Physical Therapist – Pediatric Acute Care (Inpatient)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center • Nashville, TN

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research. Organization: MCJCHV Peds Rehab Job Summary: JOB SUMMARY Provides physical therapy services to patients who have impairments, 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. . Job Title: Physical Therapist – Pediatric Acute Care (Inpatient) Location: Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt | Nashville, TN Schedule: Full-Time | 40 Hours per Week Job Summary Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is seeking a Pediatric Physical Therapist to join our Acute Care Rehabilitation Team, delivering high-quality inpatient therapy services to infants, children, and adolescents with complex medical needs. This role offers the opportunity to practice pediatric acute care physical therapy within a nationally recognized children’s hospital and academic medical center. Our therapists play a vital role in supporting mobility, function, and safe transitions of care for hospitalized children, while partnering closely with families during critical moments of recovery and healing. About Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Ranked among the nation’s leading children’s hospitals, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt provides comprehensive, family-centered pediatric care across a wide range of acute inpatient units. Patients are treated across medical, surgical, neurological, traumatic, and specialty service lines in a highly collaborative academic environment focused on excellence and innovation. About the Pediatric Acute Care Rehabilitation Team The Acute Care Rehabilitation Team provides inpatient physical and occupational therapy services throughout the hospital using a true multidisciplinary care model. Physical Therapists are essential members of the care team and collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, child life specialists, social work, case management, patients, and families. Physical Therapists evaluate and treat children with complex medical conditions, post-surgical needs, neurological diagnoses, trauma, and chronic illnesses, developing individualized, goal-driven plans of care that support mobility, endurance, caregiver education, and safe discharge planning throughout hospitalization. This role is ideal for therapists who enjoy variety in their caseload, value interdisciplinary teamwork, and are passionate about helping children and families navigate hospitalization while promoting function, independence, and quality of life.

Requirements

• Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program
• Current Tennessee Physical Therapy license or eligibility to obtain
• BLS certification required
• Relevant Work Experience Experience Level : 1 year

Nice To Haves

• Pediatric acute care or inpatient pediatric experience strongly preferred
• Oncology experience or interest

Responsibilities

• Evaluate and treat pediatric patients with neurological, orthopedic, post-surgical, cardiopulmonary, and medically complex conditions
• Provide inpatient pediatric physical therapy services across acute care units; outpatient pediatric physical therapy services may be provided based on clinic needs
• Develop and implement individualized, evidence-based, goal-oriented treatment plans
• Educate and support patients and caregivers to promote safe mobility and carryover beyond hospitalization
• Collaborate effectively with an interdisciplinary healthcare team
• Complete evaluations, treatment documentation, progress notes, and outcomes in accordance with hospital, state, and regulatory standards
• 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.

Benefits

• Practice within a nationally recognized healthcare system
• Be part of a collaborative, mission-driven pediatric rehabilitation team
• Work in an environment focused on excellence, innovation, and compassionate care
• Access professional development and continuing education opportunities

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees