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Registry Physical Therapist, Acute Care Physical Therapy Casual Days

Northwestern Medicine · Chicago, IL · Full time · Health Care Provider

Posted Sep 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Casual days in Chicago. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: The posting states the status, the shift and the site.

What would you do

A patient's vital signs change during a session. What do you do?

What they are checking: Acute care patients are unstable and the therapist is often alone with them.

This is registry. How do you pick up a caseload you have not seen before?

What they are checking: The posting is a registry role and inheriting patients mid-course is the shape of the job.

How do you keep direct care at the level expected while the day keeps interrupting you?

What they are checking: The posting names an established sixty-five percent of hours in direct patient care.

How do you work with nursing and social work on a shared patient?

What they are checking: The posting names maintaining open communication with internal contacts such as nursing and social work.

About the work

Tell me about acute care physical therapy.

What they are checking: The posting is acute care physical therapy at Northwestern Memorial.

How do you decide what a patient can safely do on the first day after surgery or a serious illness?

What they are checking: The posting names ongoing assessment leading to appropriate therapeutic interventions.

How do you work around lines, drains and monitors while mobilizing someone?

What they are checking: The practical reality of acute care therapy and it is where injuries happen.

How do you contribute to a discharge decision?

What they are checking: The posting names participating in discharge and home care planning for continuity of care.

How do you write documentation another therapist can continue from?

What they are checking: The posting names timely and accurate documentation, and registry work depends on it.

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The full job description

As published by Northwestern Medicine.

The Registry Physical Therapist reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Memorial, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards. Responsibilities: • Administers physical therapy evaluations and develops collaborative treatment plans with patients. • Restores function and prevents further disability through ongoing assessment leading to appropriate therapeutic interventions. • Provides direct patient care for an established 65% of hours worked. • Performs appropriate physical therapy evaluations and re-evaluations on a regular basis. • Designs and implements appropriate treatment plans. • Participates in patient discharge and home care planning to facilitate the continuity of patient care. • Completes all related medical documentation in a timely and accurate manner and in accordance with established policies and standards. • Demonstrates competency through the annual completion of the written and/or demonstration-style competency examinations. • Promotes philosophy and objectives of NMH. • Promotes and maintains professional working relationship with peers. • Maintains/promotes open communication with internal contacts, such as nursing and social work. • Adheres to the Hospital and departmental policies and procedures. • Adheres to the Code of Ethics, Customer Service Standards and the Patients First mission as demonstrated through positive patient/guest relations, positive and effective interactions with staff, formulating and meeting developmental goals. • Works a minimum of two days per month. • Demonstrates responsibility for assessing, treating, caring for adults (18-64 years), and geriatrics (65+) from a developmental perspective. • Physical/Visual/Mental Qualifications of the Position: • The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform essential functions. • While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to: • Visually observe, interpret and document patient's verbal and behavioral responses during assessment and treatment activities. • Communicate clearly and effectively with physicians, patients, families, guests and other members of the health care team. • Respond to emergency signals and indicators. • Push/pull patients in wheelchairs (100-300 lbs.) for short distances. • Push/pull supplies and equipment weighing up to 50 lbs. • Lift patients up to 80 lbs. or with assistance up to 200 lbs. • Provide physical assistance to patients during mobility training. • Display concentration and attention span for brief and extended periods of time (up to 90 minutes) to perform tasks including patient evaluations, patient treatments, participation discharge panels, participation in continuing education activities. • Commute between office space and patient treatment locations. • The work involves potential risks which require use of safety precautions, use of safe practices with patients, clinical and office equipment (including universal precautions), avoidance of trips and falls, use of body mechanics, and observation of fire and safety regulations. It is the responsibility of the employee to be familiar and compliant with these procedures. • Supervises students within department clinical education guidelines. • Delegates appropriate responsibilities to Certified Physical Therapy Assistants. • Assists in monitoring of quality management indicators. AA/EOE #LI-AD1 Required: • Physical Therapy License, Illinois. • Department of Professional Regulations. • Basic Life Support - American Heart Association. • Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy if graduate prior to 2002. Master's degree in Physical Therapy or Doctorate of Physical Therapy on or after 2002. Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status. Background Check Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act. Artificial Intelligence Disclosure Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. Benefits We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more. Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.

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