Nurse Standards Specialist

Community Medical Services•Phoenix, AZ

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

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 insurance Health savings account Short and long-term disability insurance Life insurance Paid sick, vacation, and holiday time 401K retirement plan with match Tuition and CME reimbursement up to 100% Employee assistance program to support your mental health and wellness Ongoing professional development

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 required
Minimum of three years of clinical nursing experience, including at least one year in a substance use disorder treatment setting
Experience with quality review, audit, clinical education, or competency assessment preferred
Current BLS/CPR certification required
Valid Driver License and Motor Vehicle Clearance (satisfactory driving record for 39 months)
Basic to intermediate computer knowledge
Problem solving, conflict resolution, and strong customer service skills
Integrity, mission-driven, self-directed, and collaborative
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail
Strong team player comfortable working in a continuously changing environment
Ability to maintain confidentiality to ensure compliance with HIPAA and 42 CFR, Part 2

Nice To Haves

Experience with quality review, audit, clinical education, or competency assessment

Responsibilities

Owns the new hire multi-week competency-based training program
Conducts on-the-job (OTJ) training and blood collection training
Manages preceptor coordination and training milestone signoffs
Monitors new hire orientation, competency progression, remediation plans, and ongoing nursing development, escalating concerns to the Regional Director when additional support or intervention is needed
Partners with Clinic Managers to interview nursing candidates, providing clinical subject matter expertise and structured interview input
Conducts routine nursing quality reviews, compliance assessments, and observational rounds to evaluate adherence to organizational standards while identifying opportunities for education, process improvement, and regulatory readiness
Performs internal DEA audits and assists with annual inventory audits
Monitors and documents medication errors and near-misses (Power Apps)
Maintains DEA binders, Medsafe binders, and Vista Pharm documentation
Assists in preparing nursing schedules
Assists with onboarding new nursing staff
Assists in training nursing staff on updates and changes in nursing protocol
Fills in as a dosing nurse as necessary
Maintains processes for medication management, including oversight of medication protocols, detoxification protocols, and drug screening procedures
Ensures adherence to all DEA, federal, state, and accrediting body regulations
Participates in all assigned weekly and monthly meetings, in addition to weekly clinical staffing
Serves as a point of contact for nursing staff regarding policies and client care, responding to questions and concerns during scheduled work hours
Maintains client/clinic records in accordance with organizational, state, and federal rules and regulations
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 gaps
Completes and/or coordinates controlled-substance medication call-backs (take-home accountability/diversion prevention) for assigned Arizona clinics, following company policy and clinic workflows
Performs high-volume outreach (calls/voicemails and other approved communication methods) and schedules call-backs within required timeframes
Uses 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 escalation
Coordinates with onsite nursing teams for in-person verification/count processes when required and ensures complete handoffs
Documents 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
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 policy
Coordinates 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