Healthcare Science Specialism: Clinical Neurophysiology.
What does your job involve?
We provide diagnostic tests for conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord or nerves in an outpatient setting but also on wards and intensive care. We also monitor the brain and spinal cord during neurosurgery in the operating theatre to reduce the possibility of post-operative neurological deficit.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The variety of neurophysiological investigations we perform mean the job is always interesting and that no two days are the same.
What qualifications led you to this role?
BSc Clinical Physiology (Neurophysiology).
What career opportunities are available?
For undergraduate entry the qualifications required to work in Neurophysiology can either be undertaken as a full time degree (e.g. Middlesex University London- healthcare Science (Neurophysiology) BSc Honours) or an apprenticeship style on the job degree (e.g. University of West England- Healthcare Science practitioner (Physiological sciences) degree apprenticeship).
The latter requires you to obtain a trainee post within a Neurophysiology department who will then fund your qualification. Postgraduate entry into neurophysiology can be accessed via undertaking the STP run by the National School of Healthcare Science or an on the job apprenticeship within a neurophysiology department with completion of a postgraduate neurophysiology course (e.g Aston University Birmingham- Clinical neurophysiology Practice MSc).
Do you have advice for someone interested in a career in healthcare science?
Try and obtain work experience within a neurophysiology department which would give you a better understanding of the job. Covid times have made work experience impossible but we are now able to have additional observers within the trust again.