Clinical Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa

Clinical Registered Nurse jobs in Iowa are concentrated in acute care hospitals, long-term care, and outpatient clinic settings, with steady demand at every level from new graduates to experienced charge nurses. The heaviest hiring activity is in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids, where large systems like UnityPoint Health, University of Iowa Health Care, and MercyOne are among the most active employers in the state. Critical care, med-surg, and pediatrics are the specialties generating the most consistent openings across Iowa. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles31
Top employerUnityPoint Health
Top cityOttumwa, IA
Cities hiring16
Work type100% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 31+ Clinical Registered Nurse jobs

Clinical | RN: ICU - Contract - Days
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New 20h ago
Clinical | RN: ICU - Contract - Days
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions
Ottumwa, Iowa
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Public Health
$67.5 - $70.2/hr
1,001-5,000

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Clinical | RN: Rehab - Contract - Days
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Added 3d ago
Clinical | RN: Rehab - Contract - Days
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions
Ottumwa, Iowa
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Public Health
$60 - $62.4/hr
1,001-5,000

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Clinical Support Staff- RN, LPN, or CMA
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Added 6d ago
Clinical Support Staff- RN, LPN, or CMA
Dubuque Surgery
Dubuque, Iowa
Healthcare Administration
Medical Assistant
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$22 - $38/hr
On-Site

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RN Hospice Clinical Preceptor
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Added 6d ago
RN Hospice Clinical Preceptor
UnityPoint Health
Dubuque, Iowa
Higher Education
K-12 Teaching
Teaching & Instruction
BLS Certification
10,000+

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Clinical | RN: Rehab - Contract - Nights
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Added 1w ago
Clinical | RN: Rehab - Contract - Nights
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions
Ottumwa, Iowa
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
$60 - $62.4/hr
1,001-5,000

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See All 31 Clinical Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Clinical Registered Nurse Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Ottumwa
5 jobs
Cedar Rapids
5 jobs
Dubuque
4 jobs
Des Moines
4 jobs
Sioux City
2 jobs
Ames
1 job
Albia
1 job
Clive
1 job
Ankeny
1 job

Clinical Registered Nurse Job Market in Iowa

A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

UnityPoint Health6 open roles
HealthTrust Workforce Solutions4 open roles
Mercy Cedar Rapids3 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services

What Iowa Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in clinical registered nurse jobs across Iowa.

  • Active Registered Nurse license issued or recognized by the Iowa Board of Nursing
  • Associate or bachelor's degree in nursing from an accredited program
  • Current BLS certification required before starting clinical orientation
  • Minimum one year of acute care or clinical nursing experience preferred
  • Proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
  • Strong clinical assessment skills and ability to work rotating or weekend shifts

Clinical Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a clinical registered nurse in Iowa?

You become a clinical registered nurse in Iowa by completing an accredited associate or bachelor's degree nursing program, then passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Licensure is issued by the Iowa Board of Nursing, which also participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, allowing nurses licensed in other compact states to practice in Iowa without obtaining a separate state license. Most Iowa hospital systems require at minimum an associate degree, though larger health systems increasingly prefer a BSN.

How much do clinical registered nurses make in Iowa?

Clinical registered nurses in Iowa earn a median of about $78,630 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $63,840 for the lowest 10% to over $100,500 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire clinical registered nurses in Iowa?

Companies currently hiring clinical registered nurses in Iowa include UnityPoint Health, HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, and Mercy Cedar Rapids, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Iowa's largest hiring activity tends to be concentrated within integrated health systems that operate multiple hospital campuses and outpatient clinics throughout the state.

Which Iowa cities have the most clinical registered nurse jobs?

Ottumwa, Cedar Rapids, and Dubuque have the most clinical registered nurse openings in Iowa. Des Moines leads due to the density of major health system headquarters and regional medical centers there, while Iowa City's volume is driven largely by University of Iowa Health Care, and Cedar Rapids draws from MercyOne and other community hospital networks anchored in the Corridor region.

Are there remote clinical registered nurse jobs in Iowa?

Yes, but they're rare. Clinical registered nurse work is fundamentally hands-on and patient-facing, so most positions require on-site presence. About 0% of clinical registered nurse openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those roles are typically in telephonic triage, utilization review, or care management rather than direct bedside nursing.

How can I get hired as a clinical registered nurse in Iowa with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is applying to a nurse residency program, which major Iowa health systems like UnityPoint Health and University of Iowa Health Care run specifically for new graduates and nurses with under one year of acute care experience. These structured programs provide clinical mentorship and count toward your first year of documented experience. Candidates with a BSN, current BLS certification, and an active Iowa Board of Nursing license have the clearest path to acceptance into these programs.

Where can I find and apply to clinical registered nurse jobs in Iowa?

You can find and apply to clinical registered nurse jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings. Search for roles that fit your specialty and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that match.

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