Occupational Therapist

RWJBarnabas Health; Somerville (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health is seeking an Inpatient Occupational Therapist to evaluate and treat patients in our rehabilitation program. You will develop individualized plans of care, collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, and guide patients toward greater independence and safe discharge.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy with NJ licensure and NBCOT certification; 1–2 years inpatient experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy required; Master's or Doctorate preferred.
• Licensure: NJ OT license required; NBCOT certification required.
• Experience: 1–2 years inpatient or hospital-based OT preferred.
• Certification: BLS certification required.
• Skills: Evaluation, treatment, discharge planning, documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based practice.
• Communication: Clear communication with patients, families, and healthcare team.
• Safety: Adherence to SAFETY standards and clinical safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive inpatient OT evaluations (strength, ROM, ADLs, mobility, balance, coordination).
• Develop and update individualized plans of care based on evaluations and goals.
• Provide evidence-based interventions to improve independence and safety.
• Communicate care plan, goals, and discharge needs to patients and caregivers.
• Educate patients and caregivers; plan for safe discharge and follow-up.

Skills

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Documentation

Evidence-based practice

Inpatient care

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy

Master's or Doctorate preferred

Job description

The above reflects the anticipated hourly wage range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Occupational Therapist - RWJBarnabas Health

At RWJBarnabas Health, Occupational Therapists play a vital role in helping patients improve functional independence, mobility, and participation in meaningful daily activities. As a member of our inpatient rehabilitation team, you will evaluate patients' strength, range of motion, activities of daily living, mobility, and functional abilities while developing individualized treatment plans and therapeutic interventions. You will collaborate closely with patients, families, caregivers, nursing personnel, physicians, and interdisciplinary team members to promote safe and effective care, provide education, and support successful discharge planning. Joining RWJBarnabas Health means becoming part of an organization committed to clinical excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, patient-centered care, and professional growth while making a meaningful difference in the lives of our patients and their families.

A typical day for an Inpatient Occupational Therapist may include:

• Conducting comprehensive occupational therapy evaluations of inpatient patients, including assessment of strength, range of motion, activities of daily living, functional mobility, balance, coordination, and overall occupational performance.
• Developing, implementing, and updating individualized occupational therapy plans of care based on evaluation findings, patient goals, medical status, and established standards of care.
• Providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions designed to improve functional independence, safety, mobility, self-care, and participation in daily activities.
• Treating inpatients in accordance with established clinical standards, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies.
• Clearly communicating the plan of care, treatment goals, progress, recommendations, and discharge needs to patients and caregivers.
• Providing patient and caregiver education and training throughout the course of treatment, including recommendations and strategies to support a safe and successful discharge.
• Identifying patients' cultural, educational, communication, and learning needs and adapting education and interventions accordingly.
• Collaborating with physicians, nurses, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, rehabilitation staff, case managers, and other interdisciplinary team members to promote coordinated patient care.
• Making appropriate referrals and recommendations for services outside of the occupational therapy discipline when additional support or specialized services are indicated.
• Participating in interdisciplinary patient and caregiver teaching, care planning, discharge planning, and discussions regarding patient progress and functional outcomes.
• Collaborating with the supervisor to appropriately schedule and manage the inpatient caseload.
• Completing timely and accurate evaluations, treatment notes, progress documentation, discharge recommendations, billing records, and other required clinical documentation in accordance with regulatory and organizational requirements.
• Demonstrating compliance with inpatient billing processes and applicable documentation standards.
• Participating in continuing education, mandatory training, staff meetings, professional development, and activities necessary to maintain clinical competency.
• Supervising students, support personnel, or other staff members as assigned and within applicable scope of practice.
• Participating in department initiatives, quality improvement activities, and other responsibilities that support clinical excellence and patient safety.

This role might be for you if:

• You are passionate about helping patients achieve greater independence and participation in meaningful daily activities.
• You enjoy providing individualized, evidence-based occupational therapy interventions in an inpatient setting.
• You value building strong relationships with patients, families, and caregivers through education, communication, and compassionate care.
• You thrive working collaboratively with physicians, nurses, therapists, and other interdisciplinary professionals.
• You are confident evaluating functional abilities and developing treatment plans based on each patient's individual needs and goals.
• You communicate effectively with patients, caregivers, medical staff, and interdisciplinary team members.
• You are organized, detail-oriented, and able to effectively manage an inpatient caseload while meeting documentation and productivity expectations.
• You value patient safety, clinical excellence, evidence-based practice, and continuous professional development.
• You are committed to providing compassionate, respectful, culturally responsive, and patient-centered occupational therapy services.
• You enjoy contributing to a collaborative environment where teamwork and professional growth are valued.

To be considered for this opportunity, you must meet the following criteria:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited Occupational Therapy program required. Master's degree or Doctorate in Occupational Therapy preferred.
• Licensure: Current and unrestricted New Jersey Occupational Therapist license required. Certification by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) required.
• Experience: One to two (1-2) years of clinical occupational therapy experience preferred. Inpatient or hospital-based occupational therapy experience is preferred.
• Certification: Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification through American Heart Association required.
• Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of occupational therapy evaluation and treatment, functional mobility, activities of daily living, therapeutic intervention, patient and caregiver education, discharge planning, clinical documentation, billing requirements, interdisciplinary collaboration, and evidence-based practice.
• Communication: Ability to clearly communicate treatment plans, goals, recommendations, progress, and discharge needs to patients, caregivers, and members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team.
• Safety: Ability to identify and respond appropriately to patient safety concerns and follow established S.A.F.E.T.Y. standards and clinical safety procedures.

RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer