The Neurodiagnostic Niche
Encouraging a community in the world of Neurodiagnostics
Summer of Discovery
“He who laughs most, learns best.” – John Cleese
This year on the blog is all about Your Year to Getting Registered and this Summer is all about Continuing Education…we all know learning should be a lifelong process, and devoting time to it can be a journey well worth the effort.
Whether you want to learn more about a subject that you find interesting or want some additional skills to take to your work, there are ways you can use continuing education to your advantage.
Earning CEU’s is a bonus (especially when you need them to renew your certification) but they shouldn’t be our only reason for seeking out a course or webinar.
Learning for the sake of learning is always the best motivator and what we gain from that is always far more valuable than a CEU.
The list below is designed to help you get started or for those already knee deep in the process – you might find a few new resources:
- Natus Neuro Training (click here for the talk I did for them)
- Neuropathway (click here for the talk I did for them)
- Harvard’s On-Line Neuroscience Courses (3 Free Ones)
- edX Courses (more free)
Interested in additional Neurodiagnostic support as you prep for your boards or interested in a full training program to take you from A to Z….Just email me @ RTompkins@TompkinsAssociates.com
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Know the Why
Why do they call it rush hour when nothing moves? – Robin Williams
New post in Your Year to Getting Registered Series: Ever feel like all you are doing is memorizing test questions and answers? Hard part about that is if the question is asked in a different way – you’re stuck! This way of preparing makes it really easy to get tripped up.
Understanding not just the What but the Why is important.
They can then ask the question any way they want and…You.Got.This!
ASAP practice tests are a great way to gauge what you know and what you need to focus your prep on…then make a plan to outline how you are going to learn what your missing.
Really learn – not just memorize.
Do one thing each day to create momentum:
- Follow an expert on LinkedIn – engage in the conversation.
- Take a lesson.
- Inquire from your mentors.
- Create an accountability group.
Do one thing each day. This might be a good time to reference an older post:
Habits are More Important than Goals
And if you need a little more help – take a peek at Your Year to Getting Registered Member Content on the Marketplace (just click here).
- Take your Neurodiagnostic Niche participation to this new level with Member Only Content. This 12 Month Subscription (around $10/month) provides a monthly email to your in-box to keep you motivated and focused to reach your Registration goal.
- Received during the first week of the month – a Study Guide with Resources and a Lesson Plan. If you struggle with staying on target for this goal – this tool could just be what you need to help stay focused this year.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
A Century to Remember
It’s been 100 years since Hans Berger, a German psychiatrist invented the Electroencephalogram! That’s quite the milestone.
Last week was all about celebrating those in the Neurodiagnostic field with a special focus on Advocacy.
Even though the week has passed – let’s keep the momentum going:
How can we help?
- Become an ASET Ambassador. This volunteer network of industry professionals promote careers in Neurodiagnostic technology in their communities. You can also earn a Free CEU!
- Mentor to new staff preparing for their boards or if you haven’t taken your boards start that preparation process. Promoting board registry will make our field stronger.
- Advocate for Neurodiagnostics in your hospital or clinic. Maybe you already work for an employer that values the Neurodiagnostic staff’s contribution to patient care. If not, if you work in some of the clinics or hospitals that think a cardiology technician can just as easily but leads on a patient’s head as they can their chest – Stand up for the field. Communicate the inadequacy of this.
- Advocate for competitive pay for the field. If it’s you that is being under paid for your skill set – remember you have choices. Communicate to your employer market value for this field along with your strengths; also, a quick search on indeed.com will help.
- Advocate for your patients. The technical staff is often the first point of contact patients have in their treatment journey. We spend a lot of time with our patients and another work day for us is perhaps one of the worst days for them. Meet them where they are. Help make the test experience just a little easier for them.
Even though we have come a long way in the 100 years since Hans Berger recorded the first EEG….we still have a long way to go. : )
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Look Up
“The best way to predict your future is to create it.” Abraham Lincoln
Looking up at the eclipse on Monday without glasses might not be recommended but looking ahead surely is.
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
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
What’s Next: Goal, Action, Plan
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?
Be sure to reference 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 April 2034!
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Next Step – Find a Mentor
“Better than a thousand days of diligent study is one day with a great mentor.” – Japanese Proverb
What’s the Next Step in Your Year to Getting Registered?
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
don’t forget a great go to:
EpilepsyDiagnosis.org
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…
Need additional tips and resources – don’t forget to check out the Resource Library and Marketplace on this site : )
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
March Madness
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
It might be March Madness but when it comes to EEG board prep – Let’s Keep it Simple:
If this is Your Year to Getting Registered – the discipline and structure will be what will take you over the finish line.
Last post was about having a Plan – (click here to review)
This week let’s put some things in place…
- I’m a big believer that in order to achieve our goals, it’s super helpful to write them out. If you haven’t already done this – take a moment and put pen to paper.
- Read through the ‘Starters’ section in the Resource Library for this site – It will help you outline when you are eligible to take the exam and then work backwards from there.
- Start collecting your CEU’s – getting the required amount before you submit your application is no quick task – also, the material you will be exposed to will help you in this preparation process. There are a ton of free options that occur monthly – Start Here
- Knock out each area in the Content Outline for the exam (Not sure where to find it? It’s in the Starters section of the Resource Library) Again there are a lot of free options…Quizlet, Pinterest posts on EEG, EpilepsyDiagnosis.org, etc…
- Want additional motivation and lessons plans to help you stay on track? Sign up for Your Year to Getting Registered subscription pack. For about $10/month you’ll receive a monthly email with a Lesson Plan, Tips, a Q & A and Resources to help you stay on track. Just click here to order.
Email me if you need a tutor (RTompkins@TompkinsAssociates.com) – I would be happy to help!
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
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…mid February 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 posts on this site:
Your Year to Getting Registered
What’s Next: Goal, Plan, Action
When we get 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”!
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Now Enrolling: North Texas Neurodiagnostic Academy
What’s Next: goal, plan, action
“A Goal without a Plan is just a Wish.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Did you know in 2023 that 49% of the technicians taking the EEG board exam passed? (ABRET link here)
In 2022 it was 77% – 2021 was also 77% – 2020 was 82% and 2019 was 85% – do you see a trend?
Let’s turn it around for 2024! 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:
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 : )
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Now Enrolling: North Texas Neurodiagnostic Academy
Your Year to Getting Registered take 2
“People do not decide their futures. They decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.” – F.M Alexander
Happy New Year!
If you have been following along regularly on my blog you’ll note my last post was entitled ‘Take a Break’. I took that to heart too. : )
I paused my blog the end of last year to focus more on my training program, the clinics I support and also included a great trip to Orlando for the ASET conference. But now I am back at it revisiting a really important topic: ’Your Year to Getting Registered’.
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 working in this field is to get 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 can be 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. There are a lot of other really good ones out there too – but getting back to basics is a great first start!
2 – Move – Make it a habit to get out of your 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 their 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 don’t forget to subscribe to receiving this blog directly in your inbox – just enter your address at the bottom of the website: (NeurodiagnosticNiche.com).
and lastly,
4 – Join – Look for a way to build your study resources. On-line courses, trainers, tutors…we 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?
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Now Enrolling: North Texas Neurodiagnostic Academy
Take a Break
“There are only 2 industries that call their customers users: illegal drugs and software companies.” – Edward Tufte
Most of us fill our minds with information all day long….headlines, tweets, facebook/Instagram posts, etc…
However, let’s narrow our focus…we have got things to do.
It’s Week 3 in our 8 Week Challenge to wrap up our Year to Getting Registered
Suggestions:
- Limit Your Intake – set aside a specific time for Social media and stick to it. That doesn’t mean that you have to be off your phone or computer when it’s not that time – it just means it’s not time for passive scrolling through tweets and posts.
- Have an on-going list of websites that help get you where you want to be – have them as an open tab on your phone or computer and those are your go-to’s…your time fillers.
- Go old school – Research and Review textbooks (the hard copy kind).
If getting registered is your goal, start here:
- Epilepsydiagnosis.org – Because…seriously, this stuff is interesting – it’s why we do what we do.
- Natus Training Academy – Scroll back through their eSeminars and sign up for upcoming webinars -not just because you’ll earn a CEU but because…it’s worth repeating: This stuff is interesting – it’s why we do what we do.
- NeurodiagnosticNiche.com – link to my site : ) Read back through older posts – there are several years worth on there.
- Motivation Mondays – link to their Instagram – Because…we could all use a little motivation – plus, they post more than just Monday.
This is Week 3 of our 8 Week Challenge to help you wrap up “Your Year to Getting Registered”.
Reeling in how we spend our time is our focus for Week 3.
It’s worth repeating…Narrow your focus – We have got things to do.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Now Enrolling: North Texas Neurodiagnostic Academy
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 