Truncated careers in nuclear medicine technology: increased job control may improve retention

The aim of the study was to gain understanding of why nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) leave and to compare workforce and service provision trends with diagnostic imaging professionals.

A survey of all NMT professional body members in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland was conducted. This paper reports on survey findings of those no longer working as a NMT. Analysis of 1996, 2001 and 2006 Australian Census data and Medicare statistics was made for NMTs, sonographers and radiographers.

The five most influential reasons for leaving nuclear medicine were measured by survey. Census data measured workforce characteristics; size, sex, age. Medicare statistics measured national service provision.

Primarily, limited career pathways and professional plateau influence retention of NMTs, with sonography a common career move. Nuclear medicine technologists are young (44.3% <30 years) compared with radiography (52.3% <40 years) or sonography (52.8% <40 years). From 2001 to 2006, service provision in nuclear medicine grew by 11.8% compared with 36% in ultrasound but the workforce size decreased by 4.9% whereas sonographers increased by 51.1%.

Increasing the level of job control is the most likely factor in creating a positive change to the NMT job characteristics and improving retention.