Neurologist
Job Description
Neurologists are trained to diagnose and treat conditions of the central, autonomous, and peripheral nervous systems.
These include sleep disorders, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, migraines, Parkinson's disease, strokes, comas, and traumatic brain injuries.
Neurologists may choose to specialize in areas such as pediatric neurology, vasuclar neurology, neurosurgery, neuro-oncology, sleep disorders, interventional neurology, neurophysiology, behavioral neurology, neurogenetics, neuroimmunology, or sleep disorders.
They must be educated and trained extensively and are responsible for a wide array of duties.
Responsibilities
A neurologists responsibilities vary depending on the specialty they choose, but some common duties include:
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Examining patients suffering from varying neurological disorders and identifying symptoms.
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Ordering blood and spinal fluid tests, imaging tests including MRIs and PET scans, or biopsies.
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Developing treatment plans for individual patients after a diagnosis has been reached.
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Consulting with neurosurgeons on possible procedures and treatments.
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Supervising teams of medical professionals and non-medical staffers.
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Treating patients with traumatic brain injuries and epilepsy.
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Keeping themselves educated on new research regarding the structure of the brain and nervous system.
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Using electrodes, dyes, and brain scans to conduct experiments.
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Recording, analyzing, and reporting findings.
Skills
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Communication |
Must effectively communicate with your co-workers to ensure the best care and the proper procedures. Must be able to communicate in high-stress environments. |
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Active Listening |
Offering your full attention to an individual person or group in order to fully understand problems and their nature. |
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Critical Thinking |
Must use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. |
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Judgment and Decision Making |
Needs to be able to act autonomously and make difficult decisions that would benefit the patient or make corrections. Must consider all benefits and repercussions of potential actions and choose the appropriate one. |
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Complex Problem Solving |
Must be able to identify complex problems and develop and evaluate corrective options and implement solutions. |
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Stress Management |
Must be able to endure intense situations and handle pressure that comes with extreme situations you may encounter. |
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Trustworthiness |
Must be trustworthy because you have people's lives in your hands and what you do could help or hurt them. They are entrusted with a great responsibility and must live up to it. |
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Perceptiveness |
Gauging how people react and read their body language to decipher their feelings and predict their actions. They must be able to determine if people could be a risk to themselves or others and to distinguish truths from lies. |
Working Conditions
Neurologists are typically employed in hospitals, private practice, or as sole practitioners. Others perform research at academic institutions or laboratories.
Hours-worked depends largely on the position of the individual neurologist. Senior neurologists working in hospitals may work a 50/hour week and 24/7 on-call schedule while those in research may work as little as 3 - 4 days per week, depending on the project they happen to be assigned to.
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Salary Outlook
| Estimated Annual Salary | Average Hourly Wage | Positions Nationwide |
|---|---|---|
| $218,180.00 | $104.89 | 347,000 |