EEG Technologist

Electroencephalogram. Phew, no wonder they abbreviate it. What does this machine do? It reads the activity of the brain.

This diagnostic tool allows Doctors to identify and treat a variety of neurological disorders. As an EEG Technologist, sometimes called an Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist, you assist the Doctor by monitoring the equipment and performing important diagnostic tests.

Of course, as an EEG Technologist, you have to learn about the equipment so you know how to operate it, but next to your technology skills, you also need a caring touch and calming manner. Although your patients will often be unconscious, they may sometimes be awake. That means an EEG Technologist will need strong communication skills, patience, and empathy while they perform the task at hand.

And what is that task exactly? Well, it requires you to attach electrodes to the head, arms, leg, and/or spine of the patient. With the electrodes in place, you monitor the results on a computer screen. The activity displayed before you allows you to witness brain and nervous system activity.

With that information, you can help diagnose epilepsy, sleep disorders, and infections and diseases within the brain.

In addition to conducting diagnostic tests, you might work in the operating room. While the patient is on the table, you monitor the body’s response to the procedure. This helps make sure the patient receives enough oxygen during surgery. You also alert the Surgeon if the patient lacks brain activity or experiences a seizure.