The Neurodiagnostic Niche
Encouraging a community in the world of Neurodiagnostics
March Madness
I think we would all agree that the events of this month give all new meaning to the phrase March Madness.
Pandemic. Social Distancing. Flattening the Curve….we’ve introduced a lot of new terms into our vocabulary lately.
When the world seems out of control, focus on what you can control.
Our habits can keep us grounded.
But if you find you are being forced to develop new routines… make sure they are for the better.
Feeling restless? Step outside for a bit. Feeling overwhelmed? Seriously, watch this, its hysterical and so true!
Extra time on your hands and you have the goal of getting registered this year?
Re-read some of my earlier posts to help get on track:
Your Year to Getting Registered
I don’t think any of us knows what this looks like from the other side – but there is another side. In the meantime, let’s take good care of ourselves and those around us.
Also, if you like what your reading please take a moment to follow me via the email link on the bottom on this page. You can also find me to follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Photo credit for this post goes to NASA’s Image and Video Library that just made their images free to access to the public.
Why Wait?
“Go the extra mile, it’s never crowded.” – Mel Robbins
Make the most of the opportunities that you have right now.
Many people spend their whole life waiting for the right opportunity.
If you are waiting – it will never come. Instead let’s do the very best that we can, with what we already have right in front of us.
You never know what doors may open for you when you make the most of your current situation and circumstances.
The right opportunity is always the one you have right now, end of story.
Extra time on your hands with all of the recent cancellations? Use this opportunity to continue learning and improving. Check out these on-line resources to expand your current circumstances:
- Perhaps you are currently working in one modality of Neurodiagnostics but want to expand your skills into other areas…read about them here: ASET’s Guide to Neurodiagnostics
- Maybe you are really good at the technical component of your job but need to brush up on the clinical piece. Be more proficient in the different types of Epilepsy Syndromes and be sure to bookmark Epilepsy.com – you can read about them here: Types of Epilepsy Syndromes
- Perhaps you are wondering about additional work opportunities and the value of your career choice? Check out the over 500 job postings that are currently needed throughout the U.S: Indeed.com Neurodiagnostic Job Search
- And lastly, don’t forget to follow this page : ) If you haven’t already done so – please search for The Neurodiagnostic Niche on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and if you want new posts sent directly to your inbox – just enter your email at the bottom of this page to subscribe.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow what we Know…
Time Flies
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” Abraham Lincoln
I have a question for you…
Where were you 10 years ago?
2010 seems like such a long time ago but at the same time it seems like it was just yesterday.
I read this and liked it a lot, so wanted to share:
“Aim to be great in 10 years:
Build health habits today that lead to great health in 10 years.
Build social habits today that lead to great relationships in 10 years.
Build learning habits today that lead to great knowledge in 10 years.
Long term thinking is a secret weapon.” – James Clear
Read that again…
By now you are at least 2 months into your Year to Getting Registered.
You should have the test outline, a regular routine of good study habits, a textbook that you are reading and referencing, and you should have a decent stack of note cards or some other way you are organizing your review material. If not, take a moment to catch up and review back some of our earlier posts:
Your Year to Getting Registered
Next steps…
As you are continuing to prep for the exam be sure you are also properly documenting the appropriate number of tests you have completed. If you are taking the test using Pathway III or Pathway IV be sure to get started on the CEU’s that you will need. They will also help you in your preparation.
Not sure about these requirements?
Reference page 2 in the ABRET Handbook.
Keep at it this week or use this week to get caught up…and just for fun:
Write yourself a note to be opened in March 2030!
Look to your Mentors
“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great mentor.” – Japanese Proverb
Look to your mentors.
If you don’t have one…you need one.
Opportunities to learn from others can come in many forms and little lessons can be found in many ways. Perhaps it’s an interesting patient, an unusual test…or maybe its an interesting news article or post. Often those experiences are what encourage us to self study and keep moving forward with our goals.
By now you should have a plan for preparing for your boards and its the daily preparation that will get you closer to being ready to take them.
Are you looking for new places to go when you are feeling inspired to learn more?
Try:
Productive Facebook Groups like:
Neuroscience News and Research
and
EEG U
also,
Harvard On-line Neuroscience Courses (for free!):
Immersing yourself in areas like these will continue to help you on your path to getting Registered.
Be inspired and empowered to keep moving forward…
Thank You
“When one teaches, two learn.” – Robert Heinlein
First off – I just want to say Thank You!
Thank you for following me. Thank you for taking the time to view my posts. Thank you for the opportunity to share what I do with you.
After working in this field for over 25 years, I started this blog about 2 months ago and really had no expectation or idea of how it would go but I am honestly having a lot of fun with it : )
With over 1500 views so far from 29 different countries it has definitely exceeded my expectations!
I’ll be writing regularly and hope the study tips and Neurodiagnostic information is helpful to you…..if there is a topic you are particularly interested in please reach out to me to let me know.
You can reach me in the Comments section or just email me at (RTompkins@TompkinsAssociates.com).
Also, if you are in the DFW area – I am always taking new students for individualized/customized clinical training and coaching in the field of Neurodiagnostics.
Thank you again : )
Technician or Technologist
“The best preparation for tomorrow is to do today’s work superbly well.”
William Osler
After viewing a recent Facebook comment that I loved about this topic it left me with something to think about…
First though, what’s the “technical” difference between the two? Whether it’s in the field of Neurodiagnostics or any other field – it’s education and credentials. For Neurodiagnostics it’s the difference between a Registered Technologist and a non-Registered Technician.
But it seems like it is more than just that…
In general, when we are passionate about what we do, we are proud. Our work is important and it’s important to note that the work it took to obtain our job title is valued…Things that are important to us tend to be things that we love doing.
Knowing that we are adding value and making a difference...
Being passionate about your work means we are always striving to do better. What that looks like for everyone is different but again important.
For a Technician it often means striving to improve their skills and preparing to pass their board exam. For a Technologist it might mean being a mentor for others.
Wherever you are today…let’s add value to our work. Right. Where.We. Are.
Technician’s Code of Ethics
It’s the work you do when no one is watching that determines your success.
It doesn’t matter what industry you are in – it’s your daily commitment that makes the difference in your potential.
It’s the work behind the scenes.
In your EEG lab are you following ABRET’s Code of Ethics? Not sure what they are? Select the link – you need to know them for your EEG boards.
“Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” ― C.S. Lewis.
Also, don’t assume no one is watching….your patients notice, your coworkers notice, your future self notices.
There is no shortcut for hard work – it’s your work behind the scenes that can make all the difference!
January Review – Making Progress
“We have never arrived. We are in a constant state of becoming.” – Bob Dylan
We all want to get from “here” to “there” – wherever “there” is for us. For some of us, it’s completing a degree, a new job, a promotion, a pay raise…something we’re working toward….and when we do, it’s something to celebrate.
I love it when I realize I’m standing in a “here” place that used to be a “there” place.
For those of you who’s “there” place is to become Registered this year…the end of January is a good time to review your progress.
Do you have the Outline for the exam? Do you have study resources? Have you started a binder and/or note cards to organize your material? If not, read back through the earlier January posts on this site:
Your Year to Getting Registered
When we get to “there” we often reflect back on all the steps we took – the important part was staying the course through all of it…..It’s endurance that gets us “there”. It’s not luck or a gift or talent. Every step you take today to move you from “here” to “there” is a result of your resilience, your endurance…your grit to stay the course.
In no time, you’ll be celebrating a new “here”!
What’s the Plan?
“A Goal without a Plan is just a Wish.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Did you know in 2018 that 78% of the technicians taking the EEG board exam passed? What’s the best way to make sure you are one of them for this year?
You need a plan – a detailed plan….an outline.
Start here: (https://www.abret.org/candidates/resources/handbooks/)
It’s ABRET’s Handbook for the exam.
The outline includes all the content and references for taking the board exam and it’s the detailed plan that your looking for.
As you begin your preparation, break the outline down by section…list them on your calendar and tackle them one by one.
While digital resources are very helpful for studying and flash cards may seem old-school….they are hands-down the most effective way for students to study and retain the information they are learning.
As tempted as you might be to utilize digital flashcards…don’t. It’s the act of writing them out yourself that enhances the learning.
Flashcards encourage recall and repetition…instead of simply staring at a passage or a concept on a page, they can actively improve your retention of the information.
So put together your Plan A – and if it doesn’t work out…remember the alphabet has 25 more letters.
Just for grins, I included a photo below of my cards from many years ago (but who’s counting : )
Your Year to Getting Registered
“People do not decide their futures. They decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.” – F.M Alexander
Happy New Year!
This new year is different though…it’s not just the start of a new year but it’s the start of a great new decade. A lot can happen in 10 years!
Since the new year is a popular time to set resolutions; for many, working on our financial goals is at the top of the list. The best advice I have for you if you are a technician is to get yourself registered. This is the area where you can have the most impact on tackling that goal.
You might be thinking where will I find the time in my already busy life…2 quick tips:
1 – Wake up early EVERY day – for some of the most successful people, waking up early is the key to their success. (note the opening habits quote – read that again)
2 – Pair down your social media time – it’s no surprise that social media has become a huge part of our lives and sadly, it’s responsible for thousands of wasted hours.
Start taking small steps to work on your goal to becoming registered:
1 – Read – There are a lot of good technical books out there but my go to recommended book for my students is Fisch and Spehlmann’s EEG Primer: Basic Principals of Digital and Analog EEG.
2 – Move – Make it a habit to get out of your EEG or Sleep lab daily. Talk with your doctors….ask them about their patients. Your doctors are going to be your best teachers. If you don’t work in an area where your doctors are available; read the physician reports on the tests you run. Did you see what they saw?
3 – Connect – Access productive Neurodiagnostic sites that are going to support you in your goal. Reach out to other technicians that are already registered for advice and support.
and lastly,
4 – Join – Look for a way to build your study resources. On-line courses, trainers, tutors…they will all support you in your goal to becoming registered.
Remember…small steps.
You might feel overwhelmed to do them all at once…commit to making 1 change a week. The goal is to add new habits to prepare yourself for taking the board exam this new year.
It’s a New Year of possibilities! Are you ready?
Registered Technologist | Business Owner | Encourager of a community helping others find their way in the world of Neurodiagnostics.
Business website: www.TompkinsAssociates.com
Blog: NeurodiagnosticNiche.com Training Academy: North Texas Neurodiagnostic Academy
The Neurodiagnostic Niche 