Music Therapist PRN
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, and patient- and family-centered care, using knowledge of infant, child, and adolescent development to facilitate evidence-based therapeutic music experiences through a strengths-based lens. Provides music therapy primarily at the bedside, with unit-specific group sessions as appropriate. Clinical support addresses social, emotional, physical, and developmental health, including relaxation and pain management, coping and emotional processing, developmental support, opportunities for choice and control, and end-of-life and bereavement support. The therapist independently manages a caseload and clinical assessment, treatment, and planning; communicates effectively with referral sources and care teams; documents clinical work and patient goals in the electronic medical record; and collaborates with medical and psychosocial teams. The role also includes developing and evaluating unit-specific programming and contributing to team initiatives such as data tracking, advocacy, heartbeat recording programming, staff education, onboarding, resource curation, and internship program development. The therapist educates staff about services and advocates for equitable care; supervises music therapy students and interns; and participates in research and quality improvement work while maintaining active certification and completing required research-related training. The position is PRN and is based at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The listed schedule is day shift.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalency degree 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.
- 1–2 years of professional music therapy experience.
- Additional certifications: 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 the bedside, and unit-specific group sessions as appropriate.
- Support patients’ social, emotional, physical, and developmental health, including relaxation and pain management, coping and emotional processing, developmental support, choice and control, and end-of-life and bereavement support.
- Independently manage caseloads and provide clinical assessment, treatment, and planning.
- Communicate clearly and promptly in writing and verbally, including with referral sources, and document clinical work and patient goals in the electronic medical record.
- Collaborate with medical and psychosocial care teams, including participating in interdisciplinary rounds and meetings relevant to the role.
- 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 resource curation, and internship program development.
- Coordinate music therapy services with interdisciplinary team members in alignment with each patient’s overall care plan.
- Educate staff about music therapy services and advocate for equitable provision of care.
- Provide formal and informal supervision to music therapy students and interns, including orientation, training, caseload management, feedback, and, for assigned students, consistent weekly clinical supervision and written evaluations.
- Stay current with research and practice, and participate in assigned research and quality improvement projects and required research-related training.
- Maintain active certification and perform duties in accordance with Lurie Children’s Service Principles and other assigned functions.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees.
- Employer-paid group term life and disability insurance.
- Employer contribution toward a Health Savings Account.
- Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Paid Time Off (PTO), paid holidays, and paid parental leave.
- 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match.
- Supplemental life, AD&D, and disability coverage.
- Critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity coverage.
- Tuition assistance.
- Student loan servicing and support.
- Adoption benefits.
- Backup childcare and eldercare.
- Employee Assistance Program and specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members.
- Discounts on services at Lurie Children’s facilities.
- Discount purchasing program.
- A comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs.
