Drug Diversion Analyst - RN

Northwestern Medicine; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Medicine seeks a Nurse Drug Diversion Compliance professional to collaborate with multiple departments to prevent diversion of controlled substances. The role audits inventories, reviews procedures, and supports policy development.

You will maintain dashboards, present metrics to local committees, and assist in educating staff on drug diversion. Strong communication and knowledge of regulatory standards are essential.

Qualifications

• Requires nursing degree (BSN or MSN) and Illinois license.
• Minimum five years in a healthcare setting.
• Knowledge of medication dispensing technology.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Proficient with Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and implement changes.
• Familiarity with Joint Commission standards, DEA, EPA and FDA regulations; Medicare participation.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with departments to ensure diversion controls are in place.
• Audits inventories and documentation for drugs and waste.
• Participates in policy development related to drug diversion.
• Audits receiving procedures and filings for controlled shipments.
• Reviews reports for trends or issues in diversion data.
• Participates in the Drug Diversion Task Force at assigned units.
• Maintains diversion technology and reporting dashboards.
• Presents diversion metrics to committees and stakeholders.
• Assists in education material development for NM workforce.
• Supports investigation of diversion incidents using multiple data sources.
• Participates in investigation processes from start to disposition.
• Triages drug diversion compliance hotline reports as assigned.

Skills

Nursing degree

Illinois nursing license

Healthcare experience

Medication dispensing tech knowledge

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Change management

Education

BSN or MSN in Nursing

Illinois nursing license

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Description

Responsibilities:

• Collaborates with departments, clinics, and procedural areas to ensure effective diversion prevention controls are in place for the purchasing, receiving, distribution, administration, wasting, and return of controlled substances
• Conducts audits of inventories of automated dispensing cabinets and manual logs, administration and wasting documentation, and user access.
• Participates in policy/procedure development pertaining to drug diversion and controlled substances.
• Audits receiving procedures and filing for all controlled medication shipments and invoice
• Reviews and follows up on regularly processed reports dealing with controlled substances, analyzing for trends or issues.
• Participates in the Drug Diversion Task Force at assigned business units.
• Maintains specialized acumen in technology and diversion software program for comprehensive auditing and reporting.
• Assists in the maintenance of Drug Diversion Dashboard.
• Presents diversion-related metrics to Local Drug Diversion committees and other stakeholders as appropriate.
• Assists in the development of educational material for the NM Workforce pertaining to drug diversion.
• Supports the Drug Diversion Task Force in the investigation of suspected drug diversion incidents, by reviewing and interpreting data from multiple data sources including but not limited to documentation in the EMR, data from automated dispensing systems, and other information deemed pertinent.
• Participates in investigation process of suspected drug diversion incidents from initiation to final disposition.
• Assist with managing and triaging drug diversion compliance hotline reports as assigned
• And other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required:

• A degree in nursing (BSN or MSN)
• Licensed in the state of Illinois for above profession
• A minimum of five years' experience in healthcare setting
• Knowledge and understanding of medication dispensing technology
• Demonstrated analysis and problem-solving skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft: Word, Excel, Power Point
• Demonstrated ability to effectively establish and maintain working relationships with peers and constituents at all levels of the organization
• Familiarity with Joint Commission Medication Management Standards, DEA, EPA and FDA regulations, and the Medicare Conditions of Hospital Participation
• Ability to facilitate change process and work collaboratively with diverse, multidisciplinary teams

Preferred:

• Experience with controlled substance monitoring
• Experience in drug diversion investigative processes or completion of drug diversion continuing education

Equal Opportunity

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case‑by‑case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well‑being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign‑on Bonus Eligibility (if sign‑on bonus offered for position):

Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending on the job family.