Travel Skilled Nursing Facility Physical Therapist
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Buckeye, AZ, 85396
Job Type : Intern
Date Posted : 25 December 2025
Job Summary and Responsibilities
As our Physical Therapist, you will help patients rebuild or maintain their physical wellbeing so they can function at their best level, reduce pain, and improve their quality of life.
Every day you will perform initial evaluations, develop and update individualized plans of care, and provide a variety of direct treatments. You will be expected to consistently meet patient care productivity standards, collaborate with the interdisciplinary team and families, and promote a positive customer service environment.
To be successful in this role, you must possess strong age-appropriate competency skills, excellent communication abilities, and a collaborative, patient-centered approach to care.
- Meets or exceeds the productivity standard on an individual basis.
- Meets or exceeds the productivity standard at the department level.
- Completes documentation of treatment minutes and enters electronic charges accurately and timely.
- Participates in continuing education and develops advanced skills that enhance and align with department, clinical and business development.
- Participates on internal/external task force, committee or board appropriate to diagnostic program per manager approval.
- Completes general and specialty competencies appropriate to clinical area for patient care management (General, ICU, FIM, DBS, Lung Transplant, Behavior management, MBS, FEES, etc).
Required
- Graduate of an accredited Physical Therapy Program and Internship or rotation in appropriate clinical setting.
- Physical Therapist: AZ License.
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support.
Preferred
- Masters Other in appropriate clinical area.
- Doctorate Of Science in appropriate clinical area.
- 2 years progressive experience in clinical area, performing patient clinical care.
Hello humankindness
Located conveniently in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center is a 571-bed, not-for-profit hospital that provides a wide range of health, social and support services. Founded in 1895 by the Sisters of Mercy, St. Joseph's was the first hospital in the Phoenix area. More than 125 years later, St. Joseph's remains dedicated to its mission of caring for the poor and underserved.
We are extremely proud to be a nationally recognized center for quality quaternary care, medical education and research. St. Joseph's includes the internationally renowned Barrow Neurological Institute, Norton Thoracic Institute, Cancer Center at St. Joseph's, Ivy Brain Tumor Center, and St. Joseph's Level I Trauma Center (which is verified by the American College of Surgeons). The hospital is also a respected center for high-risk obstetrics, neuro-rehabilitation, orthopedics, and other medical services. St. Joseph’s is considered a sought-after destination hospital for treating the most complex cases from throughout the world. Every day, approximately 20 percent of the hospital’s patients have traveled from outside of Arizona and the United States to seek treatment at St. Joseph’s.
U.S News & World Report routinely ranks St. Joseph's among the top hospitals in the United States for neurology and neurosurgery. In addition, St. Joseph's boasts the Creighton University School of Medicine at St. Joseph's, and a strategic alliance with Phoenix Children's Hospital.
St. Joseph's is consistently named an outstanding place to work and one of Arizona's healthiest employers. Come grow your career with one of Arizona's Most Admired Companies
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For the health of our community ... we are proud to be a tobacco-free campus.
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Frequently asked questions
Travel physical therapists in skilled nursing settings must quickly assess each facility's protocols and patient demographics to tailor individualized care plans. In Buckeye, AZ, understanding local patient needs and collaborating with diverse care teams are crucial for effective rehabilitation and pain management.
Beyond the Arizona state physical therapy license, certifications like Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association are essential. Advanced credentials related to neuro-rehabilitation or geriatrics may enhance job prospects, especially in specialized care centers around Buckeye and Phoenix.
Flexibility in clinical evaluation, strong communication for interdisciplinary teamwork, and efficient documentation skills stand out. Mastery in managing diverse patient ages and conditions while quickly integrating into new environments is key for success in travel physical therapy.
Catholic Health Initiatives encourages continuing education and involvement in clinical committees, fostering skill advancement. Their commitment to humankindness and collaborative care environments helps travel therapists refine patient-centered approaches while gaining exposure to complex cases.
Working with Catholic Health Initiatives offers exposure to high-acuity patients and cutting-edge medical programs. However, therapists must adapt swiftly to varying patient needs and facility protocols, balancing productivity standards with a compassionate care ethos unique to this organization.
Travel physical therapists in Buckeye typically earn between $45 and $60 per hour, depending on experience and contract length. This range reflects the demand for skilled clinicians in skilled nursing facilities, factoring in travel benefits and regional cost of living.
The Buckeye and Phoenix regions have a strong demand for travel physical therapists due to a growing elderly population and specialized care centers. Competition exists but is balanced by multiple openings in skilled nursing and hospital outpatient settings seeking flexible, experienced therapists.
Daily tasks include performing patient evaluations, updating individualized care plans, delivering therapy treatments, documenting care accurately, and coordinating with nursing and family members. Managing productivity targets while maintaining quality care is a daily balancing act.
Catholic Health Initiatives emphasizes a mission-driven culture focused on serving underserved populations with compassion. Travel therapists here engage with high-complexity cases and benefit from a collaborative environment distinct from more commercially driven healthcare providers.
Therapists can enhance clinical expertise through specialty training, participate in leadership committees, and transition into permanent roles within the organization. Catholic Health Initiatives supports ongoing education, enabling travel PTs to expand their scope and impact in rehabilitative care.