Nikkole Gardiner is a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse and a Tobacco Treatment Specialist with nine years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. After obtaining her nursing degree in 2011, she began her career as an entry-level Detoxification Staff Nurse at Phoenix House Exeter. After a period of working in other medical settings on a per diem basis in 2012, she realized that her passion was in helping people overcome the disease of addiction and mental health disorders. Through her years of employment with Phoenix House Nikkole has grown as a nurse, person, and leader as she progressed within the company. She was promoted to Nurse Manager in March 2018, a Director of Nursing in November 2018, and Assistant Vice President of Nursing and Patient Care Services, South, in November 2020. In her current role, Nikkole is responsible for maximizing effective patient care, overseeing nursing, and other direct patient care services for Phoenix House in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Nikkole is deeply committed to helping the substance use population and their families, and believes every patient has the power to attain and sustain recovery—they just need the tools to do it.