Director of Nursing

Director of Nursing

Thrive Now Recovery Center
Full-Time | Exempt
Reports to: Executive Director

🔥Join a team that’s changing lives through clinical excellence.

➡️Thrive Now Recovery Center, in partnership with Ascension Recovery Services (ARS), provides compassionate, evidence-based care for individuals living with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, grounded in safety, dignity, and long-term recovery.

🩺We are seeking a Director of Nursing to lead nursing operations, ensure regulatory compliance, and build a strong, patient-centered nursing team from the ground up. This is a key leadership role for a nursing professional who combines clinical expertise with operational discipline and a heart for recovery-focused care.

❓Why Join Thrive Now Recovery Center

Clinical Leadership Opportunity
Serve as the senior nursing leader for a new facility, shaping nursing operations, standards, and culture from day one.

Collaborative Care Environment
Partner with medical providers, clinical leadership, admissions, and operations in a multidisciplinary treatment model.

Build Something New
Play a foundational role in staffing, workflows, policies, and quality systems during a facility launch.

Competitive Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package, paid time off, and professional growth opportunities within a growing organization.

🗝️Key Responsibilities

Nursing Leadership & Operations

• Lead and oversee all nursing operations across shifts, ensuring safe staffing coverage and high-quality care delivery.
• Establish and maintain nursing workflows aligned with clinical, medical, and operational standards.
• Serve as the primary nursing leader and escalation point for patient care concerns.

Clinical Care & Patient Safety

• Oversee nursing assessments, monitoring, and interventions, including identification of high-risk indicators.
• Ensure continuity of care from admission through discharge in collaboration with clinical and medical teams.
• Provide direct patient care as needed to support program operations and quality outcomes.

Medication Management

• Oversee medication administration systems, including MAR creation, reconciliation, and audits.
• Ensure compliance with medication storage, administration, documentation, and diversion prevention protocols.
• Collaborate with prescribing providers and pharmacy partners.

Compliance, Quality & Accreditation

• Maintain compliance with Joint Commission standards, Indiana state regulations, Medicaid requirements, and federal guidelines.
• Lead nursing participation in audits, surveys, and regulatory reviews.
• Oversee infection control practices, incident reporting, and quality improvement initiatives.

Staff Supervision & Development

• Recruit, onboard, supervise, and evaluate nursing staff.
• Develop schedules, manage performance, and provide coaching and corrective action as needed.
• Support staff education, competency validation, and professional development.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Participate in interdisciplinary treatment team meetings and leadership planning.
• Partner with the Executive Director and leadership team on program readiness, staffing models, and operational strategy.
• Support pre-opening planning, licensure readiness, and go-live execution.

✅Qualifications

• Active Iowa RN license required; BSN or higher preferred.
• Minimum 2–5 years of nursing experience in behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, detox, or residential settings.
• Prior nursing leadership or supervisory experience required.
• Strong knowledge of medication administration, infection control, and patient safety standards.
• Familiarity with Joint Commission accreditation and regulatory compliance strongly preferred.
• CPR/First Aid certification required (or ability to obtain within 30 days of hire).
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills.

🏢Work Conditions

• Full-time, on-site leadership role at the Iowa City, IA facility.
• Typical schedule includes weekday leadership hours with flexibility based on patient and staffing needs.
• Participation in on-call or clinical escalation support as required.

Equal Employment Opportunity & Reasonable Accommodations

Thrive Now Recovery Centers and Ascension Recovery Services are Equal Opportunity Employers. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.

The organization provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. If you require accommodation to perform the essential functions of this position, please notify your HR Rep.  Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to ensure equal employment opportunities.