Director of Nursing - Illinois & Colorado

Job Description:

This position supports Elevare Behavioral Health locations in Illinois and Colorado. The role partners with facility leadership and nursing teams across both states to ensure consistent clinical standards, regulatory compliance, staffing coverage, and quality patient care. 

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. This position requires an on-call commitment and will be required to provide administrative and clinical oversight to the facility on a rolling on-call schedule.

Responsibilities:

• Provide clinical and administrative leadership for nursing services across detox, residential, PHP, IOP, and outpatient programs, ensuring safe, consistent, and evidence-based care
• Partner with the Medical Director and interdisciplinary treatment teams on detoxification protocols, medication-assisted treatment, psychiatric medication management, nursing assessments, and individualized treatment planning
• Oversee withdrawal monitoring and clinical protocols, including CIWA and COWS, while ensuring nursing staff respond promptly to changes in patient condition
• Recruit, onboard, supervise, mentor, and evaluate nursing staff while maintaining appropriate staffing models, schedules, budgets, competencies, and 24-hour coverage for detox and residential programs
• Oversee medication administration, storage, inventory, reconciliation, controlled substances, medication rooms, and error prevention through routine audits, inspections, staff education, and corrective action
• Maintain compliance with Joint Commission standards, state licensing requirements, DEA and pharmacy regulations, infection prevention standards, HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, patient rights, and facility policies
• Lead quality improvement, patient safety, incident reporting, risk management, suicide prevention, infection control, and medical emergency preparedness initiatives
• Develop, review, and maintain nursing policies, procedures, clinical standards, and training programs based on regulatory requirements and evidence-based practice
• Monitor nursing documentation and EHR compliance through chart reviews, documentation audits, quality indicators, and timely follow-up on identified concerns
• Participate in accreditation surveys, regulatory inspections, monthly nursing meetings, clinical supervision, AMA prevention efforts, and the facility’s rotating on-call schedule, while performing RN or LPN duties when operational needs require

Requirements/Qualifications:

• 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.
• Current unencumbered Registered Nurse License in Illinois and Colorado or the ability to obtain within 30 days of hire
• Addiction or Psychiatric Nurse credentials - preferred

• Education

  Bachelors Degree

• Experience

  Senior Level (7+ years)

Benefits/Perks:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision

Location:

Centennial, CO & Elgin, IL