Nature of the Work

A neurologist is a medical doctor or osteopath who has trained in the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system disorders, including diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.

Neurologists perform neurological examinations of the nerves in the head and neck; muscle strength and movement; balance, ambulation, and reflexes; and sensation, memory, speech, language, and other cognitive abilities.

They also perform diagnostic tests, such as the following:

• CAT (computed axial tomography) scan
• MRI/MRA (magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography)
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
• EEG (electroencephalography)
• EMG/NCV (electromyography/nerve conduction velocity)

Some neurologists are also involved in research. These neurologists, often called academic or research neurologists, focus on discovering how the nervous system works. They conduct research on a variety of neurological topics including what goes wrong in disease cases, like epilepsy or Parkinson's, and how people perceive emotions, like happiness and anger.

What happens in your brain when you hear a piece of music that you enjoy? Neurologist Oliver Sacks is interested in this very question. Watch this video to see what he finds out about his own brain and music.

Work Environment

Many neurologists work in small private offices or clinics, often assisted by a small staff of nurses and other administrative personnel. Increasingly, neurologists are practicing in groups or healthcare organizations that provide backup coverage and allow for more time off. Neurologists in a group practice or healthcare organization often work as part of a team that coordinates care for a number of patients; they are less independent than the solo practitioners of the past.

Many neurologists work long, irregular hours. They may travel between the office and hospitals to care for their patients. While on call, a neurologist will deal with many patients' concerns over the phone and make emergency visits to hospitals or nursing homes.

Research or academic neurologists may also spend time in laboratory settings in addition to hospitals.

Training, Other Qualifications

The common path to practicing as a neurologist requires 8 years of education beyond high school and 3–8 additional years of internship and residency. All states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories license physicians.

Education and Training

To become a board-certified neurologist, several requirements must be met:

• Four years of premedical education in a college or university.
• Four years of medical school resulting in an MD or DO degree (doctor of medicine or doctor of osteopathy degree).
• One-year internship in either internal medicine or in medicine/surgery.
• At least 3 years of specialty training in an accredited neurology residency program.

Other Qualifications

People who want to become neurologists must have a desire to serve patients, be self-motivated, and be able to survive the pressures and long hours of medical education and practice. Physicians also must have a good bedside manner, emotional stability, and the ability to make decisions in emergencies. Prospective physicians must be willing to study throughout their career to keep up with medical advances.

On the Job

• 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.
• Identify and treat major neurological system diseases and disorders such as central nervous system infection, cranio spinal trauma, dementia, and stroke.
• Perform or interpret the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity tests.
• Coordinate neurological services with other health care team activities.
• Communicate with other health care professionals regarding patients' conditions and care.
• Determine brain death using accepted tests and procedures.
• Develop treatment plans based on diagnoses and on evaluation of factors such as age and general health, or procedural risks and costs.
• Diagnose neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings, histories, or test results.
• Inform patients or families of neurological diagnoses and prognoses, or benefits, risks and costs of various treatment plans.
• Interview patients to obtain information such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.
• Order supportive care services such as physical therapy, specialized nursing care, and social services.
• Order or interpret results of laboratory analyses of patients' blood or cerebrospinal fluid.
• Perform specialized treatments in areas such as sleep disorders, neuroimmunology, neuro-oncology, behavioral neurology, and neurogenetics.
• Prepare, maintain, or review records that include patients' histories, neurological examination findings, treatment plans, or outcomes.
• Prescribe or administer treatments such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and deep brain stimulation.
• Prescribe or administer medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, and monitor patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.
• Advise other physicians on the treatment of neurological problems.
• Refer patients to other health care practitioners as necessary.
• Interpret the results of neuroimaging studies such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.
• Supervise medical technicians in the performance of neurological diagnostic or therapeutic activities.
• Counsel patients or others on the background of neurological disorders including risk factors, or genetic or environmental concerns.
• Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and expand competence.
• Participate in neuroscience research activities.
• Provide training to medical students or staff members.

Source: BLS

Companies That Hire Neurologists

• Harvard Medical School
• Kaiser Permanente
• National Institutes of Health

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Additional Information

• American Academy of Neurology
• American Neurological Association

Sources

• O*Net Online. (2009). National Center for O*Net Development. Retrieved May 1, 2009, from http://online.onetcenter.org/
• American Academy of Neurology. (2010). Careers in Neurology. Retrieved July 23, 2010, from http://www.aan.com/go/education/students/careers
• Children's Memorial Hospital of Chicago. (n.d). Online extra: Why I became a neurologist. Retrieved May 5, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ya7Zx9FZ-k
• UW Health. (n.d.). Meet UW Health neurologist Nicholas Stanek. Retrieved May 5, 2010, from http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=220118050672
• Healthcommunities.com. (2010). Neurologist Education and Training. Retrieved May 5, 2010, from http://www.neurologychannel.com/aneurologist.shtml
• PBS: NOVA. (n.d.). Inside Oliver Sacks' Brain. Retrieved July 26, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyY1ul_DbcQ

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