Physical Therapist (PT) – Acute Care Inpatient

Vanderbilt University Medical Center • Nashville, TN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is seeking a Full-Time Physical Therapist – Acute Care, Inpatient Hospital to join their rehabilitation team in Nashville, Tennessee. This role is ideal for Physical Therapists with acute care or inpatient hospital experience looking to grow their career in a Level 1 Trauma Center. As Middle Tennessee’s largest academic medical center, VUMC offers exceptional clinical variety, professional development, and the opportunity to work across ICUs, medical-surgical units, and the emergency department. This position is suited for Physical Therapists passionate about complex patient care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous learning in an academic hospital setting.

Requirements

• Licensed Physical Therapist or eligible for licensure in the state of Tennessee
• Minimum of one year of acute care or inpatient hospital experience preferred
• Strong communication skills and a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and patient-centered care
• Rehab Therapist Patient Documentation (Fundamental Awareness): Demonstrates proficiency in documentation practices. Documents in the appropriate templates and utilizes only approved abbreviations within patient documentation. Meets institutional standards for quality and timeliness of documentation.
• Rehabilitation Therapist Patient Evaluation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in evaluating patients with physical deficits including impairments, developmental disabilities, functional limitations, disabilities, or changes in physical function by obtaining information pertinent to the assessment and administering and scoring standardized tests and objective measures of deficit areas. Selects appropriate measures and performs a functional assessment to document patient's status requiring skilled therapy. Interprets the results of the assessment and their significance to the patient, family, referring physician and other members of the health care team.
• Treatment Planning & Goal Setting (Novice): Demonstrates sufficient proficiency in developing a plan of care that incorporates treatment interventions focused on meeting objective goals. Develops and documents patient focused short and long term goals that are functional and measurable. Identifies the need for and referral to other services, as needed.
• Treatment Implementation (Fundamental Awareness): Demonstrates proficiency in providing treatment consistent with physician prescription and established plan of care. Able to modify treatment plan as needed to demonstrate provision of skilled therapy services including progression of treatment throughout course of care, and revision of treatment interventions of goals not met.
• Physical/Occupational Therapist Patient Education (Fundamental Awareness): Demonstrates proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process. Considers the communication needs/level of understanding of audience and may share appropriate information/literature.
• Relevant Work Experience
• Bachelor's

Nice To Haves

• Minimum of one year of acute care or inpatient hospital experience preferred

Responsibilities

• 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 with some guidance.
• Actively collaborates with the health care/educational team to meet patient care, outcomes and system improvement objectives.
• Provide evidence-based physical therapy evaluations and treatments for hospitalized patients.
• Deliver care across a variety of acute care inpatient units, including ICU and emergency department settings.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and interdisciplinary care teams to develop individualized plans of care.
• Educate patients and families on mobility, safety, discharge planning, and rehabilitation goals.
• Document care and outcomes in accordance with hospital policies and regulatory standards.
• Participate in mentorship, quality improvement initiatives, and departmental projects.
• 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.
• Supervises and directs certified athletic trainers (PT only), physical therapist / occupational therapist assistants, technicians and volunteers and students.
• Selects and follows correct protocol for care and utilize evidence based treatments.

Benefits

• Day-One Benefits including medical, dental, vision, paid time off (PTO), and retirement plans
• Clinical Career Advancement Ladder with structured growth from Physical Therapist Level 1 through Level 4
• Free Continuing Education through department-hosted CE courses available to all staff
• Extensive Orientation Program with 10–12 weeks of onboarding across inpatient hospital units
• Formal Mentorship Program supported by our dedicated Mentorship Committee
• Collaborative, Team-Based Culture with opportunities to serve on committees and lead quality initiatives
• Nationally Recognized Health System known for excellence in patient care, research, and innovation
• health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level