Neurodiagnostic Technologists

Overview

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Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Examples

These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, desktop publishers, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters and simultaneous captioners, and medical assistants.

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

Demand

Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend

Core Tasks

  • Indicate artifacts or interferences derived from sources outside of the brain, such as poor electrode contact or patient movement, on electroneurodiagnostic recordings.
  • Conduct tests or studies such as electroencephalography (EEG), polysomnography (PSG), nerve conduction studies (NCS), electromyography (EMG), and intraoperative monitoring (IOM).
  • Monitor patients during tests or surgeries, using electroencephalographs (EEG), evoked potential (EP) instruments, or video recording equipment.
  • Collect patients' medical information needed to customize tests.
  • Explain testing procedures to patients, answering questions or reassuring patients, as needed.
  • Set up, program, or record montages or electrical combinations when testing peripheral nerve, spinal cord, subcortical, or cortical responses.
  • Summarize technical data to assist physicians to diagnose brain, sleep, or nervous system disorders.
  • 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.
  • Adjust equipment to optimize viewing of the nervous system.
  • Calibrate, troubleshoot, or repair equipment and correct malfunctions, as needed.
  • Submit reports to physicians summarizing test results.
  • Measure visual, auditory, or somatosensory evoked potentials (EPs) to determine responses to stimuli.
  • Assist in training technicians, medical students, residents, or other staff members.
  • Participate in research projects, conferences, or technical meetings.

Technology Skills

Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Calendar and scheduling software
Scheduling software
Data base user interface and query software
FileMaker Pro
Internet browser software
Web browser software
Medical software
MEDITECH software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office software
Operating system software
Microsoft Windows
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Web platform development software
JavaScript
Word processing software
Microsoft Word

Tools Used

Tool
Example
Computer Equipment and Accessories
Desktop computers
Laboratory and scientific equipment
Air dryers
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Signal generators
Medical apparel and textiles
Protective medical gloves
Medical diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine products
Pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound units
Patient care and treatment products and supplies
Electrode input panels
Patient exam and monitoring products
Depth electrodes
Personal safety and protection
Goggles
Photographic or filming or video equipment
Video recorders
Printed circuits and integrated circuits and microassemblies
Differential amplifiers

Top 10 Knowledge Required

English Language
86%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Customer and Personal Service
83%
Importance

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.

Computers and Electronics
80%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Medicine and Dentistry
80%
Importance

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.

Biology
69%
Importance

Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

Psychology
67%
Importance

Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Education and Training
65%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Mathematics
64%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Public Safety and Security
60%
Importance

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Administrative
59%
Importance

Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.

Top 10 Skills

Active Listening
80%
Importance

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
78%
Importance

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Critical Thinking
75%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Reading Comprehension
75%
Importance

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

Monitoring
73%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Writing
68%
Importance

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Social Perceptiveness
65%
Importance

Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Active Learning
63%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Complex Problem Solving
63%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Instructing
63%
Importance

Teaching others how to do something.

Top 10 Abilities

Oral Expression
80%
Importance

The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Problem Sensitivity
80%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

Deductive Reasoning
78%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Inductive Reasoning
78%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Information Ordering
78%
Importance

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).

Oral Comprehension
78%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Written Comprehension
78%
Importance

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Near Vision
73%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Speech Clarity
68%
Importance

The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Speech Recognition
65%
Importance

The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Top 10 Work Activities

Assisting and Caring for Others
95%
Importance

Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Documenting/Recording Information
93%
Importance

Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
92%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Working with Computers
92%
Importance

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Getting Information
91%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
87%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
86%
Importance

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
86%
Importance

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
84%
Importance

Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Analyzing Data or Information
82%
Importance

Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Collect medical information from patients, family members, or other medical professionals.
  • Collect information about clients.
  • Monitor patient conditions during treatments, procedures, or activities.
  • Test patient nervous system functioning.
  • Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
  • Adjust settings or positions of medical equipment.
  • Prepare medical supplies or equipment for use.
  • Operate diagnostic or therapeutic medical instruments or equipment.
  • Prepare reports summarizing patient diagnostic or care activities.
  • Prepare patients physically for medical procedures.
  • Measure the physical or physiological attributes of patients.
  • Communicate test or assessment results to medical professionals.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
  • Repair medical facility equipment.
  • Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
  • Train medical providers.
  • Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
  • Maintain medical or professional knowledge.

Education

Interests

Investigative
82%
Importance

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Realistic
76%
Importance

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Conventional
65%
Importance

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Social
52%
Importance

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Artistic
21%
Importance

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Enterprising
19%
Importance

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Work Values

Support
77%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Relationships
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Independence
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Achievement
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Recognition
48%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.