Spotlight on Laurie McCluskey, RN Charge Nurse at AARF
Laurie McCluskey has been a cornerstone of care at ACTS for the past eight years. As the RN Charge Nurse at the Adult Addictions Receiving Facility (AARF) in Tampa, Laurie wears many hats – supervising nursing staff across AARF, the Juvenile Addictions Receiving Facility (JARF), and the Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program. She also manages scheduling, orders medications and supplies, handles critical reports, and even teaches classes on medication administration.
Her role is vital in maintaining smooth operations across the facilities, where the adult program can serve up to 30 individuals and JARF can house up to 10 juveniles, ages 12 to 17. Most individuals stay 3–5 days, though stays are occasionally extended based on clinical need or program availability.
Laurie notes that while many adult clients are detoxing from alcohol or opioids, most juveniles come in for marijuana use. Some clients return home or to the streets post-detox, while others transition to programs like Keystone, Nebraska Residential, Wraparound, or external providers like The Cove and Salvation Army.
One of Laurie’s most meaningful stories is also one of the smallest victories – a voluntary client at the AARF, anxious and shaky upon intake, received early medication that allowed him to stay, complete his intake and he successfully completed his protocol and was picked up by his brother, ready to take the next step in recovery.
Laurie reflects on the move from the old detox facility to their current location as a game-changer, offering more space and collaboration between AARF and JARF staff. When asked what she loves most about her work, Laurie doesn’t hesitate: “Helping those who’ve lost everything – who see us as their last beacon of hope. And working alongside nurses and staff who truly care.”
Laurie also wishes more people understood that addiction is a brain-altering condition, and that recovery is rarely a straight path. ACTS supports clients through relapses with empathy and offers tools like the MAT program – which includes Vivitrol, Suboxone, and Sublocade – to aid in long-term recovery. She emphasizes, “NARCAN saves lives, and we offer it free to anyone who walks through our doors.”
Her advice to those considering treatment? “Don’t lose hope. It’s okay to come back. We’re just glad you’re reaching out.”
Thank you, Laurie, for your unwavering dedication and the difference you make every day.
