Director of Nursing

Overview: The Director of Nursing (DON) is responsible for strategic leadership, clinical oversight, and operational management of nursing services across detoxification, residential treatment, and outpatient behavioral health programs for individuals with substance use disorders and mental health conditions.

The DON ensures that all nursing services are delivered in accordance with Joint Commission (TJC) standards, state licensing regulations, organizational policies, and evidence-based clinical practices. The DON oversees nursing staff performance, patient safety, medication management, detox protocols, clinical documentation, and quality improvement initiatives to ensure high-quality, patient-centered care.

The Director of Nursing collaborates with the Medical Director, Clinical Director, and executive leadership to ensure effective integration of medical, psychiatric, and therapeutic services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Follow all facility policies and procedures and conduct selves in a way conducive with Elevare Behavioral Health’s employee handbook.
• Maintains a high level of customer service demonstrating versatility and flexibility with quick changes of priorities.
• Assists in AMA blocking of patients – encouraging patients to continue to engage in treatment.
• Provide clinical leadership and oversight for all nursing services across detox, residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient programs.
• Ensure implementation of evidence-based nursing practices for substance use and mental health disorders.
• Collaborate with the Medical Director regarding detoxification protocols, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and psychiatric medication management.
• Ensure nursing staff conduct comprehensive nursing assessments upon admission.
• Oversee medical monitoring for detox patients, including withdrawal management protocols (CIWA, COWS).
• Participate in treatment team meetings and provide clinical nursing input into treatment planning.
• Manage nursing staffing models, schedules and budget for all levels of care.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate nursing staff performance.
• Responsible for ensuring adequate 24/7 nursing coverage for residential and detox programs.
• Maintain nursing competencies and professional standards.
• Conduct regular monthly nursing staff meetings and clinical supervision sessions.
• Oversee medication administration practices, conducting random audits, and providing education regarding medication errors.
• Ensure proper medication storage, handling, inventory control, and documentation.
• Monitor compliance with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) protocols.
• Conduct routine medication room inspections, medication audits and reconciliation reviews.
• Ensure compliance with controlled substance regulations.
• Ensure compliance with:
  • Joint Commission Behavioral Health Standards
  • State licensing regulations
  • DEA and pharmacy regulations
  • Infection control standards
• Participate in quality improvement (QI) initiatives.
• Monitor and report clinical quality indicators and patient safety events.
• Oversee nursing participation in incident reporting and risk management processes.
• Develop and maintain nursing policies and procedures ensuring compliance with regulatory and evidenced base practice.
• Participate in accreditation surveys and regulatory inspections.
• Lead nursing recruitment, onboarding, and competency development.
• Ensure completion of required clinical competencies and annual training.
• Provide clinical education on detox protocols, psychiatric medications, and crisis management.
• Provide training to nursing staff regarding assessing and screening a patient’s risk for suicide, provide oversight to suicide risk assessment to ensure proper protocols are implemented per policy.
• Maintain infection control plan and ensure compliance with infection prevention protocols.
• Monitor patient safety practices and emergency response procedures.
• Oversee medical emergency preparedness and response training.
• Ensure nursing documentation meets clinical, legal, and regulatory standards.
• Monitor compliance with EHR documentation requirements.
• Conduct chart audits to ensure documentation quality and timeliness.
• Ability to perform all functions within the RN and LVN/LPN job description if needed.
• This position is on-call and will be required to provide administrative and clinical oversight to the facility on a rolling on-call schedule.
• This job description outlines the primary duties and responsibilities of the DON role. Additional duties may be assigned based on program needs and operational requirements.

The Director of Nursing is responsible for maintaining compliance with all applicable regulatory and accreditation requirements including facility policies and procedures, patient confidentiality under HIPAA, and substance use treatment confidentiality protections under 42 CFR Part 2. The Director of Nursing must maintain professional boundaries and uphold patient rights at all times.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing required
• BSN preferred
• MSN strongly preferred

Experience/Knowledge:

• Minimum 5 years of experience working in one of the following: Behavioral Health, Substance Use disorder treatment, detox/withdrawal management, or Psychiatric Nursing
• Minimum of 2 years of leadership or supervisory experience
• Experience in multi-level behavioral health systems preferred.

License/Certifications:

• Current unencumbered Registered Nurse License in the state of employment.
• Current CPR/BLS certification or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire
• ACLS preferred.
• Addiction or Psychiatric Nurse credentials - preferred
• Crisis prevention or de-escalation training (CPI or equivalent) as required by facility policy.

Competencies:

• Staff Supervision and Development
• Nursing Department regulatory compliance
• Medical and Psychiatric Risk assessment compliance
• Medical Quality Improvement Plan Success

Physical Demands:

• Ability to stand, walk, and move throughout the facility for extended periods

• Ability to assist patients in emergency situations

• Ability to lift or assist patients when necessary (up to 25 lbs.)

• Ability to respond quickly to behavioral or medical emergencies