Neurodiagnostic Technologist

Also called: Certified Neurodiagnostic Technologist, EEG Technologist (Electroencephalogram Technologist), EEG Technologist (Electroencephalograph Technologist), Electroencephalograph Technician, Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist

Neurodiagnostic Technologist

Varies

estimated salary

Neurodiagnostic technologists conduct electroneurodiagnostic (END) tests such as electroencephalograms, evoked potentials, polysomnograms, or electronystagmograms. May perform nerve conduction studies.

  • Conduct tests or studies such as electroencephalography (EEG), polysomnography (PSG), nerve conduction studies (NCS), electromyography (EMG), and intraoperative monitoring (IOM).
  • Indicate artifacts or interferences derived from sources outside of the brain, such as poor electrode contact or patient movement, on electroneurodiagnostic recordings.
  • Explain testing procedures to patients, answering questions or reassuring patients, as needed.
  • Monitor patients during tests or surgeries, using electroencephalographs (EEG), evoked potential (EP) instruments, or video recording equipment.
  • Attach electrodes to patients, using adhesives.
  • Conduct tests to determine cerebral death, the absence of brain activity, or the probability of recovery from a coma.
  • Measure patients' body parts and mark locations where electrodes are to be placed.
  • Calibrate, troubleshoot, or repair equipment and correct malfunctions, as needed.
  • Measure visual, auditory, or somatosensory evoked potentials (EPs) to determine responses to stimuli.
  • Summarize technical data to assist physicians to diagnose brain, sleep, or nervous system disorders.
  • Set up, program, or record montages or electrical combinations when testing peripheral nerve, spinal cord, subcortical, or cortical responses.
  • Collect patients' medical information needed to customize tests.
  • Adjust equipment to optimize viewing of the nervous system.
  • Submit reports to physicians summarizing test results.
  • Assist in training technicians, medical students, residents, or other staff members.
  • Participate in research projects, conferences, or technical meetings.
Work Context
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 98% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 80% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Physical Proximity — 83% responded "Very close (near touching)".
  • Telephone — 80% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 71% responded "Extremely important".
  • Electronic Mail — 74% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Prepare patients physically for medical procedures.
  • Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
  • Test patient nervous system functioning.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
  • Repair medical facility equipment.
  • Test patient nervous system functioning.
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Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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Abilities

Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning
  • The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information Ordering
  • The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
Medical software
  • MEDITECH software Hot Technology
  • Sleep analysis software
  • Neurotronics Polysmith
  • Neurofax SpikeDetector
  • Natus NeuroWorks
  • BESA EEGFocus
  • EEG Portaview
  • Cadwell Laboratories Easy
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
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