RN - Addiction Medicine Specialist

The RN – Addiction Medicine Specialist provides comprehensive nursing services, care coordination, and recovery support to individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring health conditions. Acting as a clinical resource and patient advocate, this role promotes treatment engagement, recovery, and access to integrated healthcare, behavioral health, and community-based services.

Using evidence-based, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and culturally responsive practices, the RN – Addiction Medicine Specialist collaborates with patients, families, providers, and community partners to improve health outcomes through coordinated and integrated service delivery. This position may support Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP), Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Harm Reduction Services, Integrated Care, Population Health initiatives, and other Substance Use Disorder Services based on organizational needs.

Clinical Nursing Services

• Conduct nursing assessments, patient evaluations, triage, screenings, and clinical monitoring activities.
• Administer and monitor medications in accordance with provider orders, organizational policies, and applicable regulations.
• Monitor treatment response, withdrawal symptoms, medication adherence, adverse reactions, and changes in patient condition.
• Provide direct and indirect nursing support to individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring medical or behavioral health conditions.
• Collaborate with providers regarding patient status, treatment recommendations, and care planning.
• Respond to urgent clinical situations and support crisis intervention and stabilization efforts as appropriate.

Care Coordination & Patient Navigation

• Coordinate care across behavioral health, medical, psychiatric, and community systems to support integrated, whole-person care.
• Facilitate referrals, care transitions, follow-up activities, and continuity of services.
• Support patient engagement and treatment adherence through ongoing communication, education, and advocacy.
• Assist patients in accessing healthcare services, recovery supports, benefits, transportation, housing resources, and community programs.
• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment planning, case consultation, and team meetings.

Patient Education & Recovery Support

• Provide education regarding substance use disorders, recovery, medication adherence, overdose prevention, harm reduction, wellness, and self-management.
• Promote patient engagement utilizing trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, and culturally responsive approaches.
• Support patients and families in understanding available treatment options and recovery resources.
• Encourage participation in treatment, recovery services, and wellness activities.

Documentation, Compliance & Quality

• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete clinical documentation in accordance with organizational, payer, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
• Complete required assessments, screenings, medication records, and program documentation within established timelines.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives, audits, accreditation activities, and performance improvement efforts.
• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, payer, and organizational standards.

Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in supervision, training, continuing education, and professional development activities.
• Maintain competency in addiction medicine, harm reduction, integrated care, and evidence-based nursing practices.
• Demonstrate ethical and professional conduct consistent with Valle del Sol's mission, values, policies, and standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

The following responsibilities may apply based on program assignment.

Opioid Treatment Program (OTP)

• Support medication administration and monitoring activities in accordance with federal, state, and organizational requirements.
• Monitor treatment response, medication compliance, and patient safety.
• Support toxicology screening and treatment adherence activities.

Harm Reduction Services

• Provide naloxone education, distribution, and overdose prevention training.
• Support implementation of harm reduction initiatives and community outreach activities.
• Educate patients regarding safer-use practices, risk reduction strategies, and recovery resources.

Integrated Care

• Collaborate with primary care, behavioral health, and specialty providers to coordinate patient care.
• Support chronic disease management, preventive care, and health promotion activities.
• Participate in interdisciplinary care planning and integrated treatment initiatives.

Population Health & Care Management

• Assist in identifying high-risk patients and coordinating appropriate interventions.
• Support outreach, engagement, follow-up, and care management activities.
• Monitor treatment adherence and facilitate access to needed services and resources.

Qualifications

Education

Required:

• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.

Preferred:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

Experience

Required:

• Minimum one (1) year of nursing experience.

Preferred:

• Experience in addiction medicine, behavioral health, integrated healthcare, community health, public health, care management, or substance use disorder treatment.
• Experience with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP), harm reduction services, or recovery-oriented care.
• Experience coordinating care across medical, behavioral health, and community service systems.

Licensure/Certification

Required:

• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Arizona.
• Must meet the licensure, certification, or credentialing requirements applicable to the position in accordance with Arizona law and applicable regulatory authorities.
• Must practice within the scope of the applicable credential(s) consistent with organizational policies and the needs of the populations served.
• BLS certification, or ability to obtain within 5 days of start date.
• Arizona Level I Fingerprint Clearance Card, or ability to obtain within 5 days of start date.

Preferred:

• Certified Addiction Registered Nurse (CARN) credential.
• Experience with addiction medicine, MAT, OTP, harm reduction, or integrated care programs.

Other Requirements

·Must be at least 18 years of age.

• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be able to pass pre- and continued employment screenings successfully.

Kowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge of nursing principles, patient assessment, medication administration, and clinical monitoring practices.
• Knowledge of substance use disorders, addiction medicine, withdrawal management, recovery-oriented care, and harm reduction principles.