Neurologist

Diagnose, manage, and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Adult and Pediatric Neurologist; Adult Neurologist; General Neurologist; Neurologist; Pediatric Neurologist; Physician

Tasks

• Interview patients to obtain information, such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.
• Examine patients to obtain information about functional status of areas, such as vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensations, language skills, cognitive abilities, and mental status.
• Perform or interpret the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests, such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity tests.
• Order or interpret results of laboratory analyses of patients' blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
• Diagnose neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings, histories, or test results.
• Prescribe or administer medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, and monitor patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.
• Identify and treat major neurological system diseases and disorders, such as central nervous system infection, cranio spinal trauma, dementia, and stroke.
• Develop treatment plans based on diagnoses and on evaluation of factors, such as age and general health, or procedural risks and costs.
• Inform patients or families of neurological diagnoses and prognoses, or benefits, risks and costs of various treatment plans.
• Prepare, maintain, or review records that include patients' histories, neurological examination findings, treatment plans, or outcomes.
• Communicate with other health care professionals regarding patients' conditions and care.
• Counsel patients or others on the background of neurological disorders including risk factors, or genetic or environmental concerns.
• Interpret the results of neuroimaging studies, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.
• Determine brain death using accepted tests and procedures.
• Coordinate neurological services with other health care team activities.

Knowledge

• Medicine and Dentistry
• English Language
• Biology
• Psychology
• Therapy and Counseling
• Computers and Electronics
• Education and Training
• Customer and Personal Service
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Administration and Management

Skills

• Active Listening
• Reading Comprehension
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking
• Writing
• Monitoring
• Science
• Active Learning
• Learning Strategies

Abilities

• Inductive Reasoning
• Deductive Reasoning
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Problem Sensitivity
• Written Comprehension
• Written Expression
• Information Ordering
• Near Vision
• Speech Recognition
• Category Flexibility
• Flexibility of Closure
• Speech Clarity
• Fluency of Ideas
• Perceptual Speed
• Originality
• Visualization
• Number Facility
• Speed of Closure
• Selective Attention
• Mathematical Reasoning