A Day in the Life of a Neurodiagnostic Technologist

Neurodiagnostic technologist careers are on the rise. If you've considered a career in healthcare, have an interest in the human brain, and a passion for the latest tech, you could make an excellent neurodiagnostic technologist. Choosing a career can be daunting. Knowing what it's like to be a neurodiagnostic technologist is helpful if you're considering a medical career path. 

We've compiled all the information you need to understand what a career as a neurodiagnostic technologist entails. In this article, you'll learn what it's like to work in this exciting career, what your specializations could be and what skills you need. 

The Role of a Neurodiagnostic Technologist

A neurodiagnostic technologist is essential in diagnosing brain and nervous system issues and sleep disorders. You would use state-of-the-art medical equipment to record electrical patterns in patients' brains and nervous systems, gathering valuable information to help doctors diagnose and treat patients. 

Your role in testing can help diagnose epilepsy, degenerative brain disease, stroke and sleep disorders. As a neurodiagnostic tech (NDT), or electroencephalogram (EEG) technologist, you're responsible for checking your results and explaining them to patients before passing them on to doctors for further analysis. 

What Does a Neurodiagnostic Technologist Do?

As a neurodiagnostic technologist, your primary role is to conduct neurodiagnostic tests using various advanced medical equipment. Some standard tests you may administer include the following:

• Electroencephalograms (EEG): Measuring electrical activity in the brain. 
• Intraoperative neuromonitoring: Assessing nerve and brain functioning in patients undergoing surgery. 
• Nerve conduction studies (NCS): Measuring the time it takes for nerves to signal to a muscle. 
• Evoked potentials (EP) studies: Measuring a patient's neurological responses, tracing electrical pathways when patients are presented with external stimuli. 
• Polysomnograms (PSGs): Testing patients for sleep disorders. 

Aside from conducting extensive tests, you'll also be responsible for other duties, including the following:

• Interacting with patients: As you'll be dealing with patients directly, it's your responsibility to ensure they are safe during the tests, answer their questions and provide them with comfort, easing any anxiety about the procedure. 
• Maintaining the equipment: When you're not conducting tests, you'll ensure all the equipment performs optimally with regular calibration and maintenance. 
• Consulting with doctors: You'll monitor and record any significant events during the study and provide them to the doctor for review, then consult with the doctor, reviewing the results and recommending diagnoses. 

What Is a Day Like for a Neurodiagnostic Technologist?

A typical day for a neurodiagnostic technologist could include conducting several tests throughout the day and discussing them with patients and doctors. You may perform tests to determine the probability of recovery from a coma or determine cerebral death. 

Neurodiagnostic technologists work indoors in a controlled environment. There is a chance of exposure to disease or infections, so you may be required to wear protective safety equipment. Although you may have some downtime between tests, plenty of other work keeps you busy, such as calibrating machines or completing career development projects. 

Throughout your career, you have many opportunities for growth and specialization as you familiarize yourself with the parts of the job that pique your interest. Some potential specializations you could explore in the future include the following:

• EEG technician: You'll specialize in running EEG tests to assist doctors with diagnoses or monitor patients with existing conditions. 
• Clinical Evoked Potential Technologists: You'll use evoked potential tests to measure the electrical activity in a patient's brain.
• Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring: You'll monitor and investigate the functioning of the central and peripheral nervous systems during surgical procedures.
• Long-Term Monitoring: You'll use EEGs to measure brain activity over an extended period of time.
• Sleep technologist: When you specialize as a sleep technologist, you'll work exclusively with people struggling to sleep. You'll monitor their eye movement, breathing and brainwaves, providing a diagnosis and treatment program aligned with the results. 

Where Do Neurodiagnostic Technologists Work?

 Neurodiagnostic technologists work in several locations, depending on their role, institution and specialization. Some specific areas for neurodiagnostic technicians include the following:

• Hospitals
• Epilepsy monitoring units
• Sleep laboratories
• Doctors' offices
• Research facilities
• Educational institutions
• Patients' homes

You can expect to spend time on your feet conducting daily tests. Tests can last from a few hours to a few days. You may have to work nights and weekends to accommodate patient schedules occasionally. 

Neurodiagnostic Technologist Work Hours

Like all medical professions, there will be times when you don't have a set schedule. On average, you can expect to work 40 hours a week as a full-time EEG technologist. 

Neurodiagnostic Technologist Salary and Job Outlook

The average salary for a neurodiagnostic technologist is between $55,992 and $67,257 a year. On the low end, entry-level positions in some states earn around $31,000 yearly, while an experienced neurodiagnostic tech in other states could make as much as $100,000. Salary amounts vary greatly by location, with states such as California, Oregon, and Nevada offering the highest salaries for this position. Your wage can rise rapidly as you build your skills and increase your expertise. With as little as five years of experience, your salary could climb to over $55,000 a year. 

Neurodiagnostics is an exciting and rapidly expanding field, and overall employment for healthcare technologists is expected to grow 7% between 2023 and 2033. The demand for qualified neurodiagnostic technologists exceeds the supply, making it a promising career path for those with the right skills and work ethic. 

Is a Neurodiagnostic Technologist the Right Career Choice for You?

A neurodiagnostic technologist should have a specific combination of skills to succeed in the profession. It's an excellent career choice for those passionate about technology and interested in the human brain. The ideal skill set for this role is a balance between a technical understanding of how to use the neurodiagnostic equipment and the soft skills needed to work directly with patients and be a part of a healthcare team. Neurodiagnostic technologist could be an excellent career for you if you possess the following skills:

• Technical skills: You'll work with complex diagnostic equipment, administering tests to patients and checking whether the machinery is calibrated correctly. 
• Interpersonal skills: As you'll interact with many different people throughout the day, including health professionals, neurologists, and patients, keen interpersonal skills are essential to productive co-worker relationships and positive patient experiences. 
• Communication skills: You'll test people with various physical and intellectual abilities, explaining tests and procedures and answering questions. Good communication is essential for several elements of the profession. 
• Analytical skills: Assessing and reporting test results to doctors is vital to being a neurodiagnostic technician. Good analytical skills will help you identify areas of concern in test results and communicate them effectively to doctors. 
• Attention to detail: Your success in a career as a neurodiagnostic technologist largely depends on your ability to study and correctly interpret test results. 
• Patience: You'll deal with various people, providing support and making them comfortable in an anxious time. 
• Adaptability: As you're working with patients with impaired cognition, you can expect to handle a range of behavior. You should be able to think outside the box, adapting your testing procedures to accommodate patients' challenges. 

Become a Neurodiagnostic Technologist at AIMS Education

If you're looking for an exciting and rewarding career where you get to work with people and understand more about the human brain, a career as a neurodiagnostic technologist could be perfect for you. The healthcare industry offers security, growth and the opportunity to specialize in a field that interests you. 

Enroll in the Associate of Applied Science in Neurodiagnostic Technology with AIMS Education College of Health Sciences. Our AAS program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This NDT training program will provide you with an excellent understanding of neurophysiology, expert-led lab training, and practical, hands-on training in a real-world environment during your clinical internship.

AIMS Education equips you with the confidence and skills you need for a great start in your new career. Please reach out to us for more information or register for our next NDT info session and take the first step on your new career path today.