Interview with Nuclear Medicine Technology Educators on the Impact of COVID-19 on Programs, Outcomes, and Employers

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has influenced changes at health-care facilities. The editors of Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology were interested in learning how the pandemic has affected nuclear medicine technologists (NMTs) and NMT programs. We (two of the associate editors and NMT educators) invited NMT educators to participate in a qualitative interview study to get perspective on the effects of the pandemic on their programs, institutions, and communities. The interview questions were shared with participants ahead of their scheduled interviews. Four educators were interviewed, and selections from their comments are included in this article. The comments revealed that students seem anxious but inquisitive and ready for the changing health landscape. Most programs have seen changes in student retention, with most programs seeing an increase in enrollment. COVID-19 has made educators and students think about flexibility and how to benefit from hybrid learning. Programs have seen challenges regarding personal protective equipment and vaccine requirements. All interviewed educators noted the excellent job market for students, particularly that many job offers include incentives or sign-on bonuses. The conclusion was that COVID-19 forced programs to adapt to many of these changes, enhancing student learning. NMT educators are excited about the future of molecular imaging and NMTs.