Physical Therapist (PT) Acute Care

Discover Vanderbilt Health : With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region. Organization: Acute Rehab PT/OT 3 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 with some guidance. Actively collaborates with the health care/educational team to meet patient care, outcomes and system improvement objectives. . Physical Therapist – Acute Care Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, TN Full-Time | 4 10-hour shifts Wed

• Sat Where Expert Physical Therapists Make Their Greatest Impact Vanderbilt Health is seeking an experienced Acute Care Physical Therapist to join one of the nation's leading academic health systems. This is an opportunity to practice at a Level 1 Trauma Center and the nation's largest transplant center by volume, working alongside nationally recognized physicians, nurses, and rehabilitation professionals while caring for some of healthcare's most medically complex patients. Whether you're looking to deepen your acute care expertise, expand your experience across specialty populations, or advance your professional growth, Vanderbilt offers an environment where clinical judgment is valued, collaboration is expected, and exceptional patient care is the standard. Our Acute Care Rehabilitation team includes approximately 130 rehabilitation professionals who provide care throughout Vanderbilt University Hospital across trauma, transplant, critical care, neurosciences, cardiovascular services, specialty medicine, and surgical populations. Most importantly, we believe healthcare is personal. Therapists are empowered to provide individualized, evidence-based care that prioritizes patient outcomes while practicing at the top of their license. Why Experienced Therapists Choose Vanderbilt Health Practice at the Top of Your License Your expertise is respected and your clinical decision-making plays a meaningful role in patient care and discharge planning. Care for Complex and Diverse Patient Populations Treat patients across trauma, transplant, burn, neuroscience, critical care, cardiovascular, medical, and surgical services. Collaborative Team Environment Work alongside highly respected physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, case managers, and other healthcare professionals committed to exceptional outcomes. Growth Beyond the Bedside Advance through a structured Clinical Career Ladder with opportunities for mentorship, leadership, program development, quality initiatives, and professional advancement. Work-Life Balance Enjoy a schedule that includes only two weekend days per month, helping support balance while remaining engaged in a dynamic acute care setting. Academic Medical Center Excellence Join a health system recognized nationally for innovation, research, education, and world-class patient care. Your Impact as an Acute Care Physical Therapist As a member of our Acute Care Rehabilitation team, you will:
• Perform evidence-based evaluations and treatment interventions for hospitalized patients with complex medical and surgical diagnoses.
• Provide care across diverse inpatient settings, including intensive care units, specialty services, transplant, trauma, and step-down units.
• Develop individualized treatment plans that optimize mobility, function, safety, and discharge outcomes.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to deliver coordinated, patient-centered care.
• Apply advanced clinical reasoning to assess patient progress and modify treatment plans as clinical needs evolve.
• Educate patients and caregivers regarding mobility strategies, equipment recommendations, fall prevention, and safe discharge planning.
• Document care in accordance with hospital, regulatory, and professional standards.
• Support a culture of clinical excellence through mentorship, quality improvement, and professional development initiatives. Qualifications
• Licensed Physical Therapist (or license-eligible) in the State of Tennessee
• Acute care or hospital-based physical therapy experience strongly preferred
• Strong clinical reasoning and decision-making abilities
• Excellent communication and interdisciplinary collaboration skills
• Commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care
• Passion for continuous learning and professional growth Ready for What's Next? If you're an experienced acute care therapist seeking greater clinical complexity, stronger interdisciplinary collaboration, and the opportunity to influence outcomes at one of the nation's premier academic medical centers, Vanderbilt Health offers a place where your expertise can make a lasting impact. Apply today and help patients take their next step toward recovery at Vanderbilt Health.

Key Responsibilities

• 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.

Technical Capabilities

• 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. May supervis