Technical Standards

The Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) has established the following list of technical standards for the majors of Nuclear Medicine, Radiography, and Radiation Therapy.

These technical standards conform to the professional technical standards required for the safe and ethical practice of the task/skills associated with clinical nuclear medicine, medical nuclear medicine technology, and clinical radiation therapy. Each student, with reasonable accommodation, must be able to demonstrate that he/she is able to:

• Reach and manipulate equipment to its highest position (6 feet).
• Communicate in a clear and concise manner with patients of all ages, including obtaining health history and pertinent information.
• Read and apply appropriate instructions contained in requisitions, notes, and patient charts.
• Transfer patients from wheelchairs and stretchers and help them on/off treatment table.
• Exert force and lift objects of 50 pounds routinely.
• Perform simple motor skills for unrestricted time periods.
• Push, pull, bend and stoop.
• Work standing on their feet 80% of the time.
• Reach and work overhead.
• Move a standard wheelchair and/or stretcher from a waiting area to a treatment area.
• Understand and apply clinical instructions given by department personnel.
• Visually monitor patients/charts/machine indicator lights in dimly lit conditions.
• Detect audible alarms and background sounds during procedures to ensure patient/staff safety.
• Demonstrate manual dexterity to perform necessary manipulations such as drawing doses with a syringe, manipulating locks, putting on surgical gloves.
• Endure an eight-hour day with a minimum of four to six hours of standing or walking.
• Endure a minimum of two hours of didactic instructions in a classroom environment.