Occupational Therapist - Pt/Ot Pediatric Services (Nicu)

Duke University Hospital

Duke University Hospital is consistently rated as one of the best in the United States and is known around the world for its outstanding care and groundbreaking research. Duke University Hospital has 1,048 licensed inpatient beds and offers comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center; a major surgery suite containing 65 operating rooms; an endo-surgery center; a separate hospital outpatient surgical department with nine operating rooms and an extensive diagnostic and interventional radiology area. For 2021-2022, U.S. News and World Report ranked Duke University Hospital nationally in 11 adult specialties: cancer, cardiology & heart surgery, diabetes & endocrinology, ear, nose & throat, gastroenterology & GI surgery, gynecology, neurology & neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pulmonology & lung surgery, and urology. Duke University Hospital is also ranked first in North Carolina and first in the Raleigh-Durham area.

In addition to its hospitals, Duke Health has an extensive, geographically dispersed network of outpatient facilities that include primary care offices, urgent care centers, multi-specialty clinics and outpatient surgery centers.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Neonatal Occupational Therapist to join our team in a full-time capacity at our Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). As a neonatal occupational therapist, you will play a crucial role in providing specialized therapeutic interventions to promote optimal development and functional outcomes for premature infants and critically ill newborns. Your expertise in evaluating and treating infants with complex medical conditions will contribute to improving their quality of life and enhancing their ability to participate in daily activities.

Qualifications:

• Education: Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited institution. Specialized training or certifications in neonatal therapy is highly preferred.

• Licensure: Hold a valid license to practice occupational therapy in the state of North Carolina

• Clinical Experience: Have a minimum of two years of experience as an occupational therapist, preferably in a neonatal or pediatric setting. Experience working with high-risk infants in a Level IV NICU is strongly desired.

• Knowledge and Skills: Demonstrated knowledge of neonatal development, sensory integration, feeding and swallowing disorders, and therapeutic interventions for premature and medically complex infants. Strong assessment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills are essential.

• Communication and Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with infants, parents, and the healthcare team. Ability to collaborate and work cohesively with a diverse team of professionals.

• Empathy and Compassion: Display a high level of empathy, sensitivity, and compassion when working with infants and their families, recognizing the emotional challenges they may face.

• Organizational Skills: Strong organizational abilities to manage caseloads, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines while maintaining attention to detail.

• Professionalism: Uphold professional ethics, maintain confidentiality, and adhere to relevant regulations and guidelines.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluation and Assessment: Conduct comprehensive assessments of newborns in the NICU to identify developmental strengths and challenges, as well as sensory and motor impairments.

• Treatment Planning: Develop individualized treatment plans based on assessment findings, considering the unique needs and goals of each infant and their families.

• Therapeutic Interventions: Implement evidence-based therapeutic interventions to facilitate infants' development, enhance their sensory-motor skills, promote feeding and swallowing abilities, and address developmental delays or difficulties.

• Family Education and Support: Provide education and guidance to parents and caregivers regarding infant development, positioning, handling techniques, and strategies to support their infants' overall well-being and development.

• Collaborative Approach: Work closely with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including neonatologists, nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, and social workers, to ensure coordinated and holistic care for the infants.

• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain accurate and timely documentation of assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries, adhering to regulatory and organizational standards.

• Continuous Professional Development: Stay up-to-date with current research, best practices, and advancements in neonatal occupational therapy, and actively participate in professional development activities to enhance clinical skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Pediatrics and NICU experience is preferred.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree or certification in occupational therapy, with Master's or Clinical Doctorate in occupational therapy preferred.

Experience

None beyond required education

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

Current Occupational Therapist license in North Carolina

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.