The Registered Nurse (RN) serves as a vital member of the multidisciplinary treatment team, providing essential medical
support and clinical oversight for individuals with substance use disorders. The RN is responsible for daily coordination of patient care, medical planning, and nursing functions, ensuring the highest standard of care aligned with best practices in
addiction recovery.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Serve as medical personnel on the treatment unit, supporting a safe and therapeutic milieu.
Conduct nursing assessments, identify high-risk indicators, and document medical history and findings in a clinically relevant and compliant manner.
Administer and manage medications during shift changes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Provide direct medical evaluation and intervention for patients as needed.
Participate in the development and execution of medical discharge planning, beginning at the point of admission.
Collaborate with the interdisciplinary treatment team to coordinate and contribute to
comprehensive care planning.
Act as a liaison between the facility and external hospitals/families for patients transferring to or
from outside medical care.
Complete individualized nursing care plans for all patient admissions.
Make care decisions rooted in scientific principles, professional guidelines, and established protocols and evidence-based practices
Accurately document patient interactions and services in accordance with facility policies and regulatory standards.
Support ongoing program compliance with all nursing-related regulatory requirements.
Maintain active licensure and required certifications; engage in supervision, training, and annual performance evaluations to ensure continued professional growth.
Perform other related duties or special projects as assigned.
These are required credentials and experiences necessary for employment:
Active and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of employment (required)
Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing (required)
Current CPR and First Aid certification (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing or advanced degree in a related field
2+ years of experience in behavioral health, SUD, or psychiatric setting
Key Competencies
Proficient in conducting patient assessments, including high-risk indicator evaluation and
documentation of clinical history.
Skilled in direct medical assessment and intervention with individuals, groups, and families.
Ability to facilitate a therapeutic milieu within a residential or inpatient recovery unit.
Knowledgeable in care planning processes and able to coordinate planning efforts across
disciplines.
Competent in generating and reconciling Medication Administration Records (MARs).
Experienced in discharge planning in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
Team & Leadership Competencies
Active participant and collaborator on interdisciplinary treatment teams.
Provides clinical leadership and supervision to unit clinical staff, including evaluating
competency.
Serves as liaison to external agencies, hospitals, and community-based services.
Capable of guiding a clinical program that aligns with current evidence-based practices.
Maintains accurate, timely documentation per regulatory and facility policy (e.g., daily charting of
patient interactions).
Supports program quality reviews and assists in ensuring regulatory compliance.
Bases clinical decisions on evidence-based, clinical standards, and professional guidelines.
Maintains required licensure and certifications.
Engages in ongoing supervision, training, and performance evaluations.
Demonstrates commitment to professional growth and upholding standards of care.
Work Conditions and Physical and Mental Requirements
Work Environment: Primarily indoors in a climate-controlled clinical setting.
Physical Demands: Requires regular standing, walking, sitting, and use of hands for repetitive
tasks such as data entry and patient assessments. May involve lifting (<50lbs), transferring, or
repositioning patients with appropriate support.
Emotional Resilience: Must remain calm, professional, and solutions-focused when managing crises, patient escalation, or internal team conflict.
Critical Thinking: Daily duties involve assessing patient risk, interpreting clinical data, and anticipating the impact of decisions across medical and operational domains.
Prioritization Under Pressure: Must balance multiple urgent tasks while maintaining care quality, regulatory standards, and team morale.
Communication Skills: Requires clear, effective communication with patients, families
Proficient in conducting patient assessments, including high-risk indicator evaluation and documentation of clinical history.
Skilled in direct medical assessment and intervention with individuals, groups, and families.
Ability to facilitate a therapeutic milieu within a residential or inpatient recovery unit.
Knowledgeable in care planning processes and able to coordinate planning efforts across
disciplines.
Competent in generating and reconciling Medication Administration Records (MARs).
Experienced in discharge planning in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams.
Team & Leadership Competencies
Active participant and collaborator on interdisciplinary treatment teams.
Provides clinical leadership and supervision to unit clinical staff, including evaluating
competency.
Serves as liaison to external agencies, hospitals, and community-based services.
Capable of guiding a clinical program that aligns with current evidence-based practices.
Maintains accurate, timely documentation per regulatory and facility policy (e.g., daily charting of
patient interactions).
Supports program quality reviews and assists in ensuring regulatory compliance.
Bases clinical decisions on evidence-based, clinical standards, and professional guidelines.
Professional Development Competencies
Maintains required licensure and certifications.
Engages in ongoing supervision, training, and performance evaluations.
Demonstrates commitment to professional growth and upholding standards of care.
Work Conditions and Physical and Mental Requirements
Work Environment: Primarily indoors in a climate-controlled clinical setting.
Physical Demands: Requires regular standing, walking, sitting, and use of hands for repetitive tasks such as data entry and patient assessments. May involve lifting (<50lbs), transferring, or repositioning patients with appropriate support.
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions.
Equal Opportunity Statement
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and value diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will
receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any
other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment
for all employees.
Ascension Recovery Services is a national behavioral health advisory and management organization helping communities build sustainable, high-impact substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health (MH) treatment programs.
We partner with hospitals, health systems, behavioral health providers, municipalities, Tribal Nations, and government agencies to design and operationalize fully integrated care across the continuum—from detox and residential treatment to PHP, IOP, MAT, recovery housing, workforce reintegration, peer recovery networks, and community outreach.
Ascension combines clinical excellence with operational rigor. Every program we develop is grounded in evidence-based care and built for long-term sustainability—so access expands, outcomes improve, and communities thrive.
Our team includes seasoned addiction professionals and healthcare operators, many of whom have led nationally recognized treatment organizations. Several team members also bring lived recovery experience, ensuring our work is informed by both expertise and empathy.
At Ascension, we don’t just build programs—we help restore lives and strengthen communities.
