Nurse Standards Specialist

Description Candidates must reside in Phoenix Metro, AZ and have the flexibility to travel to the clinic locations when needed. Reporting to the Regional Director, the Nurse Standards Specialist is a nurse responsible for developing, implementing, monitoring, and maintaining clinical practice standards, policies, and procedures across the organization to ensure the delivery of safe, evidence-based, and high-quality patient care. This role serves as a subject matter expert on nursing practice standards, regulatory requirements, and accreditation criteria (such as those set by The Joint Commission, CMS, ANA, Magnet, and applicable state boards of nursing), translating these into actionable guidelines for clinical staff. Working collaboratively with nursing leadership, quality improvement teams, educators, and frontline clinicians, the Nurse Standards Specialist reviews and revises clinical policies, conducts gap analyses, supports audits and compliance initiatives, and drives continuous improvement of nursing practice. The position plays a key role in ensuring alignment between organizational policies and current professional standards, research, and best practices, while also supporting staff education and competency around new or updated standards. As part of our mission to help individuals recover from substance use disorders, you’ll thrive in a supportive, engaging, and fulfilling work environment where your contributions are valued. Along the way, we’ll invest in your well-being through a benefits package that includes: Subsidized medical, dental, and vision insuranceHealth savings accountShort and long-term disability insuranceLife insurancePaid sick, vacation, and holiday time401K retirement plan with matchTuition and CME reimbursement up to 100%Employee assistance program to support your mental health and wellnessOngoing professional development Requirements PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES Owns the new hire multi-week competency-based training programConducts on-the-job (OTJ) training and blood collection trainingManages preceptor coordination and training milestone signoffsMonitors new hire orientation, competency progression, remediation plans, and ongoing nursing development, escalating concerns to the Regional Director when additional support or intervention is neededPartners with Clinic Managers to interview nursing candidates, providing clinical subject matter expertise and structured interview inputConducts routine nursing quality reviews, compliance assessments, and observational rounds to evaluate adherence to organizational standards while identifying opportunities for education, process improvement, and regulatory readinessPerforms internal DEA audits and assists with annual inventory auditsMonitors and documents medication errors and near-misses (Power Apps)Maintains DEA binders, Medsafe binders, and Vista Pharm documentationAssists in preparing nursing schedulesAssists with onboarding new nursing staffAssists in training nursing staff on updates and changes in nursing protocolFills in as a dosing nurse as necessaryMaintains processes for medication management, including oversight of medication protocols, detoxification protocols, and drug screening proceduresEnsures adherence to all DEA, federal, state, and accrediting body regulationsParticipates in all assigned weekly and monthly meetings, in addition to weekly clinical staffingServes as a point of contact for nursing staff regarding policies and client care, responding to questions and concerns during scheduled work hoursMaintains client/clinic records in accordance with organizational, state, and federal rules and regulations Qualifications Education, Certification, and Experience Requirements Active, unrestricted RN license in the state(s) where nursing care is delivered (LPN considered where permitted by state scope of practice)High school diploma or GED requiredMinimum of three years of clinical nursing experience, including at least one year in a substance use disorder treatment settingExperience with quality review, audit, clinical education, or competency assessment preferredCurrent BLS/CPR certification requiredValid Driver License and Motor Vehicle Clearance (satisfactory driving record for 39 months)Basic to intermediate computer knowledgeProblem solving, conflict resolution, and strong customer service skillsIntegrity, mission-driven, self-directed, and collaborativeExcellent verbal and written communication skillsExcellent organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detailStrong team player comfortable working in a continuously changing environmentAbility to maintain confidentiality to ensure compliance with HIPAA and 42 CFR, Part 2 Tools and Equipment Frequent use of a telephone, computer, printer, and copierFrequent use of the internet and various web browser software, and Microsoft Office products, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPointFrequent use of electronic health record software Physical Working Conditions Ability to travel to assigned CMS sitesAbility to work a variable schedule, which may include nights, weekends, and holidaysProlonged sitting, standing, frequent bending, stooping, or stretching associated with an office environmentManual dexterity using a calculator and computer keyboardFrequent and prolonged typing and operation of computer, keyboard, and telephonesSome lifting may be required: employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. SPECIALTIES Responsibilities Certain Nurse Standards Specialists carry an additional specialty designation. Specialty-specific responsibilities are in addition to the core Nurse Standards Specialist responsibilities above and apply only to nurses holding that designation: Nurse Standards Specialist – HCV/STI: Serves as the organizational subject matter expert for HCV and STI services, providing unified infectious disease oversight across the organization Oversees implementation and standardization of HCV and STI screening, testing, and treatment workflows across all assigned clinics Monitors HCV and STI screening, consent, linkage to care, treatment initiation, completion, and cure/resolution documentation Tracks HCV and STI performance metrics and identifies opportunities for improvement Provides education and competency training related to HCV and STI screening, treatment, and documentation Collaborates with providers, clinic leadership, pharmacy, and external partners to improve HCV and STI outcomes Ensures compliance with federal, state, and organizational HCV and STI program requirements Develops HCV- and STI-related workflows, educational materials, and nursing resources Assists clinics with HCV and STI process improvement and regulatory readiness Works to reduce the time between client consent, testing, resulting, and treatment initiation for both HCV and STI, ensuring no client with a positive result goes untreated or falls through internal process gapsNurse Standards Specialist – Medication Callback (MCB): Medication Call-Back Operations (Core Function) Completes and/or coordinates controlled-substance medication call-backs (take-home accountability/diversion prevention) for assigned Arizona clinics, following company policy and clinic workflowsPerforms high-volume outreach (calls/voicemails and other approved communication methods) and schedules call-backs within required timeframesUses standardized scripts and protocols to provide clear client instructions (what to bring, timing, and next steps)Reviews relevant chart information prior to outreach (take-home status, recent medication changes, risk flags, missed doses, safety alerts) to support appropriate routing and escalationCoordinates with onsite nursing teams for in-person verification/count processes when required and ensures complete handoffsDocuments all call-back activity in the EHR with objective language and a complete audit trail (attempts, contacts, instructions provided, outcomes, notifications, and follow-up plans)Maintains an up-to-date call-back tracker/log for assigned clinics and communicates status updates to clinic teams and nursing leadership Discrepancy Identification, Escalation, and Follow-Up (Protocol-Driven) Identifies and escalates discrepancies or concerns (missed call-backs, incomplete verification, questionable counts, suspected diversion, inconsistent reporting, safety concerns) to the appropriate internal authorities per policyCoordinates follow-up actions (rescheduling per policy, provider review requests, clinic manager notification, and documentation completion)Ensures required incident reporting and/or compliance documentation is completed and routed per policy #NUR About Community Medical Services Community Medical Services (CMS) is a CARF-accredited addiction treatment program providing services in the form of outpatient medication-assisted treatment and one-on-one and group counseling to those seeking help with their opioid use disorder. Headquartered in Arizona with more than 70 treatment clinics in 14 states, CMS is dedicated to meeting the challenges presented by the growing opioid epidemic in communities where treatment is lacking. Our Commitment We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Other Conditions Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.