What does a neurologist do?
A neurologist is responsible for treating patients with muscles and nerve abnormalities. Neurologists conduct a series of examinations to determine the patients' condition, administer treatment plans, and refer immediate medical procedures as needed. They also document the patients' progress on every treatment and adjust medications according to the results. A neurologist must have excellent communication and critical-thinking skills to identify the effective specialized treatments through results interpretation and coordinating with other medical professionals for advice and other necessary care services.
Neurologist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real neurologist resumes:
- Prepare EEG and EMG/NCS machines.
- Plan and perform NCV patient testing.
- Train for troubleshooting EEG equipment and patient artifact.
- Perform nerves blocks, facet blocks, epidurals, and intra articular injections.
- General practice, spine and cranial, some PEDS and trauma JULY 1984 staff neurosurgeon
- Inventory on all clinical supplies, maintain strict adherence to HIPAA security and compliance, train in meaningful use of EMR.
- Experience electromyography, electroencephalography, and MRI analysis.
- Full inpatient neurology consultative practice, including emergency department, critical care.
- Obtain patient information necessary for processing medical charges and assist patients with insurance documentation and billing questions.
- Input the ICD-9 and CPT coding on routing slips.
Neurologist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 29% of Neurologists are proficient in Neurology, Patients, and EEG. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Physical stamina, and Problem-solving skills.
We break down the percentage of Neurologists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Neurology, 29%
Selected as MS Guest Regional Trainer for Neurology Representatives.
- Patients, 27%
Practiced as a Consultant Neurologist, examined and diagnosed English-speaking patients, completed neurological examinations and performed routine checkup examinations
- EEG, 8%
Clip files and evaluate special LTM/ Ambulatory EEG file samples and written summary for the Neurologist.
- EMR, 7%
Inventory on all clinical supplies, maintained strict adherence to HIPAA security and compliance, trained in meaningful use of EMR.
- Patient Care, 7%
Answered patient and family questions about medicines and at-home patient care to ensure instructions were fully understood.
- Epic, 4%
Documented evaluations, patient progress, and discharges on Computerized Documentation program, Epic software.
Most neurologists use their skills in "neurology," "patients," and "eeg" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential neurologist responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a neurologist to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "physicians and surgeons need to be excellent communicators." Neurologists often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "practiced effective communication among colleagues, as well as, patients. "
Physical stamina. Many neurologist duties rely on physical stamina. "physicians and surgeons should be comfortable lifting or turning disabled patients, or performing other physical tasks," so a neurologist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways neurologist responsibilities rely on physical stamina: "checked on patients at the bedside and at physical therapy"
Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for neurologists to perform their duties. For an example of how neurologist responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "physicians and surgeons need to evaluate patients’ symptoms and administer the appropriate treatments." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a neurologist: "resolved client and patients' complaints. ".
Compassion. For certain neurologist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "compassion." The day-to-day duties of a neurologist rely on this skill, as "patients who are sick or injured may be in extreme pain or distress." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what neurologists do: "establish a compassionate environment by providing emotional and psychological support to patients, families and friends. "
Detail oriented. Another common skill required for neurologist responsibilities is "detail oriented." This skill comes up in the duties of neurologists all the time, as "patients must receive appropriate treatment and medications." An excerpt from a real neurologist resume shows how this skill is central to what a neurologist does: "observed doctor visit with patients, perform patient checkups, and document appointments' details for own record. "
The three companies that hire the most neurologists are:
- Baylor Scott & White Health18 neurologists jobs
- Kelsey-Seybold Clinic17 neurologists jobs
- Northwell Health15 neurologists jobs
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Compare different neurologists
Neurologist vs. Doctor
A doctor is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, often specializing in particular areas. Their responsibilities revolve around conducting initial interviews and examinations, studying a patient's medical history and laboratory results, providing consultations and care advice, prescribing medication, and referring patients to specialists when necessary. They must also coordinate and maintain an active communication line with nurses, administrators, and technicians for a smooth workflow. Moreover, a doctor must educate patients about their health conditions, helping them understand their situation better.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, neurologist responsibilities require skills like "neurology," "rehabilitation," "eeg," and "epic." Meanwhile a typical doctor has skills in areas such as "customer service," "emergency medicine," "surgery," and "strong work ethic." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Doctors tend to make the most money working in the health care industry, where they earn an average salary of $178,767. In contrast, neurologists make the biggest average salary, $205,254, in the health care industry.The education levels that doctors earn slightly differ from neurologists. In particular, doctors are 2.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a neurologist. Additionally, they're 7.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Neurologist vs. Physician, president
An associate professor of neurology and attending physician is a medical doctor who teaches medical students about neurology in colleges and universities while providing healthcare to patients at hospitals or clinics. This physician must guide research projects of undergraduate students as well as collaborate with colleagues and junior research staff. The physician is required to serve as a committee member for students taking up doctoral and master degrees in exercise physiology. This physician must also develop and propose a curriculum for new courses in health psychology and forensic psychology.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that neurologist responsibilities requires skills like "neurology," "patients," "rehabilitation," and "eeg." But a physician, president might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "direct patient care," "patient examinations," "health issues," and "care clinic."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. Physicians, president tend to reach higher levels of education than neurologists. In fact, they're 12.4% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 7.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for neurologists in the next 3-5 years?
Deborah Podolin Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Vice Chair of Education, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Neurologist vs. Physician, vice president
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a neurologist is likely to be skilled in "neurology," "patients," "rehabilitation," and "eeg," while a typical physician, vice president is skilled in "service line," "population health," "financial performance," and "physician practice."
When it comes to education, physicians, vice president tend to earn higher degree levels compared to neurologists. In fact, they're 17.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 17.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Neurologist vs. Associate professor of neurology and attending physician
Types of neurologist
Updated January 8, 2025
