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Neurologists: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Diagnose, manage, and treat disorders and diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, with a primarily nonsurgical focus.

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Read the task inventory

This source lists 24 tasks, including 22 marked Core and 2 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 07/2012.

24 tasks shown

Core · Task 17123 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Interview patients to obtain information, such as complaints, symptoms, medical histories, and family histories.

Core · Task 17132 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

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.

Core · Task 17130 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Perform or interpret the outcomes of procedures or diagnostic tests, such as lumbar punctures, electroencephalography, electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity tests.

Core · Task 17121 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Order or interpret results of laboratory analyses of patients' blood or cerebrospinal fluid.

Core · Task 17125 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Diagnose neurological conditions based on interpretation of examination findings, histories, or test results.

Core · Task 17117 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Prescribe or administer medications, such as anti-epileptic drugs, and monitor patients for behavioral and cognitive side effects.

Core · Task 17131 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Identify and treat major neurological system diseases and disorders, such as central nervous system infection, cranio spinal trauma, dementia, and stroke.

Core · Task 17126 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Develop treatment plans based on diagnoses and on evaluation of factors, such as age and general health, or procedural risks and costs.

Core · Task 17124 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Inform patients or families of neurological diagnoses and prognoses, or benefits, risks and costs of various treatment plans.

Core · Task 17119 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Prepare, maintain, or review records that include patients' histories, neurological examination findings, treatment plans, or outcomes.

Core · Task 17128 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Communicate with other health care professionals regarding patients' conditions and care.

Core · Task 17113 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Counsel patients or others on the background of neurological disorders including risk factors, or genetic or environmental concerns.

Core · Task 17114 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Interpret the results of neuroimaging studies, such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans.

Core · Task 17127 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Determine brain death using accepted tests and procedures.

Core · Task 17129 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Coordinate neurological services with other health care team activities.

Core · Task 17115 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Refer patients to other health care practitioners as necessary.

Core · Task 17116 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Advise other physicians on the treatment of neurological problems.

Core · Task 17111 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Participate in continuing education activities to maintain and expand competence.

Core · Task 17122 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Order supportive care services, such as physical therapy, specialized nursing care, and social services.

Core · Task 17110 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Provide training to medical students or staff members.

Core · Task 17112 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Supervise medical technicians in the performance of neurological diagnostic or therapeutic activities.

Core · Task 17109 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Participate in neuroscience research activities.

Supplemental · Task 17120 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Perform specialized treatments in areas such as sleep disorders, neuroimmunology, neuro-oncology, behavioral neurology, and neurogenetics.

Supplemental · Task 17118 · 07/2012 · Incumbent

Prescribe or administer treatments, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and deep brain stimulation.

Make the shortlist useful

  1. Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
  2. For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
  3. Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

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