Occupational Therapist – Acute Care Inpatient

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

Occupational Therapist – Acute Care Inpatient

Location : Vanderbilt Health, Nashville, TN

Job Type : Full-Time | Hospital-Based Occupational Therapy

Join Vanderbilt Health – Where Your Career Thrives from Day One

Are you a licensed Occupational Therapist passionate about making a difference in an acute care inpatient setting? Vanderbilt Health is seeking a dedicated OT to join our collaborative team in Middle Tennessee’s largest Level 1 trauma center. This role offers exposure to diverse hospital units, including ICUs and the emergency department, providing unmatched clinical experience and professional growth.

Why Choose Vanderbilt Health?

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

Career Advancement Ladder : Structured growth from OT 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 for new grads and new hires

Collaborative Culture : Join committees shaping care and innovation

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

How You Will Make an Impact

As an Occupational Therapist in acute care, you will :

Deliver evidence-based OT evaluations and interventions across multiple inpatient units

Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to create individualized care plans

Educate patients and caregivers on adaptive strategies and functional independence

Document outcomes per hospital and regulatory standards

Participate in mentorship, quality improvement, and departmental initiatives

What We’re Looking For

Licensed Occupational Therapist (or eligible for Tennessee licensure)

Minimum 1 year of acute care experience and strong interdisciplinary collaboration skills

Ready to Advance Your OT Career?

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

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

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health’s reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

Core Accountabilities :

Organizational Impact : Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area / team with some guidance. Problem Solving / Complexity of work : Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement. Breadth of Knowledge : Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements. Team Interaction : Individually contributes to project / work teams.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues : - Develops Self and Others : Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.- Builds and Maintains Relationships : Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas. - Communicates Effectively : Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner. Delivering Excellent Services : - Serves Others with Compassion : Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service. - Solves Complex Problems : Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support : Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support. Ensuring High Quality : - Performs Excellent Work : Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.- Ensures Continuous Improvement : Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements : Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department. Managing Resources Effectively : - Demonstrates Accountability : Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work / service. - Stewards Organizational Resources : Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions : Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error. Fostering Innovation : - Generates New Ideas : Willingly proposes / accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.- Applies Technology : Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change : Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications :

Responsibilities :

Certifications :

LIC-Occupational Therapy License - Licensure-Others

Work Experience :

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level : Less than 1 year

Education : Doctorate (Required)

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE / Vets / Disabled.