About this role
About Nexus Family Recovery Center
Nexus Family Recovery Center is a Dallas-based nonprofit dedicated to helping women and families heal from substance use disorder. We provide a comprehensive continuum of care, from detox through residential and outpatient treatment, rooted in trauma-informed, evidence-based practice and a deep belief that recovery is possible for everyone we serve.
At Nexus, our culture is built on the same values we bring to our clients: respect, compassion, and integrity. Our team is made up of professionals who are serious about the work and about each other, and we are committed to building a workplace where staff feel supported, valued, and able to grow.
If you're looking for work that matters, a team that shows up, and an organization that invests in the people doing the hard work, then we'd love to meet you.
Summary
The Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) – PRN provides direct nursing care to clients undergoing medical detoxification for substance use disorders. The LVN is responsible for monitoring withdrawal symptoms, observing administration of medications as ordered, supporting medical assessments, and ensuring the safety and comfort of clients during the detoxification process. The LVN works collaboratively with the Medical Director, Medical Providers, clinical and support staff to provide safe, compassionate, and effective care.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- Conduct regular admission nursing assessments including vital signs and withdrawal monitoring tools (e.g., CIWA, COWS), and document in Welligent and/or CMBHS.
- Monitor clients experiencing withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, and other substances.
- Provides supervision of medication to clients according to guidelines established by licensing/regulatory/agency standards, and per each client’s individual medication protocol.
- Observe and report changes in client condition to the physician, nurse supervisor, or medical provider.
- Provide nursing care in accordance with medical orders, nursing standards, and facility policies.
- Administer medications as ordered by the physician or medical provider.
- Monitor clients for medication effectiveness and potential side effects.
- Ensure proper medication storage, documentation, and controlled substance procedures.
- Educate clients on prescribed medications and withdrawal management when appropriate.
- Assist with medical intake assessments for detox admissions.
- Review medical history, current medications, and withdrawal risk factors.
- Conduct initial vital signs and withdrawal screenings during the admission process.
- Communicate relevant medical concerns to the provider or nursing supervisor.
- Monitor for signs of severe withdrawal, medical complications, or psychiatric concerns.
- Respond to medical emergencies and follow established emergency protocols (this shall also include responding to code blues outside of the detox unit).
- Assist with crisis intervention when clients experience agitation, distress, or medical instability.
- Maintain accurate and timely medical documentation in the electronic health record (EHR).
- Document nursing assessments, medication administration, withdrawal scores, and client responses to treatment.
- Ensure compliance with facility policies, licensing standards, and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA regulation.
- Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings when required.
- Support coordination of care between medical, clinical, and support staff.
- Provide education on withdrawal symptoms, detox medications, and recovery support when appropriate.
- Encourage clients to engage in treatment programming once medically stable.
- Offer compassionate support to clients during the detox process.
- Complies with all licensing and regulatory standards for medication storage, disposal, counting, reconciliation, etc.
- Completes all required online trainings, attends all required in person trainings and/or staff meetings.
- Other duties may be assigned.
Qualifications
Education, Licensure, & Experience
- Current Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) license, and in good standing with the State of Texas.
- Minimum 1 year nursing experience preferred, ideally in detox, behavioral health, emergency care, or medical-surgical settings.
- Experience working with individuals with substance use disorders preferred.
Competencies
- Knowledge of substance withdrawal syndromes and detox protocols
- Proficient in common office technology tools, including Microsoft Outlook, Excel, SharePoint, and Teams.
- Strong clinical assessment and observation skills
- Ability to respond quickly to medical changes or emergencies
- Effective communication with medical and clinical teams
- Compassionate and nonjudgmental approach to client care
- Strong documentation and organizational skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced treatment environment
Qualifications & Responsibilities
- Respects confidentiality always.
- Follows HIPAA and CFR 42 guidelines for disclosing information.
- Adheres to the agency’s compliance plan, code of conduct, and the Nexus policies & procedures.
- Treats all clients, visitors, and co-workers with dignity and respect.
- Ability to apply common sense understanding to conduct instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
- Ability to solve practical problems involving a variety of concrete variables in standardized situations.
- Ability to perform assigned duties and responsibilities with neatness, accuracy, and a degree of excellence, promptly.
- Ability to work at the maximum capacity of all required expectations.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. As a condition of continued employment, you are responsible for obtaining and maintaining all training required to stay in compliance with state licensure rules and regulations.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; navigate stairs, sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and distance vision. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.