Working as a neuromonitorist
While a patient is under anesthesia and a surgeon is operating, the intraoperative neuromonitorist is monitoring the patient to ensure their safety. Through electrical potentials emitted from the patient’s nervous system, the neuromonitorist can determine if the patient is losing oxygen to the brain, or about to have a stroke, and immediately alert the surgeon. In a situation where every second counts, the presence of a neuromonitorist during surgery has become invaluable and is increasing the demand for certified IONM professionals in the operating room.
As a neuromonitorist, you'll learn to perform a variety of specialized recordings, including electroencephalograms (EEG), evoked potentials (SSEP, BAEP, MEP), electromyography (EMG), cranial nerve (CN live and triggered, SEMG/TEMG) and peripheral nerve (PN) monitoring techniques.