NEURODIAGNOSTIC TECHNOLOGIST

Neurodiagnostic Technologist Training

Hybrid / Distance Education Program

The Neurodiagnostic Technologist certificate program is programmatically accredited by CAAHEP. This program will prepare students to record and study the electrical activity in the brain and nervous system. Students receive intensive classroom instruction and hands-on training combined with practical experience in a clinical lab setting.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will have a better understanding of neurophysiology and will be able to recognize both normal and abnormal electrical activity. For students interested in becoming EEG technologists, this program is a great option. The hands-on training will include EEGs as well as a number of other procedures.

Some of the job responsibilities for neurodiagnostic technologists include obtaining patient medical histories, recording electrical potentials, calculating test results, and maintaining medical equipment.

In addition they may perform a variety of neurodiagnostic procedures including EEGs (Electroencephalography), EPs (Evoked Potentials), NCSs (Nerve Conduction Studies), and IONMs (Intra Operative Neurophysiologic Monitoring). The program at AIMS also includes an introduction to Polysomnography (sleep study).  Working alongside doctors, END technologists must also develop a good rapport with patients, including comforting them during the various procedures.

Hybrid Learning

The Neurodiagnostic Technologist program is taught using a hybrid learning environment. All hybrid courses will utilize online and in-person instruction. Lectures may be offered on campus or remotely via a Learning Management System (LMS). Laboratory classes and practical training will be held on campus or at a clinical site.

Online classes will be taught synchronously. Synchronous instruction is real-time instruction that requires students to attend classes at scheduled times.

Clinical Internship

The Neurodiagnostic Technologist program requires students to complete a mandatory 500-hour clinical internship. Students will be placed at a clinical site by the AIMS Internship Department. The internship is designed to provide practical training in a real work environment; students will have a mentor who trains and guides them. Students are not permitted to begin the internship until all required classroom and lab hours are completed.

AIMS Education has clinical affiliations with numerous healthcare facilities throughout New Jersey and the surrounding areas. Students will be placed at one or more of these affiliated sites and must complete their clinical hours based on the schedule provided by the school. Internship schedules are based on the availability of clinical sites. All students (Day and Evening) must be prepared to complete their internship during normal business hours (Monday through Friday). The majority of clinical sites do not allow students to complete clinical hours in the evening or on the weekend.

Employment for Neurodiagnostic Technologists

Neurodiagnostic technologists and EEG technologists are in high demand throughout the United States. Job growth is expected to be much faster than average over the next decade. Employment opportunities are available in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, sleep labs, and even medical sales companies that deal with NDT related technologies.

Neurodiagnostic Technologist Responsibilities

A neurodiagnostic technologist's responsibilities include using specialized equipment to monitor and assess how well a patient's nervous system functions. This helps doctors identify and create treatment plans for a wide range of neurological problems. 

A neurodiagnostic technologist trains extensively in neurophysiology, which allows them to identify typical and atypical central nervous system activity. 

A neurodiagnostic technologist may perform procedures such as:

• Using nerve conduction studies to measure the time it takes to send an electrical signal along a specific nerve to a particular muscle.
• Tracing electrical pathways by measuring neurological responses to external stimuli.
• Performing polysomnograms, which are used in the diagnosis of sleep disorders.
• Long-term monitoring to diagnose disorders such as seizures.
• Tracking nerve and brain function with intraoperative neuromonitoring during surgery.
• Using EEGs to assess the presence of brain activity.

The EEG is the most common test performed by neurodiagnostic technologists. The neurodiagnostic tech is responsible for calibrating and maintaining equipment and for the safety of staff and patients.

The neurodiagnostic technologist must possess the judgment, knowledge, and critical thinking skills necessary to ensure that the results are accurate and complete. 

Neurodiagnostic Technologist Skills 

A neurodiagnostic technician must:

• Possess knowledge of electronic equipment and computers.
• Be able to use logic and analyze information to address work-related issues.
• Be sensitive to others' feelings and needs while being helpful and understanding on the job.
• Be dependable, responsible, and reliable.
• Be thorough in completing work tasks and have a keen eye for detail.
• Use reasoning and logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative approaches, conclusions, or solutions to problems.
• Be able to monitor and assess the performance of yourself and patients to take corrective action or make improvements. 

EEG Technologist Responsibilities 

An electroencephalographic (EEG) technologist or technician works under the supervision of neurologists or other doctors. These medical professionals monitor nervous system activity in patients and measure brain abnormalities using specialized equipment. 

At a physician's request, an EEG technician uses diagnostic machines to perform electroencephalograms, or EEG tests, which can detect brain damage or disorders. 

Other responsibilities of an EEG technologist include:

• Reporting test results to the physician.
• Maintaining accurate documentation and records.
• Explaining procedures to the patient.
• Taking patient's medical history.
• Preparing patients for testing and performing pre-test consultations.
• Measuring, observing, and recording brain wave patterns and electrical activity by using an encephalograph.
• Applying electrodes to a patient's scalp.