Physical Therapist – Acute Care

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:

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 under occasional guidance. Actively collaborates with the health care/educational team to meet patient care, outcomes and system improvement objectives.

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Physical Therapist – Acute Care | Full-Time

Location: Vanderbilt Health – Nashville, TN
Schedule: Full-Time, 2 weekend days per month

Advance Your Physical Therapy Career at Vanderbilt Health

Are you an experienced Physical Therapist ready to make an impact in an acute care inpatient setting? Join Vanderbilt Health, Middle Tennessee’s largest Level 1 Trauma Center, and work across diverse hospital units—including ICUs and the emergency department—for unmatched clinical exposure and professional growth.

Why Vanderbilt Health?

• Day-One Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, PTO, and retirement plans start immediately

• Career Advancement Ladder: Structured growth from PT Level 1 to Level 4

• Free Continuing Education: Department-hosted CE courses for all staff

• Extensive Orientation: 10–12 weeks of onboarding for success across all hospital areas

• Formal Mentorship Program: Led by our Mentorship Committee

• Collaborative Culture: Join committees shaping care and innovation

• Nationally Recognized Employer: Known for excellence, innovation, and patient-centered care

Your Impact as a Physical Therapist

• Deliver evidence-based physical therapy evaluations and treatments across multiple inpatient units

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to create individualized care plans

• Educate patients and families on mobility, safety, and rehabilitation goals

• Document outcomes per hospital and regulatory standards

• Participate in mentorship, quality improvement, and departmental initiatives

Qualifications

• Licensed Physical Therapist (or eligible for Tennessee licensure)

• Minimum 1 year of acute care experience preferred

• Strong interdisciplinary collaboration skills

Ready to Make a Difference?

Apply today for this Physical Therapist – Acute Care Inpatient role at Vanderbilt Health in Nashville, TN, and join a nationally recognized health system where your skills matter and your growth is supported.

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
• 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.
• Rehabilitation Therapist Patient Evaluation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in evaluating patients with physical deficits including impairments, developmental disabilities, functional li