Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Acute Care 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:

Physical Therapy

Job Summary:

JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for administering and directing appropriate Physical Therapy interventions as prescribed by a qualified physician and directed by a licensed Physical Therapist. Responsible for effective communication and accurate documentation. Displays professional behavior in accordance with APTA Code of Ethics and CHS philosophy of service.

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Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Acute Care PRN

Location: Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital | Tullahoma, TN

Looking for a flexible PRN opportunity in a collaborative hospital setting?

Join Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital as a PRN Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) and support patients receiving acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and hospital-based therapy services. As part of the Vanderbilt Health system, you'll work alongside experienced rehabilitation professionals helping patients regain mobility, independence, and confidence during critical stages of recovery.

This position offers flexible scheduling, meaningful patient care experiences, and the opportunity to build hospital-based rehabilitation skills in a supportive environment with manageable patient volumes and a strong focus on quality care.

Conveniently located in Southern Middle Tennessee, this opportunity may also be ideal for candidates living in Manchester, Shelbyville, Winchester, Murfreesboro, and surrounding communities.

Why You'll Love This Role

• Flexible PRN scheduling with shifts posted in advance

• Opportunity to develop acute care and inpatient rehabilitation skills

• Collaborative team environment with Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, nurses, physicians, and case managers

• Lower patient volumes that support quality, patient-centered care

• Exposure to a diverse range of diagnoses and treatment approaches

• Part of Vanderbilt Health, one of the region's most respected healthcare systems

Schedule

• 8-hour shifts from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

• Flexible PRN scheduling based on departmental needs

• Schedule typically posted approximately two weeks in advance

• PRN team members are expected to assist with weekday and weekend coverage as needed

About the Role

As a PRN Physical Therapist Assistant, you will provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist. You will work with adult patients recovering from acute illness, injury, surgery, neurological conditions, cardiac events, orthopedic procedures, and generalized deconditioning.

The goal of this role is to help patients improve functional mobility, increase independence, and safely progress toward discharge and recovery.

This position is ideal for experienced Physical Therapist Assistants seeking hospital-based opportunities, as well as clinicians interested in expanding their rehabilitation and acute care skills within a collaborative healthcare

environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide physical therapy interventions under the direction of a licensed Physical Therapist

• Assist patients with mobility training, gait training, transfers, therapeutic exercise, and functional activities

• Implement established plans of care for patients recovering from acute medical, surgical, and rehabilitative conditions

• Promote improved mobility, function, safety, and patient outcomes

• Collaborate with Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, nursing staff, physicians, and case management partners

• Document patient treatments, progress, and outcomes according to hospital and regulatory standards

• Support discharge planning and continuity of care efforts

• Deliver compassionate, patient-centered care throughout the recovery process

• Provide PRN coverage, including weekday and weekend shifts as needed

Rehabilitation Team

Join a highly collaborative rehabilitation team that includes Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, nurses, physicians, and case management professionals. Together, the team works to support safe patient recovery, improve functional outcomes, and facilitate successful transitions of care.

Qualifications

• Active Tennessee Physical Therapist Assistant license required

• Previous experience in acute care, hospital-based rehabilitation, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing, long-term acute care (LTAC), or related settings preferred

• New graduates with strong acute care clinical rotation experience are encouraged to apply

• Interest in hospital-based rehabilitation and patient-centered care

• Ability to work a flexible PRN schedule, including weekend coverage

• Strong communication, teamwork, and documentation skills

Why Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital

• Part of Vanderbilt Health, a nationally recognized healthcare system

• Supportive and collaborative rehabilitation environment

• Opportunity to gain experience treating a wide variety of medical and post-surgical conditions

• Access to Vanderbilt Health clinical resources and professional development opportunities

• Strong interdisciplinary relationships that support quality patient care

• Lower-volume setting that allows clinicians to focus on patient outcomes

• Convenient location with an easy commute and minimal traffic

Who Thrives in This Role

Successful candidates enjoy working in a collaborative hospital environment, adapt well to changing patient needs, value teamwork, and are committed to delivering exceptional patient care. This role is especially well suited for clinicians seeking flexible scheduling while gaining meaningful experience in acute care and inpatient rehabilitation.

Apply Today

Apply today to join Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital as a PRN Physical Therapist Assistant and help patients regain mobility, independence, and confidence during important stages of recovery. Become part of a dedicated rehabilitation team committed to delivering exceptional care to the communities we serve.

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.

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Core Accountabilities:

* Organizational Impact: Performs tasks that are typically routine that may impact team's performance with occasional guidance. * Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes some discretion and research to solve routine problems. * Breadth of Knowledge: Applies knowledge of standards, established processes and procedure that apply to your own job. * Team Interaction: Provides guidance to entry level co-workers.

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 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. - 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-Physical Therapy Assistant - Tennessee

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

Less than 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.