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Organization:
VHVI Cardiac Rehab
Job Summary:
The Senior Exercise Physiologist is responsible for patient intake and exercise prescription formulation for patients and works as part of an integrated clinical team. The Senior Exercise Physiologist will monitor physiological data during exercise and make appropriate adjustments for the safety and therapeutic benefit of the patient. They will assist in the education of patients and communicate effectively with other disciplines involved in their care. The Senior Exercise Physiologist will demonstrate leadership and serve as a mentor for other members of the team.
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Senior Exercise Physiologist - ACSM Certified (Cardiac ICU)
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Schedule: Monday - Friday | 7:00 AM - 3:30 PM (No weekends or holidays)
Overview
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is seeking a Senior, ACSM-Certified Exercise Physiologist to join the Medical and Surgical Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within the nationally recognized Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute. This advanced clinical role supports high-acuity cardiac ICU patients through early mobility, individualized exercise prescription, and continuous physiologic monitoring. The Exercise Physiologist serves as an integral member of the interdisciplinary ICU team and helps advance recovery for some of the most critically ill cardiac patients.
Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute
Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute is home to some of the nation's top heart and vascular specialists. Our teams provide personalized, evidence-based care for patients with the most complex cardiovascular conditions, often referred from across the country.
Conditions treated include:
Aortic aneurysm, stenosis, and regurgitation
Arrhythmias
Cardiomyopathy and advanced heart failure
Congenital heart defects
Coronary artery disease
Endocarditis
Why Choose Heart and Vascular Care at Vanderbilt
Recognized Care - Consistently ranked among the nation's best hospitals for cardiovascular care by leading quality organizations
Depth of Experience - One of the busiest heart programs in the U.S., accepting the most complex cases
Unique Services - Specialized programs including atrial fibrillation, autonomic dysfunction, cardio-oncology, vascular medicine, and geriatric cardiology
Innovative Techniques - Pioneers in minimally invasive procedures and ICU-based ECMO mobility
Team-Based Care - Highly collaborative, multidisciplinary approach across cardiac specialties
Access to Transplant - One of the world's leading heart and multi-organ transplant programs
Why Vanderbilt Health
Day One Benefits - Medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefits begin immediately
Tennessee's #1 hospital and a nationally ranked academic medical center
One of the nation's largest and most experienced transplant programs
Culture of excellence, innovation, teaching, and professional development
Key Responsibilities
Perform comprehensive patient assessments and develop individualized exercise prescriptions for critically ill cardiac patients
Deliver early mobility and therapeutic exercise interventions, including bedside activity and cycling for ICU patients
Monitor heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and continuous EKG telemetry during exercise sessions
Recognize abnormal physiologic responses, contraindications, and clinical instability, adjusting interventions appropriately
Work directly with advanced cardiac support populations including post-operative cardiac surgery, heart failure, and ECMO patients
Collaborate daily with physicians, ICU nurses, physical therapists, and other allied health professionals
Educate patients and families on the benefits of exercise and recovery progression
Coordinate referrals to outpatient cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs
Document patient care accurately and in a timely using approved clinical templates
Participate in interdisciplinary rounds, quality improvement initiatives, and program development
Serve as a clinical leader and mentor for Exercise Physiologists and students
Qualifications
Required :
ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-CEP)
Minimum of 3 years clinical exercise physiology experience
Specialization and demonstrated experience in cardiac rehabilitation
Strong clinical judgment and comfort working in acute care or ICU environments
Preferred:
Direct experience in a cardiac ICU or CVICU setting
Experience with advanced cardiac support or transplant populations
BLS/CPR for Healthcare Providers
Ready to Make a Difference?
Join a nationally recognized cardiac care team where your expertise directly supports patients through critical illness and recovery. At Vanderbilt Health, you will practice at the top of your license while helping shape the future of ICU-based cardiac rehabilitation.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide exercise and basic health interventions to assist patients
Recognize contraindications and abnormal responses to exercise
Design and implement individualized exercise for each assigned patient
Respond appropriately to all situations including exercise cessation and referral to medical professionals
Educate patients on the importance of exercise and facilitate outpatient referrals for qualifying patients
Collaborate with physicians and other health professionals regarding patient care, education, and program development
Participate in meetings with health care providers for patient care and quality improvement initiatives
Mentor students and/or Exercise Physiologists
The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned
TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES
PATIENT DOCUMENTATION: (Intermediate) Demonstrates proficiency in documentation practices. Documents in the appropriate templates and utilizes only approved abbreviations within patient documentation. Meets institutional standards for quality and timeliness of documentation.
PATIENT EVALUATION: (Advanced) Demonstrates proficiency in assessing patients for ambulation and other modes of exercise by measuring vital signs, interpreting EKG rhythm, and/or recognizing cardiac arrhythmias. Responds to symptom changes and signs of problems in patients in an appropriate manner to secure the safety of patients.
TREATMENT IMPLEMENTATION: (Advanced) Demonstrates proficiency in conducting exercise prescriptions competently and according to industry standards. Demonstrates proficiency in the ability to utilize test data, patient status, and current medication regimen to develop exercise prescriptions for patients and update prescriptions according to patient response.
PATIENT EDUCATION: (Advanced) Demonstrates proficiency in educating individuals and groups about the usage of exercise equipment, proper exercise techniques, and techniques for transitioning a hospital-based exercise program to a safe and effective home exercise program
LEADERSHIP: (Intermediate) Demonstrates proficiency in orienting new employees and assisting with their integration into the team. Provides oversight to department activities in the absence of the manager while also serving as a mentor for other clinical staff to develop their skills in treatment planning.
Our professional administrative functions include critical supporting roles in information technology and informatics, finance, administration, legal and community affairs, human resources, communications and marketing, development, facilities, and many more.
At our growing health system, we support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.
Core Accountabilities:
Organizational Impact: Independently delivers on objectives with understanding of how they impact the results of own area/team and other related teams. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Utilizes multiple sources of data to analyze and resolve complex problems; may take a new perspective on existing solution. Breadth of Knowledge: Has advanced knowledge within a professional area and basic knowledge across related areas. Team Interaction: Acts as a "go-to" resource for colleagues with less experience; may lead small project teams.
Core Capabilities :
Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas. - Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships. - Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them. - Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly. - Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation: - Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches. - Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges. - Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.
Position Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications:
Certified Medical Exercise Specialist - American Council on Exercise
Work Experience:
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level:
3 years
Education:
Bachelor's
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.
