The Neurodiagnostic Niche
Encouraging a community in the world of Neurodiagnostics
2020 Vision
“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
― Robert Frost
20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) but it is really now so much more than that…it’s resilience…it’s adaptability…it’s awareness (particularly of unintended consequences).
This theme, which cuts across all of our hindsights, underscores the point that we’re not going to get everything right all the time and we have to be prepared for that.
If you don’t make the time to work on creating the life you want, you’re eventually going to be forced to spend a LOT of time dealing with a life you don’t want. – Kevin Ngo
This message introduces Week 4 of our 8 Week Challenge for “Your Year to Getting Registered”:
Perhaps you have struggled to make head way with this goal…Perhaps you have procrastinated a bit. No worries – that is why it’s called a Challenge!
Week 1 Reminder:
- Get the Test Date on your Calendar – Schedule your test or measurement assessment or request a Petition of Eligibility in you don’t quite meet the requirements yet to test.
- Start accumulating your CEU’s – There are a lot of free options for this.
Week 2 Reminder:
- Sign up to take a Practice Test – this will help you narrow your focus on the areas you still need to work on.
- Self study and/or Hire a Trainer/Tutor to help you make headway in those areas.
Week 3 Reminder:
- Tame your Time (limit Social media usage to better utilize your 24 hours in a day – scroll back up and read the Kevin Ngo quote again.)
- Visit the Resource Library on this site and bookmark productive sites to spend your time – Research.Review.Repeat
Week 4’s Focus:
- Get Caught Up
- Complete the complimentary Study Guide’s on this site
- Invite a Friend or Co-worker along on this Challenge – You’ll help hold each other accountable…You’ll help push each other out of your comfort zone….You’ll get feedback on your progress….and Friends don’t let Friends quit.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Meant For More
“Tell me to what you pay attention and I will tell you who you are.” ~Jose Ortega y Gassett
Most of us fill our minds with information all day long….headlines, tweets, facebook posts, etc…Yes, information is important but collecting information doesn’t necessarily equate to making us any wiser.
Somehow we need to disseminate the noise from the knowledge – the struggle is real.
Narrow your focus…we have got things to do.
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.
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 not just because you’ll earn a CEU but because…it’s worth repeating: ’Seriously, this stuff is interesting – it’s why we do what we do.’
- NeurodiagnosticNiche.com – link to my site : ) Because…would recommend reading back through older posts – almost going on a year now!
- 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
Aim for the Top – Grab A Branch
8 Week Challenge – Week 2
Broken into bite-size tasks, each week’s assignment will help you focus on working through your to-do list and moving the needle. Over the course of the challenge, you’ll move closer to completing your goal of “Your Year to Getting Registered”.
Every weekend, I’ll share a new set of tasks here, so keep checking in – and follow along on facebook, twitter, and instagram for reminders, motivation and inspiration.
Preparing is better together, so encourage your friends and coworkers to follow alongside you.
Did you miss Week 1? Click here to review.
Let’s get started with Week 2.
You can’t really know where you are going until you know where you have been. – Maya Angelou
1 – Sign Up to take a practice test this week:
ABRET link
Review your results…how prepared are you? What areas do you need to focus on?
Think on that for a bit…
2 – Continue with the task from last week of collecting your required CEU’s – by the end of this week you should be working towards having at least 10. (Don’t forget to keep the documentation for these organized so you’re not scrambling to find them later).
Congratulations! You’ve made the commitment to complete your registry and you are well on your way to making it happen!
Visit the other sections on this website for tools and resources to help you on your journey.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
8 Week Challenge
Never underestimate where you could end up in 6 months…
They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.– Andy Warhol
I think we can all agree that so much can change in such a short period of time…i.e. March 2020
But to keep moving forward sometimes we need to reflect back:
Think about the steps you had to take to get to where you are….Do you have any regrets? What would you have done differently?
Use this lesson in reflection and put a plan in place for the months ahead.
Introducing the 8 Week Challenge
Have you been following the Neurodiagnostic Niche community with the “Your Year to Getting Registered” posts? As Fall approaches it’s time to start to wrap this up!
Jump start this Fall in a productive way on your path to registry.
Week 1 Challenge tips:
Visit abret.org and schedule your exam
Still need CEU’s? Keep reading below…
- At the time of this writing there are 5 remaining ASET Measurement Assessments scheduled for 2020 – If you have been working in the field for at least 4 years you are eligible for this first step in the registry exam process (IMPORTANT note – this changes to 5 years in 2021 – So don’t delay!) Once the Measurement Assessment is completed you have 2 years to pass the written exam. Click here to see the locations and mark this accomplishment off your to do list as done.
or
- If you have an Associates Degree (or RPSGT) and have been working in the field for 1 year – Click Here to apply to be “Eligible to Test”. Once granted eligibility you have 3 months to schedule and sit for the exam.
Still need CEU’s to qualify (or to re-certify)? There are lots of free options available:
Start Here – Register for the Natus Neuro Training Academy (you’ll also find their link added to the Resource Library on this site). Includes both recorded and live eSeminars with free CEU’s….who doesn’t like free?
It’s worth repeating…
Never underestimate where you could end up in 6 months.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
School’s In Session
“Walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps.” – Khalil Gibran
For many of us, particularly in the South, this was the first week of school – for others it is soon to follow in the coming weeks.
This Fall semester is sure to bring not only a lot of challenges but a test of our adaptability.
“The secret to change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” – Socrates
If you’re finding yourself struggling with these changes…visualize how you want your future to look.
Researchers have found that visualizing yourself doing the steps it takes to reach your goals makes you more likely to succeed. (Que the article: Click Here)
Of course, things can change rapidly from month to month. But one thing is for sure, there is always something new to learn – particularly in Neurodiagnostics. For sure, that is one of the reasons for some of the excitement of working in this field.
- Have you been following the complimentary Weekly Study Guide? Week 11 is now posted on the website for you.
- The Summer Sale is still going on – visit the Marketplace for Notecards, Answer Keys, and Tutoring Lesson options. (It’s the last few weeks for the Summer Scholar Package discounts.)
And don’t forget to check out the Free Resource Library when you are on the site (new items added often).
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Spoiler Alert: There Is No ‘Right Time’
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss
There is no ‘right time’; there is just time.
Yesterday, I looked at the goals I’d set for myself at the top of the year (business goals, personal goals, travel goals, etc….). Since Covid has changed so much, I needed to update my plan. I took out my favorite pen and re-authored the rest of the year…slashing the list from about 12-ish projects down to 7.
We’re in month 8 out of 12…if you haven’t yet – revisit and revise how YOU want the rest of this year to go. I know, there’s tons of uncertainty around us…but you do still get to choose how to spend your time.
The key is to focus on what you can control.
Counter to how it may seem….you, my friend, are 100% in charge of how you choose.
If getting registered in the near future is one of your goals – keep it on your list…check your progress…and update the tools or resources that you might still need.
- Check out the free Resource Library on this site and be sure to follow the blog for new additions.
- If its been awhile since you referenced the Exam Handbook, click here to review this on the ABRET’s website.
- And, if you’re ready: Click Here to access Exam dates and information.
Let’s look back on this year knowing it was time well spent…you get to choose.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Summer Sale
Good-bye July – Hello August! Take 10% off on Study Guides and Notecards
Looking for additional discounts? Check out the Summer Scholar Option – take advantage of bundle savings with Notecards, Study Guides and Training.
Looking for Free? Explore the Resource Library when you’re on the site.
Shop the Summer Sale here: Neurodiagnostic Niche Marketplace
Our Better Half
“It ain’t over til it’s over.” – Yogi Berra
Fun fact: 57 years ago the EEG registry exam was first administered and there are only 7559 registered technologists in the world – Did you know the pass rate for the exam is 85%?
Have you been hesitant to try?
Don’t be – this is your year!
Think about that for a minute…2020 is half over and many of us have spent the majority of it at home – Geez! Chances are we will be doing the same for the 2nd half – why not come out on the other side in a better place?
Hands down the best way for a technician to increase their income is to become registered in their field of testing.
There are a multitude of ways one might go about this – especially depending on what your starting point is, but if you need some suggestions on where to begin – I would start here:
- Check out the free Resource Library on this site – there is literally a section entitled “Starters”. The links reference all you would need to know for how you would go about taking the exam.
- Next, gauge what you know – your strengths…your areas for improvement and put together a plan. Reference this earlier post to help: What’s the Plan
- and finally, if you find that you need additional support beyond self studying on your own – click here and here for remote on-line learning support.
This is your year! It’s not over til it’s over…
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
Secure Your Own Mask First
“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
We’ve all been on a plane and heard these instructions before:
“…please place the mask over your own mouth and nose before assisting others.”
Seriously – such good advice to help us be at our best.
When the workload has got you down, one of the best things you can do is take preventative steps to protect your well being…investing in ourselves before we can help others.
The modern day term for this is self-care….what is it you love to do? what helps you recharge?
Once you start to incorporate more of your efforts into your own well being you’ll find these benefits will carry over into every aspect of your life – including your career.
- Perhaps that boost will help motivate you to set a goal to become registered:
- Perhaps it encourages you to learn a new testing modality:
- Maybe it’s that new job or promotion you have been thinking about:
- or take this opportunity to go back to school:
North Texas Neurodiagnostic Academy (In-person and On-line options)
Take a moment to review the links – if you find that you have been stuck where you are and have struggled to move forward – take some time to invest in yourself.
Be creative and consistent and you’ll find that the benefits carry over not only to you but to those around you.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
A Limited Edition
“Where you are today matters for who you’ll be tomorrow.” – somebody
What is your superpower?
That thing you do well…that gift that you share with others.
This week consider asking a friend or coworker what they perceive your superpower to be. You might just be surprised.
Often we think we are perceived a certain way – but truly it’s what others see in us.
Hearing about your strengths will empower you. It’ll guide your purpose and strengthen your why.
Mark Twain once said that the two most important days in our lives are the day we are born and the day we find out why.
Knowing your strengths TODAY, will help guide you for where your future self will be next month, next year, etc…
We all have a superpower…wear it proudly.
That is what makes you unique. You don’t need a script.
Let’s Stay Curious and Grow What We Know
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 