Neurodiagnostic Technologist
Competency-based
ONET: 29-2099.01
1
Years
139
Skills
689h
Related instructions
Classroom instruction topics
- Neuroanatomy and Physiology
- Introduction to Neurodiagnostic Procedures
- EEG Applications
- EEG Pre-Clinical Preparation
- Principles of EEG
- Principles of Electricity and Electrical Safety
- EEG Instrumentation 1
- EEG Procedures and Pathology 1
- EEG Instrumentation 2
- EEG Quality Control
- EEG Clinical Practice 1
- EEG Clinical Practice 2
- EEG Procedures and Pathology 2
- EEG Procedures and Pathology 3
- EEG Procedures and Pathology 4
On-the-job training
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Provides a safe recording environment by: verifying identity of patient
- Provides a safe recording environment by: cleaning electrodes after each procedure
- Provides a safe recording environment by: following universal precautions for infection control
- Provides a safe recording environment by: attending to patient needs appropriately
- Provides a safe recording environment by: recognizing/responding to life-threatening situations
- Provides a safe recording environment by: being certified to perform CPR
- Provides a safe recording environment by: following laboratory protocols for sedation
- Provides a safe recording environment by: complying with lab protocols for emergency and disaster situations
- Provides a safe recording environment by: complying with hazardous material handling procedures
- Provides a safe recording environment by: maintaining instrument/equipment in good working order
- Provides a safe recording environment by: taking appropriate precautions to ensure electrical safety
- Establishes rapport with the patient and patient’s family by: using personal communication skills to achieve patient relaxation/cooperation
- Establishes rapport with the patient and patient’s family by: explaining all test procedures including activation procedures
- Establishes rapport with the patient and patient’s family by: explaining the electrode application method (paste, collodion, etc.)
- Establishes rapport with the patient and patient’s family by: interacting on a level appropriate to patient's age and mental capacity
- Establishes rapport with the patient and patient’s family by: maintaining respect and patient confidentiality
- Evaluates the patient by: determine the patient's mental age, mental state, and comprehension level
- Evaluates the patient by: note the patient's overall physical condition
- Evaluates the patient by: decide appropriate method of electrode application
- Evaluates the patient by: ascertain the patient's capacity to cooperate with activation procedures
- Evaluates the patient by: determine if hyperventilation is contraindicated
- Evaluates the patient by: accommodate for disabilities or special needs
- Evaluates the patient by: determine the need for additional physiological monitors
- Evaluates the patient by: document unusual or inappropriate behavior suggestive of seizure or other event
- Evaluates the patient by: determine the possible need for restraints or emergency intervention
- Prepares a basic data sheet that includes: patient information (name, age, ID number, doctor, etc.)
- Prepares a basic data sheet that includes: recording time, date, and graduate's name or initials
- Prepares a basic data sheet that includes: noting pertinent patient history and familial medical history
- Prepares a basic data sheet that includes: listing current medications/sedation and time of last dosage
- Prepares a basic data sheet that includes: noting time of last meal
- Prepares a basic data sheet that includes: noting time, date, aura, and circumstances of last seizure or symptoms
- Prepares a basic data sheet that includes: specifying the patient's mental, behavioral, and consciousness states
- Prepares a basic data sheet that includes: diagramming skull defects or anomalies (if any)
- Prepares a basic data sheet that includes: diagramming any modifications in electrode placement
- Electrode application follows a method that includes: measuring and marking the head following the 10/20 measurement system
- Electrode application follows a method that includes: adjusting electrode placement for anatomical defects or anomalies
- Electrode application follows a method that includes: prepping patient's scalp prior to electrode application
- Electrode application follows a method that includes: applying electrodes with paste or with collodion and electrolyte
- Electrode application follows a method that includes: verifying electrode impedances are balanced and below 5,000 ohms
- Basic knowledge of analog EEG technology.
- Documents the working condition of a digital EEG instrument by: calibrating system amplifiers
- Documents the working condition of a digital EEG instrument by: verifying standard filter settings
- Documents the working condition of a digital EEG instrument by: verifying sensitivity settings
- Documents the working condition of a digital EEG instrument by: inputting a biological (bio-cal) signal to all channels
- Documents the working condition of a digital EEG instrument by: correcting or reporting deviations as appropriate
- Obtains a standard EEG that includes: at least 20 minutes of technically acceptable recording (120 pages)
- Obtains a standard EEG that includes: eye opening and closing to check effects of stimuli on EEG
- Obtains a standard EEG that includes: hyperventilation for a minimum of 3 minutes
- Obtains a standard EEG that includes: photic stimulation at frequencies appropriate for history & reactivity
- Obtains a standard EEG that includes: mental stimulation/assessment procedures
- Obtains a standard EEG that includes: periodic checks of electrode impedance
- Obtains a standard EEG that includes: natural drowsiness and sleep, if possible
- Obtains a standard EEG that includes: notations of montage, filters, paper speed, & sensitivity setting changes
- Obtains a standard EEG that includes: notes on observed behavior, clinical seizure manifestations, etc.
- Customizes the recording procedure by: evaluating reason for referral, history, and observed waveforms
- Customizes the recording procedure by: utilizing techniques to bring out or enhance clinical symptoms
- Customizes the recording procedure by: selecting montages appropriate for abnormalities seen and/or expected
- Customizes the recording procedure by: selecting appropriate instrument settings
- Customizes the recording procedure by: encouraging drowsiness and sleep
- Customizes the recording procedure by: applying additional electrodes to localize abnormal activity
- Customizes the recording procedure by: monitoring respiration if appropriate
- Customizes the recording procedure by: monitoring ECG rhythms for abnormality
- Understands and follows technical criteria for: recording electrocerebral inactivity (brain death)
- Understands and follows technical criteria for: recording neonatal EEG
- Understands and follows technical criteria for: recording pediatric EEG
- Understands and follows technical criteria for: recording in intensive care or cardiac care units
- Differentiates artifacts from cerebral waveforms by: recognizing possible artifactual waveforms
- Differentiates artifacts from cerebral waveforms by: documenting (on the recording) patient movements
- Differentiates artifacts from cerebral waveforms by: applying/recording leads for eye potentials or other physiological potentials (ie. respiration, EMG)
- Differentiates artifacts from cerebral waveforms by: applying/recording leads for ECG
- Differentiates artifacts from cerebral waveforms by: replacing electrodes exhibiting questionable activity or contact
- Differentiates artifacts from cerebral waveforms by: troubleshooting for possible electrical interference
- When the EEG recording is finished: removes electrode paste/glue from the patient's scalp and hair
- When the EEG recording is finished: describes clinically significant behavior
- When the EEG recording is finished: documents sedation used, dosage, and effects (if applicable)
- When the EEG recording is finished: reviews EEG for appropriate documentation of amplifier settings & montage changes
- Understands and has a working knowledge of: functional neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
- Understands and has a working knowledge of: medication effects on the EEG background and waveforms
- Understands and has a working knowledge of: medical terminology and accepted abbreviations
- Understands and has a working knowledge of: signs, symptoms, and EEG correlates for adult neurological disorders
- Understands and has a working knowledge of: signs, symptoms, and EEG correlates for pediatric neurological disorders
- Understands and has a working knowledge of: seizure manifestations, classifications, and EEG correlates
- Understands and has a working knowledge of: psychiatric and psychological disorders
- Understands and has a working knowledge of: other knowledge as detailed in the ABRET Electroencephalographic Technology Practice Analysis
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: reviewing EEG tracings with EEGer on a regular basis
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: reading journal articles
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: studying textbooks related to the field
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: attending continuing education courses in Neurodiagnostics
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: knowing how differential amplifiers work
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: computing voltage and frequency of waveforms
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: calculating the duration of waveforms
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: understanding the polarity of the waveforms
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: understanding impedance
- Maintains and improves knowledge and skills by: understanding analog to digital conversion
- Recognizes: knowing how differential amplifiers work
- Recognizes: computing voltage and frequency of waveforms
- Recognizes: calculating the duration of waveforms
- Recognizes: understanding the polarity of the waveforms
- Recognizes: understanding impedance
- Recognizes: understanding analog to digital conversion
- Knows how waveform displays are affected by: 60 Hertz filter
- Knows how waveform displays are affected by: filter settings
- Knows how waveform displays are affected by: sensitivity settings
- Knows how waveform displays are affected by: paper speed
- Knows how waveform displays are affected by: referential and bipolar montages
- Knows how waveform displays are affected by: digital filters
- Knows how waveform displays are affected by: electrode types and electrode material composition
- Knows how waveform displays are affected by: malfunctioning equipment
- normal and normal variant awake and asleep patterns for each age range
- abnormal awake and asleep patterns for each age range
- Recognizes: EEG patterns for levels of consciousness
- Recognizes: clinical seizure patterns
- Introductory Evoked Potential Studies (EP)
- Must have knowledge and understand: Have knowledge of the common indications for auditory, visual, and somatosensory evoked potentials
- Must have knowledge and understand: understand the anatomy, physiology, and pathology of selected sensory organs, nerves, and nerve pathways
- Must have knowledge and understand: understand the generators of evoked potentials
- Must have knowledge and understand: understand the principles of stimulation and accurate placement of recording electrodes
- Must have knowledge and understand: understand the principles of measuring waveforms and distances used in evoked potential studies
- Must have knowledge and understand: be familiar with the criteria for significant changes occurring during evoked potential recordings
- Must have knowledge and understand: have knowledge of the clinical correlations of evoked potential abnormalities
- Must have knowledge and understand: understand the concepts of near-field and far-field potentials
- Must have knowledge and understand: have knowledge of artifacts encountered during evoked potential studies and basic techniques for troubleshooting
- Must have knowledge and understand: be familiar with the concept of amplitude and latency measurements
- Introductory Polysomnography Studies (PSG)
- Must be capable of: recognizing sleep stages
- Must be capable of: understanding the montages used in polysomnography
- Must be capable of: initiating a technically adequate PSG by: a) preparing the patient, b) calibrating the patient and instrumentation, c) obtaining a ten-minute baseline recording
- Must be capable of: a basic understanding of common sleep disorders and treatment options
- Must be capable of: performing the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) and the maintenance of wakefulness test (MWT)
- Introductory Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS)
- Must have knowledge and understand: understand the anatomy and physiology of selected muscles and nerves
- Must have knowledge and understand: have knowledge of neuromuscular disorders
- Must have knowledge and understand: understand the principles of stimulation and accurate placement of recording electrodes
- Must have knowledge and understand: understand the principles of measuring waveforms and distances used in routine nerve conduction studies
- Introductory Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring (IONM)
- Must have knowledge and understand: have knowledge of the common indications for intraoperative neurophysiological EEG, evoked potential, and neuromuscular monitoring
- Must have knowledge and understand: be aware of the criteria for significant changes during intraoperative monitoring
- Must have knowledge and understand: have a general understanding of the effects of common anesthetic agents
- Must have knowledge and understand: have a general understanding of the effects of physiological variables on monitoring results
- Introductory Long-Term Monitoring (LTM)
- Must have knowledge and understand: understand the indications for long-term monitoring for epilepsy and basic LTM procedures including: a) ambulatory EEG, b) monitoring with surface leads and intracerebral leads using video/EEG, c) continuous EEG-intensive care monitoring
- Must have knowledge and understand: have knowledge of the instrumentation for long-term monitoring
- Must have knowledge and understand: have knowledge of treatment options for epilepsy;
- Must have knowledge and understand: recognize common seizure patterns
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