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Saved for: Alexandra Hammond

Career Profile

Neurologist
What They Do
Just the Facts
Diagnoses, treats, and helps prevent diseases and disorders of the nervous system.
This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

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Interviews patients to obtain information such as complaints, symptoms, medical

histories, and family histories.
Examines patients to obtain information about functional status of areas such as
vision, physical strength, coordination, reflexes, sensations, language skills,
Insider Info
cognitive abilities, and mental status.
Performs or interprets the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests such as
Dig into the details and check out
lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve
what people in this job have to say
conduction velocity tests.
about their work.
Orders or interprets results of laboratory analyses of patients' blood or
cerebrospinal fluid.
Diagnoses neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings,
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histories, or test results.
Prescribes or administers medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, and monitors
patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.
Identifies and treats major neurological system diseases and disorders such as
central nervous system infection, cranio spinal trauma, dementia, and stroke.
Informs patients or families of neurological diagnoses and prognoses, or benefits,
risks and costs of various treatment plans.
Develops treatment plans based on diagnoses and on evaluation of factors such as
age and general health, or procedural risks and costs.
Prepares, maintains, or reviews records that include patients' histories,
neurological examination findings, treatment plans, or outcomes.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:
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You would sit most of the time. There's some walking and standing. You may have to lift and carry things like books,
papers or tools weighing 10 lbs. or less.
Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and
sanitation control

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Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time

Work in this occupation involves sitting more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

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Seeing clearly up close

Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

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Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
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Medical Director of MS Treatment and Research Center -- Specializes in the treatment of and research into multiple
sclerosis.
Director of Adult Epilepsy -- Specializes in the treatment of epilepsy in adults.
Pediatric Neurologist -- Treats children who have problems involving the nervous system, such as seizures, delayed
speech, weakness, or headaches.
Director, Inpatient Headache Program -Adult and Pediatric Neurologist --

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