Nurse Standards Specialist

Community Medical Services•Cleveland, OH

About The Position

The Nurse Standards Specialist is a nurse who reports to the Regional Director and develops, implements, monitors, and maintains clinical practice standards, policies, and procedures across the organization. The role helps ensure safe, evidence-based, high-quality patient care and serves as a subject matter expert on nursing standards, regulatory requirements, and accreditation criteria, translating them into actionable guidance for clinical staff. In collaboration with nursing leaders, quality improvement teams, educators, and frontline clinicians, the specialist reviews and revises policies, conducts gap analyses, supports audits and compliance initiatives, and advances continuous improvement. The role also supports staff education and competency related to new or updated standards. The specialist owns competency-based training and nursing development, conducts quality reviews and compliance assessments, maintains medication-management and regulatory documentation, and supports clinic operations. The role may include filling in as a dosing nurse, assisting with schedules and onboarding, and responding to nursing staff questions during scheduled work hours. Certain specialists may hold additional HCV/STI or Medication Callback specialty designations, with related duties applying only to those holding the designation. Community Medical Services is a CARF-accredited addiction treatment program providing outpatient medication-assisted treatment and individual and group counseling for people seeking help with opioid use disorder. The organization is headquartered in Arizona and operates more than 70 treatment clinics in 14 states. It is an equal employment opportunity employer and may provide reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Duties may change at any time, with or without notice.

Requirements

Active, unrestricted RN license in the state(s) where nursing care is delivered; an LPN may be considered where permitted by state scope of practice.
High school diploma or GED.
At least three years of clinical nursing experience, including at least one year in a substance use disorder treatment setting.
Current BLS/CPR certification.
Valid driver's license and Motor Vehicle Clearance, with a satisfactory driving record for 39 months.
Basic to intermediate computer knowledge.
Problem-solving, conflict-resolution, and strong customer-service skills.
Integrity; a mission-driven, self-directed, collaborative approach.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Strong organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
Ability to work as a team player in a continuously changing environment.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and 42 CFR, Part 2.
Ability to travel to assigned CMS sites.
Ability to work a variable schedule that may include nights, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to sit and stand for prolonged periods and frequently bend, stoop, or stretch in an office environment.
Manual dexterity for using a calculator and computer keyboard; frequent and prolonged typing and operation of computers, keyboards, and telephones.
Some lifting may be required: regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
For the Medication Callback specialty, duties include call-back operations for assigned Arizona clinics.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Own the new-hire, multi-week competency-based training program.
Conduct on-the-job training and blood collection training.
Coordinate preceptors and training milestone signoffs.
Monitor new-hire orientation, competency progression, remediation plans, and ongoing nursing development; escalate concerns to the Regional Director when additional support or intervention is needed.
Partner with Clinic Managers to interview nursing candidates, providing clinical subject-matter expertise and structured interview input.
Conduct routine nursing quality reviews, compliance assessments, and observational rounds to assess adherence to standards and identify education, process-improvement, and regulatory-readiness opportunities.
Perform internal DEA audits and assist with annual inventory audits.
Monitor and document medication errors and near-misses using Power Apps.
Maintain DEA binders, Medsafe binders, and Vista Pharm documentation.
Assist with preparing nursing schedules and onboarding new nursing staff.
Train nursing staff on updates and changes to nursing protocols.
Fill in as a dosing nurse as necessary.
Maintain medication-management processes, including oversight of medication protocols, detoxification protocols, and drug-screening procedures.
Ensure adherence to DEA, federal, state, and accrediting-body regulations.
Participate in assigned weekly and monthly meetings and weekly clinical staffing.
Serve as a point of contact for nursing staff regarding policies and client care, responding to questions and concerns during scheduled work hours.
Maintain client and clinic records in accordance with organizational, state, and federal rules and regulations.
For the HCV/STI specialty, oversee standardized screening, testing, and treatment workflows; monitor screening, consent, linkage to care, treatment, and outcome documentation; track performance metrics; provide education and competency training; collaborate with internal and external partners; support process improvement and regulatory readiness; and develop related workflows and resources.
For the Medication Callback specialty, complete or coordinate controlled-substance medication call-backs for assigned Arizona clinics; conduct outreach and schedule call-backs within required timeframes; review chart information; coordinate in-person verification and handoffs; document activity in the EHR and maintain trackers; escalate discrepancies and safety concerns; coordinate follow-up; and ensure required incident and compliance documentation is completed and routed.