharmmacy where you can make retail money without dealing with the public. I don't see why more people don't do it, but I'm guess its good they don't or I would be out of a job, or at least an inflated salary.

 

[ethyl]

Most of the the things produced are radio pharmaceuticals (drugs labled with technetium, indium, thallium, gallium, f18, I123, I131 etc) but some limited regular drug services are provided like dosing adenoscan, depending on where you work. Its also one of the few things you can do in pharmmacy where you can make retail money without dealing with the public. I don't see why more people don't do it, but I'm guess its good they don't or I would be out of a job, or at least an inflated salary.

Did your company pay for your training? And if so, did they pay you full salary during your training too?

 

[nikkai]

Treat it like TJ

Don't drink the water or get too close to the women.

 

[klebsiella]

I don't see why more people don't do it, but I'm guess its good they don't or I would be out of a job, or at least an inflated salary.

it may be the hours. Some folks aren't fond of working overnights.

 

[Farmercyst]

Treat it like TJ

Don't drink the water or get too close to the women.

Now that is hilarious.

Other than UAMS/UNM what other schools have Nuclear Medicine programs or work with the UAMS/UNM program? (maybe wrong forum, but I figured right thread)

 

[okieRx]

The Univ. of Oklahoma has it's own Nuclear Pharmacy in OKC and offers electives that provide the didactic requirements to become an Authorized User

 

[Rxbound]

Now that is hilarious.

Other than UAMS/UNM what other schools have Nuclear Medicine programs or work with the UAMS/UNM program? (maybe wrong forum, but I figured right thread)

I think that Ohio State and Purdue are the other two schools. I believe that you can train at Purdue and UAMS after you have earned your Pharm.D., but I am not sure...I go to UAMS and it appears to be a respected program (for Nuclear, anyhow).

 

[davidgayz]

All the major companies pay for training and also pay full or near full salary during the process. Also if anyone is interested the graduate intern pay (time between when you graduate and take the regular pharmacy boards) is at near full salary also. It's a pretty good deal from my point of view. You basically get to specialize by doing a sort of residency without having to take a 60% pay cut.

 

[TheChemist]

What's the demand for nuclear pharmacists in California?

 

[meg]

http://www.pharmacyweek.com/job_seeker/career/article.asp?article_id=8374
Career Profile: Nuclear Pharmacist

 

[sdn1977]

What's the demand for nuclear pharmacists in California?

I'd say moderate right now. You can check a couple of search engines like Rxinsider.com or others - google nuclear pharmacist california opportunity to get job info.

It will always be near large metropolitan hospsitals, so in large metropolitan areas.

That said....there will be someone who comes on who is a nuclear pharmacist in Arcata.....

But...we've got lots of need, just low turnover in this particular job area.

 

[Farmercyst]

bump