Risevoic
Physical Therapist Southwest Tower
Company : Catholic Health Initiatives
Location : Bakersfield, CA, 93301
Job Type : Full Time
Salary : 45.26-67.32 HOUR
Date Posted : 5 January 2026
Job Summary and Responsibilities
Completes the duties of a California licensed Physical Therapist in compliance to California licensing standards and within the scope of clinical skills required for the patient population being treated and as determined by patient age and diagnosis. Performs the clinical duties of patient evaluation, care planning, treatment intervention, patient/family education, and discharge planning within physical therapist clinical practice standards. Reports directly to the department Coordinator.
Job Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
- Entry level accepted.Individuals working in the NICU, one year pediatric experience is required
- CA Licensed Physical Therapist
- CT CPRBLS = Basic Life Support CPR
- Individuals working in NICU with Pediatric patients will be required to work under the supervision of a CCS Paneled Therapist.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret hospital/agency policies and procedures, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports and procedures and document in the medical record. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from co-workers, managers, patients, physicians, family members and the general public. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as weights, dosages, flow rates, proportions, percentages and volume. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Must have ability to critically think and problem solve. Must have the ability to read, write and speak English..
Preferred Experience:
- 1 year of hospital based, acute care practice
- Completed post graduate education, or posesses certification or CEU's in Acute care, geriatrics, wound care, orthopaedics, pediatrics, NICU & neurology or any other clinically relevant coursework/seminars.
- Advanced experience with computer software programs and clinical documentation in Hospital based practice. Multi-lingual, Spanish, Tagalog.
- CCS Paneling for the 0-21 population
Please be advised that this location requires quarterly American Heart Association (AHA) Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI) competency certification post-hire. This ongoing competency is required through resources internal to the facility; outside RQI competency resources are not acceptable for CommonSpirit Health compliance requirements.
Where You'll WorkFounded by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Hospitals have a history of caring for our community that goes back more than 100 years. We provide a broad range of medical and surgical services including minimally invasive and outpatient options. Our family of services includes the area's only inpatient oncology unit, the Orthopedic, Spine, and Hand Center, Family Birth Center, the Lactation Support Center and retail store, and many others. Mercy Hospital Downtown is a 194-bed facility located in downtown Bakersfield. Mercy Hospital Southwest is a 78-bed facility and the only hospital located in the rapidly growing area west of Highway 99. Mercy Hospital is a member of Dignity Health and is a trusted community partner, serving residents of Bakersfield and Kern County with quality, compassionate care since 1910. Learn more here at https://www.dignityhealth.org/central-california/locations/mercy-bakersfield.
#bakersfieldRN
One Community. One Mission. One California
Related Jobs
Norwalk, CA
Top trending job titles hiring now
Popular Searches for Physical Therapist
Frequently asked questions
Bakersfield has a growing need for skilled physical therapists within hospital environments due to an expanding population and healthcare infrastructure. Facilities like Mercy Southwest Tower prioritize candidates with acute care experience, making this a moderately competitive market for PT roles focused on inpatient rehabilitation.
In addition to holding a California physical therapy license, Bakersfield hospitals prefer therapists with certifications in acute care or pediatric specialties. Certification in CPR-BLS and ongoing AHA resuscitation quality improvement are often mandatory to comply with facility standards in places like Mercy Southwest Tower.
The Southwest Tower PT role involves comprehensive patient evaluation and intervention within an acute hospital setting, including discharge planning and working with diverse patient populations such as NICU or pediatrics. Unlike outpatient clinics, this position demands adherence to hospital protocols and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Yes, proficiency in hospital-based clinical documentation software is highly valued. Physical Therapists at Mercy Southwest Tower engage in detailed record-keeping and data analysis to monitor patient progress, which necessitates a solid understanding of healthcare IT systems alongside clinical expertise.
Catholic Health Initiatives offers a community-focused work culture with long-standing regional roots, promoting compassionate care. Therapists may face challenges like maintaining quarterly AHA RQI certifications, but benefit from a collaborative environment supporting diverse clinical specializations and career growth.
The organization encourages ongoing education through certifications and CEUs in areas like wound care or neurology. Therapists have access to internal training programs and a culture that values advanced clinical skills, fostering career advancement within the hospital’s multidisciplinary teams.
Physical Therapists in Bakersfield hospitals typically earn between $75,000 and $95,000 annually, depending on experience and certifications. Given the acute care focus at Mercy Southwest Tower, those with specialized skills or pediatric NICU experience may command salaries toward the higher end.
A frequent misunderstanding is that this role is similar to outpatient PT jobs; however, it requires acute care expertise, critical thinking under hospital protocols, and handling complex cases including NICU patients. It’s less routine and demands rigorous clinical and regulatory compliance.
Located in a rapidly growing area west of Highway 99, Mercy Southwest offers a quieter commute compared to downtown Bakersfield, which can improve work-life balance. However, therapists should be prepared for the demands of a hospital setting with potential shift variability and required ongoing certifications.
Roles at Mercy Southwest Tower emphasize acute care, pediatrics, and hospital-based patient management, differing from outpatient or private clinic PT jobs that often focus on elective rehabilitation. This hospital role demands more rigorous licensure compliance and clinical documentation.