Music Therapist NICU

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago•Chicago, IL

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Develops, implements, and evaluates music therapy services and programs for patients and families of all ages in a pediatric medical setting. Provides individualized, culturally responsive, social justice-oriented, patient- and family-centered care, applying knowledge of infant, child, and adolescent development to facilitate evidence-based therapeutic music experiences through a strengths-based lens. The role primarily delivers bedside music therapy, with unit-specific group sessions as appropriate, and supports patients’ social, emotional, physical, and developmental health. The therapist independently manages a caseload and provides clinical assessment, treatment, and planning. The role collaborates with medical and psychosocial teams, participates in interdisciplinary rounds and meetings, documents clinical work and goals in the electronic medical record, and contributes to unit programming and team initiatives. Responsibilities also include educating staff, advocating for equitable access to services, supervising music therapy students and interns, and participating in research and quality improvement activities. The position is located at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in music therapy from a program approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA).
MT-BC credential (Board Certification through the Certification Board for Music Therapists) required within 12 months of hire.
Basic Life Support certification required within 6 months of hire.
Musical proficiency in voice, guitar, piano, percussion, and basic recording technology.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in music therapy or another mental health field.
Spanish language skills.
One to two years of professional music therapy experience.
Additional certification in NICU Music Therapy (NICU-MT), Rhythm, Breath, and Lullaby (RBL), Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT), Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapy (HPMT), Guided Imagery in Music (GIM), or Nordoff-Robbins (NRMT).

Responsibilities

Provide evidence-based, individual- and family-centered music therapy sessions, primarily at bedside, and unit-specific group sessions as appropriate.
Support relaxation and pain management, coping and emotional processing, developmental needs, choice and control, and end-of-life or bereavement needs through clinical work.
Independently manage caseload and provide clinical assessment, treatment, and planning.
Communicate clearly and promptly in writing and verbally, including with referral sources.
Document clinical work and patient goals in the electronic medical record.
Collaborate with medical and psychosocial care teams, participate in interdisciplinary rounds and meetings, and align services with patients’ overall care plans.
Develop, implement, and evaluate assigned unit-specific music therapy programming.
Contribute to team initiatives, including data tracking, advocacy, heartbeat recording programming, interdisciplinary staff education, onboarding, developmentally informed resources, and internship program development.
Educate staff about music therapy services and advocate for equitable provision of care.
Provide formal and informal supervision for music therapy students and interns, including orientation, training, caseload management, feedback, weekly clinical supervision, and written evaluations for assigned students.
Stay current with research and practice, and participate in assigned music therapy research and quality improvement projects, including collaboration with research partners.
Maintain active certification and complete research-related training as required.
Perform job functions in accordance with Lurie Children’s Service Principles and other assigned functions.