Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) - Inpatient | Day Shift

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 (COTA) - Inpatient | Day Shift

Vanderbilt Health: Nashville, TN

Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday, with the equivalent of one weekend day per month

About the Role
Vanderbilt Health is seeking a Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) to join our Inpatient Acute Care Rehabilitation Team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

This hospital-based role offers an exceptional opportunity for Occupational Therapy Assistants seeking extensive clinical exposure and hands-on experience within a nationally recognized academic medical center. OTAs in this role provide evidence-based occupational therapy services to adult patients with a wide range of medical and surgical diagnoses, supporting functional recovery, independence with activities of daily living, and safe discharge planning.

New team members participate in a comprehensive, structured orientation program lasting approximately 12 weeks. This extensive onboarding experience is designed to support confidence, skill development, and gradual independence while allowing exposure to multiple service lines across Vanderbilt University Hospital. OTAs work alongside experienced Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapy Assistants in this role provide care across all inpatient units, including high-acuity and specialty populations. Patient care areas include the Neuro ICU, Medical ICU, Cardiovascular ICU, Burn ICU, Surgical ICU, Trauma ICU, Women's Health and Obstetrics units, and the Emergency Department.

This position is ideal for an Occupational Therapy Assistant with acute care or inpatient experience who is motivated to deepen clinical skills, broaden hospital-based experience, and contribute meaningfully to patient recovery during critical phases of care.

How You'll Make a Difference

As an Occupational Therapy Assistant on the inpatient acute care team at Vanderbilt Health, you will work under the supervision of licensed Occupational Therapists and alongside an interdisciplinary healthcare team to:

* Deliver occupational therapy interventions in an inpatient acute care setting

hospital setting
* Support patients with activities of daily living, 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 on safety, recovery, and carryover strategies
* Document patient progress, outcomes, and recommendations in the medical record
* Collaborate with physicians, nurses, case managers, and rehabilitation team members

What We're Looking For

* Licensed Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) with active Tennessee licensure
* Acute care or inpatient experience required
* Strong communication, time management, and documentation skills
* Commitment to patient education, safety, and quality care
* Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary hospital environment

Clinical and Technical Skills

* Patient and family education tailored to individual learning needs
* Delivery and modification of evidence-based occupational therapy interventions
* Accurate and timely clinical documentation with interdisciplinary collaboration

Why Vanderbilt Health

* Practice at a nationally recognized academic medical center
* Day One benefits including medical, dental, vision, and retirement programs
* Supportive and collaborative inpatient rehabilitation team culture
* Access to professional development and continuing education
* Meaningful work at critical stages of patient recovery

Ready to Apply

Apply today to join Vanderbilt Health and help deliver exceptional inpatient and acute care occupational therapy services at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

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

• Rehabilitation Patient Education (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process. Able to assist the therapist in planning for the discharge needs of the patient. Will adapt communication to needs/levels of understanding of audience and share appropriate information and literature. Participates in providing educational experiences and professional development activities. May supervise, educate and train students from professional programs of physical therapist assistant / occupational therapy assistant that have a contractual agreement with VUMC. May plan and present educational programs to assist team/ department with identified need.

• Treatment Implementation (Novice): 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 supervise and direct certified athletic trainers (PT only), physical therapist / occupational therapist assistants, technicians and volunteers and students. Selects and follows correct protocol for care and utilize evidence based treatments. Has completed at least one year of clinical experience in treatment implementation.

• Rehab PTA/COTA Patient Documentation (Novice): Demonstrates sufficient proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment findings, treatment interventions, treatment planning diagnosis, and disease process. Considers the communication needs/level of understanding of audience and may share appropriate information/literature.

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: Performs clearly defines tasks and methods described in detail to achieve standardized solutions that impact own performance with regular guidance. * Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Follows a well established process to solve routine problems where solutions are clearly prescribed. * Breadth of Knowledge: Has basic job knowledge of systems and procedures that are common to own job. * Team Interaction: Individually contributes to the team.

Core Capabilities :

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 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 Assistant - Licensure-Others

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

1 year

Education:

Associate's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

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.