Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON)

Alsos Behavioral Management•Morrilton, AR

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Nursing manages the Patient Engagement Department’s staffing, scheduling, documentation compliance, patient observation workflows, and coordination with nursing for assigned roles. This role reports to the Director of Nursing and is responsible for departmental execution, regulatory support, and designated nursing-operations assistance. This position does not hold facility-wide authority. The Assistant Director of Nursing is responsible for overseeing the daily operations and accountability of the Patient Engagement Department and the patients participating in treatment as they progress through their recovery journey. This role serves as the primary staff point of contact for all patient engagement matters and ensures that patients are appropriately monitored, supported, and engaged throughout their treatment; regularly monitors patient activities; addresses and resolves conflicts; responds to critical or emergent situations; and collaborates closely with clinical and nursing staff to support the overall recovery process. This position plays a key role in maintaining a safe, structured, and therapeutic environment for all patients, in addition, assisting in the coordination and execution of nursing care services within the facility. This role ensures that resources are utilized effectively and efficiently to maintain the highest standards of patient care while remaining compliant with all applicable regulatory and program requirements. This role also maintains continuous awareness of patient status, ensures adherence to facility policies and program protocols, and always promotes patient safety. This position plays a vital role in supporting and guiding clients throughout their recovery by providing encouragement, structure, and assistance when needed.

Requirements

3-year prior experience in scheduling
Must hold active Registered Nursing (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license in the state. RN preferred
Must hold at least an Associate Degree in Nursing from an accredited institution of higher learning.
2-year prior experience working with Substance Abuse populations and/or Behavioral Health strongly preferred
Crisis Intervention Training strongly preferred
Valid, unrestricted driver’s license
Be committed to drug-free lifestyle and responsible alcohol use

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree Preferred
Passion or interest in substance abuse issues strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Embody values and mission statement
Manage day-to-day staffing, scheduling, and documentation compliance for the Patient Engagement Department.
Participate in interviewing and onboarding for patient engagement specialists and lead patient engagement specialists assigned to the department.
Coordinate departmental orientation and competency-based training for Patient Engagement staff.
Prepare staffing schedules for the Patient Engagement Department and assist the Director of Nursing with designated nursing coverage coordination.
Provide coaching to Patient Engagement staff regarding documentation, observation standards, and policy compliance.
Monitor departmental staffing and workflow metrics.
Audit Patient Engagement documentation for timeliness and completeness.
Host regulatory staff meetings for patient engagement specialists
Provide time management supervision for patient engagement specialists
Ensure patient engagement specialists are monitoring meals in dining room and putting aside plates for those not feeling well enough to physically attend meals
Ensure patient engagement specialists monitor patient movement and maintain presence in patient areas
Audit compliance with meal-monitoring procedures, patient observation assignments, and environmental-rounding expectations.
Escalate observed patient-safety, staffing, or compliance concerns to nursing or facility leadership as appropriate.
Lead community meetings to discuss various aspects of treatment & to resolve potential conflicts
Ensure patient engagement specialists are specialized in one-on-one patient engagement and retention tactics
Ensure patient engagement specialists monitor patients, diffuses conflicts, ensure patient compliance with treatment protocol, and involve other clinical staff as necessary
Review completion of assigned unit and environmental checklists.
Work as a highly dependable, independent member of the treatment team
Be a committed team player willing to learn new skill sets
Provide licensed clinical support coverage for designated nursing shifts when assigned by the Director of Nursing.
Receive, reconcile, and store pharmacy deliveries in accordance with facility policies.
Respond within the scope of licensure to medical incident and notify the appropriate provider.
Assist the Director of Nursing with assigned compliance audits, competency validation, chart review support, and regulatory readiness tasks.
Coordinate assigned nursing-support workflows and communicate urgent staffing or patient-care issues to the Director of Nursing or designee.
Oversee patient observation station workflows and ensure escalation of medical or safety concerns.
Perform all other tasks assigned by the Director of Nursing
On call rotation