Occupational Therapy Assistant – Acute Care Hospital (PRN)

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:

Provides services to patients who have impairments, developmental disabilities, functional limitations, disabilities, or changes in physical function and health status resulting from injury, disease or other causes under the direction of an Occupational Therapist. Actively collaborates with the health care/educational team to meet patient care, outcomes and system improvement objectives.

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Occupational Therapy Assistant – Acute Care Hospital (PRN)
Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, TN

Job Type: PRN (As Needed)
Schedule: Variable shifts based on department needs, including weekdays and occasional weekends

About the Role
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is seeking a Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant to join our Acute Care Hospital Rehabilitation Team on a PRN basis. In this role, you will provide evidence-based occupational therapy services to patients across a wide range of diagnoses, supporting functional recovery, independence, and safe discharge planning.

This PRN position is ideal for an Occupational Therapy Assistant with acute care experience who values flexibility while contributing to high-quality, patient-centered care in a fast-paced hospital environment.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant in Acute Care, you’ll work under the direction of licensed Occupational Therapists and alongside an interdisciplinary healthcare team to:
• Deliver occupational therapy interventions in an acute care hospital setting
• Support patients with ADLs, mobility, and functional performance
• Promote safe transitions to home, community, or post-acute care settings
• Contribute to high-quality, patient-centered outcomes

Key Responsibilities

• Implement individualized occupational therapy treatment plans
• Provide therapeutic interventions to support functional independence
• Educate patients and families to promote safety, recovery, and independence
• Document patient progress, outcomes, and recommendations in the medical record
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, and rehabilitation team members on discharge planning

What We’re Looking For

• Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (Tennessee licensure required)
• Acute care experience required
• Strong communication, time management, and clinical documentation skills
• Ability to adapt to variable scheduling and patient needs
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary hospital environment

Clinical & Technical Skills

• Patient and Family Education: Adapt communication to patient needs and learning styles
• Treatment Implementation: Deliver and adjust evidence-based occupational therapy interventions
• Clinical Documentation: Accurately record treatment sessions and collaborate with the care team

Why Vanderbilt University Medical Center?

• Practice at a nationally recognized academic medical center
• Supportive, interdisciplinary rehabilitation team culture
• Opportunities to work with diverse diagnoses in an acute care setting
• Meaningful work making a difference during critical stages of patient recovery

Ready to Apply?

Apply today to join Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a PRN Occupational Therapy Assistant in Acute Care.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Applies appropriate, evidence-based interventions to ensure effective outcomes based on the treatment plan of the primary clinician.
• Provides education and 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 PTA/COTA Patient Documentation (Novice): Demo