Occupational Therapist I Acute/SNF - Full-time- Chula Vista
Listed compensation
$47.6-$68.81/hr
The week · per this posting · Tuesday – Saturday
Ask the employer about the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Hours: Shift Start Time:
8 AM
Shift End Time
4:30 PM
AWS Hours Requirement
8/40 - 8 Hour Shift
Additional Shift Information
Tuesday- Saturday
Weekend Requirements
As Needed
On-Call Required
No
Hourly Pay Range (Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum)
$47.600 - $61.430 - $68.810
The stated pay scale reflects the range as defined by the collective bargaining agreement between Sharp HealthCare and UNAC Professional. Placement within the range is based on years of experience in alignment with the CBA.
What You Will Do
Evaluates, plans, directs and administers occupational therapy modalities of treatment as prescribed by a licensed physician. Assists patients in reaching their maximum performance and level of functioning, while learning to live within the limits of their capabilities. Participates in operational aspects of the department, maintains performance improvement activities within the department, and participates in CQI activities.
Required Qualifications
- California Occupational Therapist license - CA Board of Occupational Therapy -REQUIRED
- AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professional (AHA BLS Healthcare) - American Heart Association -REQUIRED
Preferred Qualifications
Other: Graduate of an approved school of Occupational Therapy or graduate of accredited college or university with a certificate in Occupational Therapy.
Experience in all aspects of occupational therapy.
Other Qualification Requirements
CCS Paneling is required for Therapists functioning in a CCS-designated NICU. Paneling is required within 6 months of hire. CCS paneled staff will review and supervise services provided by non-paneled personnel as required by licensure and CCS guidelines in NICU.
Essential Functions
Department development
- Actively participates in departmental goals and the advancement of department initiatives.
- Collaborates with leadership in clinical and operational projects.
- Participates in departmental activities, such as CQI, staff meetings, and chart review.
- Participates in committees and system wide activities when requested as departmental representative.
Documentation
- Documentation is completed in a timely, complete, legible, concise and accurate manner.
- Documentation follows Sharp HealthCare guidelines, professional guidelines, and meets third-party payor and regulatory requirements.
- Maintains records pertinent to departmental operations.
- Completes all documentation elements as appropriate (Interdisciplinary Plan of Care, Education record, billing, discharge plan, and others).
Operational Efficiency
Communicates patient care and departmental issues.
Accepts changes and demonstrates flexibility when asked regarding work schedules and assignments.
Completes Additional Assignments in a Timely Manner
- Offers suggestions for resolving operational issues within the department.
- Provides unit specific information to students, floats, and travelers/registry personnel.
- Maintains departmental cleanliness and safety.
Sets priorities and adjusts to unscheduled situations. Takes initiative in using time effectively.
- Completes all regulatory requirements.
- Meets productivity standards established by department leadership.
- Participates in UR/QA chart review and activities.
Patient Care
Evaluates and treats patients within the scope of care in a manner that is cost-effective and appropriate to the patient's diagnosis, age and culture.
Assesses patient pain that interferes with optimal level of function or participation in treatment; and provides intervention.
Performs an appropriate assessment on all patients as related to the therapy requested and provides and reassesses as per policy.
Evaluates patient outcomes and effectiveness of patient care measures, reporting to management or physician any significant changes and/or abnormal findings.
Utilizes interdisciplinary team conference to communicate pertinent patient-related problems. When necessary, initiates discussion with other team members to provide more comprehensive care and/or to problem-solve.
Performs all aspects of patient care in an environment that optimizes patient safety and reduces the likelihood of medical/health care errors.
Formulates a teaching plan based upon identified learning needs and evaluates effectiveness of learning; family is included in teaching as appropriate.
- Demonstrates knowledge and safe use of modalities, equipment and therapeutic procedures.
- Coordinates and directs patient care to ensure patients' needs are met and hospital policy is followed.
- Completes development plan and performance is satisfactory.
- Participates in weekly team meetings and discharge meetings.
Completes development of discharge plans and goals that provide for the continuation of the patient's well-being while on service and upon completion of service.
Collaborates with Case Manager for referrals/transition of therapy needs with the local CCS Medical Therapy Program/Units for infants being discharged.
Participates in interdisciplinary rounds, staffing and/or patient conferences as required at the various levels of care. If functioning in NICU, therapist will participate in weekly interdisciplinary rounds.
For CCS Paneled Therapists only: The therapist makes recommendations for appropriate outpatient services. With a physician order the therapist may assist with the referral to outpatient therapy for those patients going to CCS Medical Therapy Units or other facilities for treatment.
Sharp HealthCare is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability or any other protected class
Key Responsibilities
The Occupational Therapist evaluates, plans, and administers therapy modalities to assist patients in reaching their maximum functional potential. They also participate in departmental operational activities, performance improvement initiatives, and interdisciplinary team meetings.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a valid California Occupational Therapist license and AHA Basic Life Support certification. Experience in all aspects of occupational therapy is preferred, and CCS paneling is required for those working in the NICU.
Qualifications
- Education
- Professional certificate or licensure
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Occupational Therapist Career Context
In California, the Occupational Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$118k (768 salary observations; 2,201 listings), vs ~$97k nationally (5,405 salary observations; 28,087 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-11-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$121k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $109k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 6.4 / 10 · top 25% in occupational therapy | ranked against 8,999 Occupational Therapy listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | $99k–$143k | Occupational Therapy median $120k (middle half $103k–$131k)955 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| California vs national | $118k median in California | $97k nationally (+22%)768 state / 5,405 national salary observations |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$109k in purchasing power | California index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Occupational Therapy listings in California | 884 active | 8,933 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 30% no call · 57% no weekends46 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | California Occupational Therapist listings: 14% state a sign-on bonus (median $5k) · 5% offer loan repayment936 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| New Occupational Therapy listings | 3,122 in the last 30 days | 1,573 the 30 days before (+98%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Occupational Therapy pay trend | +4.5% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Work-Life Balance Analysis
WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Occupational Therapist I Acute/SNF - Full-time- Chula Vista at Sharp HealthCare a 6.4 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the top 25% in Occupational Therapy — ranked against 8,999 active Occupational Therapy listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include no on-call duties.
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