Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) - Pediatric Acute Care

Discover Vanderbilt Health : With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region. Organization: Hearing And Speech Job Summary: JOB SUMMARY Evaluates and treats patients with speech, language, voice, cognition, fluency, auditory (re)habilitation, and swallowing/oral feeding disorders. Educates and counsels patients and families. Provides independent therapeutic services and identify area(s) of clinical specialization and competency. Supervises graduate students as assigned in clinical specialty area. Participates actively in identifying and conducting quality improvement activities. Collaborates with clinical practice team to achieve patient outcomes and system objectives. . Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) - Pediatric Acute Care Location : Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt | Nashville, TN Department : Pediatric Rehabilitation Services Schedule : Full-Time | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. | Weekend Rotation: 3-4 Half Days per Quarter Are you passionate about helping children safely feed, swallow, communicate, and thrive? Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt is seeking an experienced Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) to join our Pediatric Rehabilitation Services team. In this acute care role, you'll provide specialized evaluation and treatment for infants, children, and adolescents with feeding disorders, swallowing impairments, communication challenges, and complex medical conditions. Working across the NICU, PICU, inpatient units, and specialty services, you'll collaborate with a highly skilled interdisciplinary team to support exceptional outcomes for children and families. This position is ideal for an SLP who enjoys pediatric acute care, feeding and swallowing disorders, dysphagia management, Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS), and caring for medically complex patients in a nationally recognized children's hospital. What You'll Do Evaluate and treat pediatric feeding, swallowing, dysphagia, speech, language, and communication disorders in an acute care setting. Provide care for medically complex infants, children, and adolescents, including patients with tracheostomies, neurological conditions, traumatic brain injuries, and developmental disabilities. Perform Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies (VFSS) to support safe feeding and swallowing recommendations. Develop individualized treatment plans focused on functional outcomes and family-centered care. Collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, dietitians, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals. Educate families and caregivers regarding feeding strategies, swallowing safety, communication development, and discharge recommendations. Document evaluations, treatment plans, and patient progress in the electronic medical record. Support continuity of care through discharge planning and interdisciplinary coordination. Why Vanderbilt Health? Practice at one of the nation's leading pediatric hospitals. Treat a diverse and medically complex pediatric population across the continuum of acute care. Gain advanced experience in pediatric feeding and swallowing, dysphagia management, VFSS, NICU, and PICU services. Work alongside nationally recognized experts in pediatric rehabilitation and acute care. Access continuing education, mentorship, and professional development opportunities. Join an academic medical center committed to innovation, research, and exceptional patient care. Required Qualifications Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) Tennessee Speech-Language Pathology license or eligibility for licensure Minimum one year of pediatric acute care hospital experience (outside of graduate school opportunities) Pediatric feeding and swallowing evaluation and treatment experience Preferred Qualifications NICU experience PICU experience VFSS experience Pediatric dysphagia management experience Level I Trauma Center experience Make a Difference Every Day At Vanderbilt Health, Speech-Language Pathologists play a critical role in helping children safely eat, communicate, recover, and reach their fullest potential. If you're passionate about pediatric acute care, feeding and swallowing disorders, dysphagia management, and interdisciplinary collaboration, we'd love to hear from you. Join our team and help shape the future of pediatric care for children and families across the region.  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. • Supervises graduate students by providing instruction, guidance/counsel and training to ensure provision of competent patient care and completion of appropriate documentation. • The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned. TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES • Speech Pathology Treatment Implementation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency providing treatment consistent with physician prescription and established plan of care. Identifies treatment objectives based upon assessment results and family input. Writes functional objectives in measurable terms that are consistent with the family's goals and resources. Applies evidence based clinical management practices. Identifies and recommends additional/alternative services when appropriate. • Speech Pathology Patient Evaluation (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in evaluating patients with speech-language, auditory, and/or swallowing/oral feeding deficits using the appropriate testing methods and equipment for the patient type, diagnosis, and reason for the referral. Demonstrates the ability to obtain the case history and selects appropriate measures and performs a functional assessment to document patient's status requiring skilled therapy. Interprets the results of the assessment and their significance for the patient, family, referring physician and other members of the health care team. • Discharge Planning (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in the discharge planning process. Informs patients, family and members of team of the patient's needs based upon the assessment and/or treatment. Makes recommendations for continued services, follow-up, or referrals to other services. Seeks guidance consistently on the transition and discharge process including transition services and referral resources. May anticipate transition and discharge needs of the patient based upon understanding of pathology/diagnosis and relationship to their present functional status. Will have completed at least one year of experience with transition and discharge planning. • Speech Pathology Patient & Family Education (Novice): Demonstrates proficiency in communicating functional impact of assessment finding