Withdrawal Management Licensed Practical Nurse

Be the backbone of hope and healing.
At Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge, every role matters in helping people overcome addiction and find a new path forward. Whether you’re working directly with clients or supporting behind the scenes, your contributions make recovery possible. In return, we offer a values-driven workplace, supportive managers, and opportunities to grow. That commitment has earned us recognition from Newsweek as a Best Addiction Treatment Center and seven straight Star Tribune Top Workplace awards.

Shifts Available:

Sunday-Wednesday 11:00am-9:00pm

OR

Thursday-Friday: 9:00am-9:00pm AND Saturday: 8:00am-8:00pm

Job Summary

The Withdrawal Management Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) provides nursing care and withdrawal management support within a licensed Withdrawal Management program in accordance with Minnesota Statutes Chapter 245F, the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, professional nursing standards, and organizational policies. Working under the direction of a Registered Nurse (RN) or licensed healthcare provider, the LPN supports admissions, withdrawal monitoring, medication management, health monitoring, client education, and implementation of treatment plans while promoting safe, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented care.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

Admissions, Assessment & Withdrawal Management

• Assist with admissions, nursing intake activities, medication reconciliation, health history review, and collection of health-related information under the direction of an RN or licensed healthcare provider.

• Complete assigned screening, withdrawal monitoring, and data collection activities utilizing approved assessment tools, including CIWA-Ar, COWS, and other program-approved instruments.

• Observe, document, and promptly communicate withdrawal symptoms, medication concerns, and significant changes in client condition to the supervising RN and healthcare providers.

Nursing Care & Health Monitoring

• Implement nursing services, delegated medical care, clinical protocols, and provider orders consistent with licensure, scope of practice, competency, and organizational policies.

• Implement nursing interventions and clinical monitoring activities in accordance with provider orders, standing orders, approved clinical protocols, and scope of practice.

• Monitor, assess, document, and communicate client health status, withdrawal symptoms, treatment responses, complications, medication concerns, and significant changes in condition to the supervising RN and healthcare providers.

• Contribute to care planning, treatment team discussions, and continuity of care activities.

• Coordinate care with healthcare providers, pharmacies, hospitals, and emergency medical services to support client health and safety.

• Provide health education related to withdrawal management, medications, communicable disease prevention, wellness, and follow-up care.

• Promote a safe, therapeutic, trauma-informed, and recovery-oriented treatment environment.

Medication Management

• Administer and monitor medications, prescribed injections, and other delegated medication-related services in accordance with provider orders, nursing standards, and organizational policies.

• Assist with medication reconciliation and promptly communicate discrepancies, concerns, adverse reactions, side effects, and medication-related issues to the supervising RN and healthcare providers.

• Maintain proper medication storage, handling, documentation, accountability, inventory management, and disposal practices in accordance with regulatory requirements.

• Assist with laboratory testing, diagnostic services, medication audits, and quality assurance activities as assigned.

• Report medication errors, adverse drug reactions, and medication variances in accordance with organizational and regulatory requirements.

Safety, Emergency Response & Infection Control

• Monitor for and respond appropriately to withdrawal-related complications, medical emergencies, psychiatric crises, communicable diseases, and other health and safety concerns.

• Report incidents, unusual occurrences, safety concerns, and health-related risks to nursing leadership and appropriate healthcare providers.

• Maintain readiness of nursing supplies, first aid equipment, and emergency response resources.

• Initiate emergency response procedures and obtain emergency medical services when clinically indicated.

Documentation, Compliance & Collaboration

• Practice within the scope of the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act, applicable nursing standards, and withdrawal management regulations while working under the supervision of an RN or licensed healthcare provider.

• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete documentation within the electronic health record, including nursing observations, interventions, medication-related activities, client progress, referrals, and communications.

• Communicate client health concerns, withdrawal complications, medication-related issues, and other relevant information to nursing leadership, healthcare providers, and treatment team members.

• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, healthcare providers, referral partners, pharmacies, hospitals, and community resources to support treatment planning, continuity of care, and discharge coordination.

• Support quality assurance activities, licensing reviews, audits, inspections, and continuous improvement initiatives.

• Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with HIPAA, 42 CFR Part 2, and applicable state and federal requirements.

Required Skills & Experience (Minimum Qualifications):

• Current Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license in good standing with the Minnesota Board of Nursing and maintained in accordance with the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act.

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required; First Aid and AED certification required within 90 days of hire and maintained throughout employment.

• Minimum two (2) years of nursing experience preferred; experience in withdrawal management, detoxification, substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health, medical-surgical nursing, correctional healthcare, residential treatment, or community health preferred.

• Knowledge of Minnesota Statutes Chapters 245A, 245C, and 245F; the Minnesota Nurse Practice Act applicable to Licensed Practical Nurses; and professional nursing standards applicable to licensed withdrawal management programs.

• Knowledge of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria and its application to withdrawal management services, level-of-care determinations, and care transitions.

• Experience utilizing evidence-based withdrawal monitoring tools, including CIWA-Ar and COWS.

• Knowledge of substance use disorders, withdrawal management principles, medication-assisted treatment, co-occurring mental health and medical disorders, and recovery-oriented systems of care.