Physical Therapist (PT) PRN - Pediatric Acute Care

Pediatric Acute Care Physical Therapist

Vanderbilt Health is seeking an experienced Pediatric Physical Therapist to join the acute care therapy team at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.

This PRN opportunity is ideal for therapists who enjoy practicing in a fast-paced children's hospital environment while caring for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with complex medical needs.

At Vanderbilt, Physical Therapists are valued members of the interdisciplinary care team and play an essential role in helping patients improve mobility, maximize function, achieve developmental milestones, and transition safely through hospitalization and discharge.

Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt is a 378-bed pediatric hospital located on the Vanderbilt Health campus in Nashville, Tennessee.

Highlights include:

• Level IV NICU (highest designation) with more than 100 beds
• Level I Pediatric Trauma Center
• 48-room Pediatric Emergency Department
• Three surgical locations
• 21 operating rooms
• Nationally recognized pediatric specialty programs
• One of the fastest-growing pediatric healthcare destinations in the Southeast

As Nashville and Middle Tennessee continue to grow, Monroe Carell is growing alongside the communities we serve.

A Culture of Warmth, Joy, and Teamwork

Exceptional patient care starts with exceptional teamwork.

Our rehabilitation team is known for its culture of collaboration, kindness, mentorship, and genuine support for one another. Physical Therapists are respected clinical partners whose expertise helps shape patient outcomes every day.

You'll collaborate closely with:

• Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers
• Nurses
• Occupational Therapists
• Speech-Language Pathologists
• Child Life Specialists
• Social Workers
• Care Managers
• Families and Caregivers

This is a team that celebrates successes together, supports one another through challenging cases, and remains focused on delivering outstanding care to children and families.

What You'll Do

As a Pediatric Acute Care Physical Therapist, you will:

• Evaluate and treat hospitalized pediatric patients across medical, surgical, neurological, orthopedic, cardiac, oncology, trauma, and critical care populations
• Assess mobility, strength, balance, endurance, gross motor skills, developmental status, positioning, equipment needs, and functional abilities
• Develop individualized treatment plans that support mobility, function, developmental progression, and safe discharge
• Provide therapeutic interventions focused on mobility, gait training, developmental activities, positioning, caregiver education, and equipment recommendations
• Collaborate within an interdisciplinary care team
• Participate in care planning, rounds, and discharge recommendations
• Document evaluations and treatment within Epic

Schedule & Orientation

• PRN Position
• Weekday coverage with occasional weekend opportunities
• Flexible 8- or 10-hour shifts
• Orientation start dates are always on a Monday
• Requires two weeks of full-time daytime orientation to support successful onboarding and integration into the team

Qualifications

Required

• Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy program
• Current Tennessee Physical Therapist license or eligibility
• Current BLS certification
• Pediatric acute care, pediatric rehabilitation, pediatric hospital, or closely related experience
• Ability to independently manage a medically complex patient population

Preferred

• Children's hospital experience
• Pediatric acute care experience
• Experience treating medically complex pediatric patients
• Experience with developmental assessment, mobility training, positioning, equipment recommendations, caregiver education, and discharge planning
• Experience working within interdisciplinary pediatric healthcare teams

Important Consideration

Because of the complexity of the patient population and the specialized nature of pediatric acute care practice, this PRN role is best suited for experienced Physical Therapists.

Physical Therapists who are newer to practice are encouraged to monitor Vanderbilt Health career opportunities for future full-time Pediatric Physical Therapist openings as our Pediatric Rehabilitation programs continue to grow.

Make a Difference at Vanderbilt

If you're passionate about pediatric acute care, interdisciplinary collaboration, family-centered care, and helping children achieve their highest level of mobility and function during hospitalization, we'd love to connect with you.

Join a team known for clinical excellence, compassion, teamwork, and putting children and families at the center of everything we do.