Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) – Pediatric Acute Care

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is seeking a full-time Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) for its Pediatric Acute Care program at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. This role is within the Pediatric Rehabilitation Services department and operates on a full-time schedule, Monday through Friday. The SLP will provide comprehensive pediatric feeding and swallowing therapy, dysphagia care, speech-language therapy, and pediatric rehabilitation services to infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The position focuses on medically complex and hospital-based pediatric populations, including infants with feeding challenges, dysphagia, tracheostomy, traumatic brain injury, and children requiring video-fluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS). Opportunities may involve collaboration with NICU, PICU, and acute pediatric rehabilitation teams. VUMC is committed to advancing health and wellness through patient care, education, and research, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and their uniqueness is celebrated.

Requirements

Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
Tennessee SLP license or eligibility
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC‑SLP)
Pediatric feeding and swallowing experience required
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level: 1 year

Nice To Haves

VFSS experience preferred
Pediatric hospital or pediatric acute care experience preferred

Responsibilities

Evaluates and treats patients with speech, language, voice, cognition, fluency, auditory (re)habilitation, and swallowing/oral feeding disorders.
Educates and counsels patients and families.
Provides independent therapeutic services and identify area(s) of clinical specialization and competency.
Supervises graduate students as assigned in clinical specialty area.
Participates actively in identifying and conducting quality improvement activities.
Collaborates with clinical practice team to achieve patient outcomes and system objectives.
Provide pediatric speech-language, feeding, swallowing, and dysphagia therapy across inpatient and outpatient settings.
Evaluate and treat medically complex infants and children, including tracheostomy and dysphagia management.
Conduct VFSS studies as appropriate.
Collaborate with PT, OT, nursing, physicians, and the pediatric rehab team.
Document evaluations, plans of care, therapy goals, progress, and outcomes in the EMR.
Educate caregivers on feeding strategies, swallowing safety, communication development, and home carryover.
Support 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.
Supervises graduate students by providing instruction, guidance/counsel and training to ensure provision of competent patient care and completion of appropriate documentation.