BH Director of Nursing

BH Director Of Nursing

If you are a positive and personable individual looking for a satisfying and fun opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people with intellectual, developmental disabilities, and people facing mental health, and substance use challenges, join our team at RHA Health Services!

The Behavioral Health Director of Nursing provides strategic and operational leadership for all nursing services across Behavioral Health programs, including Facility-Based Crisis (FBC), Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC), Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), outpatient services, and other community-based behavioral health programs. This role ensures delivery of high-quality, safe, evidence-based nursing care in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, accreditation standards, and best practice guidelines.

The Director establishes nursing practice standards, oversees clinical quality and risk management, supports workforce development, and partners with Behavioral Health operations leadership to advance clinical excellence and person-centered care. The Behavioral Health Director of Nursing promotes integrated care models addressing mental health and substance use treatment needs and ensures nursing services support stabilization, recovery, safety, and continuity of care.

• Direct the overall operation of Behavioral Health nursing services in accordance with current federal, state, and local standards, accreditation requirements, and organizational policies.
• Develop and implement nursing policies, procedures, and clinical protocols specific to Behavioral Health services.
• Ensure safe medication administration practices, controlled substance oversight, and medication reconciliation processes.
• Partner with medical providers, psychiatrists, therapists, and program leadership to support integrated, team-based care.
• Oversee nursing involvement in crisis stabilization, de-escalation, withdrawal management support, and psychiatric symptom monitoring.
• Monitor clinical quality indicators, infection control practices, and incident trends.
• Support implementation of evidence-based Behavioral Health nursing practices.
• Participate in program development and expansion planning.
• Serve as nursing representative in regulatory surveys, audits, and accreditation reviews.
• Ensure documentation standards meet regulatory and payer requirements.
• Support risk mitigation strategies and patient safety initiatives.
• Develop nursing leadership succession planning within Behavioral Health services.
• Establishing nursing standards of practice across Behavioral Health programs
• Providing clinical oversight, mentorship, and leadership development
• Reviewing staffing models to ensure safe and appropriate nurse-to-client ratios
• Oversight of medication management practices and protocols
• Ensuring compliance with Behavioral Health licensing and regulatory requirements
• Supporting recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance management
• Conducting performance evaluations and corrective action when necessary
• Promoting a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Leading quality improvement initiatives and participating in sentinel event reviews

The Behavioral Health Director of Nursing provides direct and indirect oversight of all nursing staff within Behavioral Health services, including but not limited to:

• Registered Nurses (RNs) assigned to:
• Facility-Based Crisis (FBC)
• Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC)
• Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Teams
• Outpatient and Community-Based Behavioral Health Programs
• Office-Based RNs
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
• Nurse Supervisors and Nurse Managers (where applicable)

• Master's degree (M.S. or MSN) in Nursing from an accredited university preferred.
• Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in North Carolina.
• Minimum of 5–7 years progressive nursing leadership experience.
• Experience in Behavioral Health settings strongly preferred (mental health, substance use treatment, crisis services, community-based psychiatric care).
• Experience with multi-site or multi-program leadership preferred.
• Strong…