Assistant Director of Nurses (ADON)

Freedom Behavioral; Monroe (LA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life/Disability options

401k

Job summary

Freedom Behavioral Hospital of Monroe seeks an Assistant Director of Nursing to supervise direct care staff, ensure safe staffing, and support regulatory compliance. The ADON collaborates with the DON, HR, and leadership on policy, hiring, and performance evaluations.

Responsibilities include assisting with admissions, participating in Utilization and Treatment Team activities, and supporting survey readiness while guiding policies and procedures across the nursing department.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with at least 5 years of nursing experience in psychiatry/mental health.
• 3+ years of management in mental health nursing.
• MSN oversight is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee nursing staff to ensure safe, protocol-based care.
• Participate in QAPI: monitor, track, and analyze nursing data.
• Assist with staffing schedules and nursing supervision.
• Support admissions and collaboration with DO notice, service development and Utilization Review.

Skills

Management

Mental health nursing

Education

RN License

MSN oversight

Job description

Experience: 3-years management in mental health nursing

Position Summary

The Assistant Director “ADON” is responsible for upholding the standards of care established by regulatory and accrediting bodies. The Assistant Nursing Director assists with oversight and direction to all direct care nursing staff. The ADON ensures that the unit is staffed safely and according to protocol; providing assistance as needed to the nursing staff with regard to decision making, clinical judgement issues, medical staff communication, as well as providing direct patient care when indicated. Assumes nursing administrator on call duties when indicated. Assists with direct oversight to the nursing staff. Participates in the QAPI process with monitoring, tracking, and analyzing nursing data. Ensures the development of the nursing schedule in a timely manner.

Coordinates the performance of nursing care to patients within the scope of practice and in compliance with policies, procedures, and standards. Collaborates with DON and Human Resources on hiring and termination of employees in the nursing department. Completes performance evaluations for nursing staff as scheduled.

Actively works with Intake and the Service Development Department to facilitate admissions into the facility in a timely manner. Maintains knowledge of admission criteria and accurately documents admission criteria for new admissions. Functions as a member of the Utilization and Treatment Team to participate in the communication of identified patient goals, interventions, and assessment. The ADON acts as a resource for all administrative, nursing, and direct care staff in formulation of policies, procedures, forms, and processes that directly affect the nursing department and patient care. The ADON assists with ensuring survey readiness through regulatory compliance and quality standards of care. The ADON collaborates on facilities’ projects and program development to oversee the safe, accurate development, and implementation of patient care. Participates as a member of the leadership team within the facility.

Working Conditions

Work environment characteristics are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally be exposed to fumes or airborne particles. The noise level in the work environment may be moderate to high. The work environment may include chemicals used for cleaning, and have dust, mist, and steam generated in housekeeping tasks. This is a smoke‑free workplace. Work requires spending approximately 75% or more of the time inside a building that offers protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes. The employee must provide documentation of a tuberculosis test during new‑hire orientation and annually thereafter.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to stand on feet for moderate periods of time, standing could be as high as 60‑80% per working shift per day.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time, at least 4 hours.
• A certain amount of walking and standing are often necessary to carry out job duties. Lifting/carrying may exceed 10 pounds.

Additional Work Environment Characteristics May Include

• Performing repetitive tasks/motion, and hearing alarms, telephone, and normal speaking voice.
• Stress is identified as a job hazard resulting from a hectic environment with frequent interruptions.
• The environment alone presents a certain amount of risk servicing psychiatric patients in acute and crisis needs.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, And/Or Experience Required

• Education: Registered Nurse for at least 5 years with a minimum of 3 years of clinical psychiatric/mental health nursing care past working experience minimum, with MSN oversight.
• License: RN License through the Louisiana state board of nursing.
• Experience: 3‑years management in mental health nursing.

Additional Requirement

• Effective verbal communication skills
• Effective organizational skills
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Analytical problem solving skills
• Ability to read and comprehend written instructions; ability to follow verbal instructions
• Proficient knowledge of PC computers
• Basic understanding of DSM‑V diagnostic criteria
• Basic understanding of medical and psychiatric diagnoses and conditions

Excellent Benefits Package

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life/Disability options
• 401k

Freedom Behavioral Hospital of Monroe provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.