Occupational Therapist – Pediatric Cardiac Acute Care

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

22d•Onsite

About The Position

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is seeking a Pediatric Occupational Therapist to join the Acute Care Rehabilitation Team at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee. This full-time position focuses on providing high-quality inpatient occupational therapy services to infants, children, and adolescents with complex medical and cardiac conditions. The role offers specialization in pediatric cardiac acute care within a nationally recognized children’s hospital and academic medical center. The Occupational Therapist will be instrumental in supporting functional recovery, promoting development, and guiding patients and families safely through hospitalization. The Pediatric Cardiac Units include the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (PCICU), a 23-bed high acuity unit for newborns through adolescents with congenital and acquired heart disease, and the Pediatric Cardiology inpatient unit (PCARD) for step-down and acute care patients transitioning from the ICU. The Pediatric Heart Institute at Vanderbilt is a comprehensive program recognized nationally for advanced cardiac services. The Acute Care Rehabilitation Team operates using a multidisciplinary model, collaborating with physicians, nurses, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, child life specialists, social workers, and case management to provide individualized care plans focused on functional outcomes, developmental progress, caregiver education, and safe discharge planning.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy program
Current Tennessee Occupational Therapy license or eligibility to obtain
Basic Life Support certification
1 year of relevant work experience
Bachelor's degree

Nice To Haves

Pediatric acute care or inpatient pediatric experience preferred
Experience in pediatric cardiac care or an acute care hospital setting
Experience working with medically complex or ICU patient populations

Responsibilities

Provides occupational therapy services to patients who have impairments, developmental disabilities, functional limitations, disabilities, or changes in physical function and health status resulting from injury, disease or other causes under occasional guidance.
Actively collaborates with the health care/educational team to meet patient care, outcomes and system improvement objectives.
Evaluate and treat pediatric patients with developmental, neurological, orthopedic, cardiac, post-surgical, and medically complex conditions.
Develop and implement individualized, evidence-based treatment plans that support functional independence and development.
Provide inpatient occupational therapy services in a pediatric acute care environment.
Educate and support patients and caregivers to promote carryover and long-term outcomes.
Collaborate effectively with an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Document evaluations, treatments, and outcomes in accordance with hospital and regulatory standards.
Contribute to discharge planning and continuity of care.
Analyzes comprehensive information from formal and informal assessment that is pertinent to the patient's care and management to determine a rehabilitation treatment diagnosis.
Collaborates with stakeholders in establishing the plan of care, coordinates and implements care delivery while anticipating patient care needs across the rehabilitation continuum.
Applies appropriate, evidence-based interventions to ensure effective outcomes and re-evaluates performance to assess patient's progress towards goals.
Employs strategies to promote successful return to home, community, and school/vocational environments.
The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.