Emergency Room RN Jobs in Iowa
Emergency Room RN jobs in Iowa are concentrated in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, where major systems like UnityPoint Health, MercyOne, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics maintain busy level I and level II trauma centers. Demand is strongest for emergency room rns with experience in trauma triage, pediatric emergencies, and critical care stabilization, and openings range from new graduate positions to senior charge nurse roles. Iowa's relatively stable healthcare economy keeps emergency departments actively recruiting across both urban medical centers and regional community hospitals. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Minimum Hiring Wage:
From $36.50 per hourJob Details:
Scheduled hours: VariesJob Description:
A Brief Overview
Delivers care to patients utilizing the nursing process of assessment, planning, intervention, implementation, and evaluation in coordination with other health team members. Effectively interacts with the patient, significant others, and other health team members while maintaining high standards of professional nursing.Duties are included but are not limited to those below for specified units. * Perform Bedside shift report and beginning and end of shift.* Utilize policies and procedures to keep patients safe from falls. * Assist in wound prevention and Hospital acquired pressure injuries.Assessment• Demonstrates the ability to obtain a comprehensive admission history, performs physical assessment of patient• Differentiates variations of normal and abnormal assessment findings• Analyzes and prioritizes abnormal findings. Initiates appropriate response• Anticipates actual or potential problems or health concerns in the hospital and/or home setting• Demonstrates ongoing assessment of patient's psychosocial, physiological and educational process per unit policy• Anticipates, recognizes and documents subtle changes in patient's physical and mental status• Integrates analysis of diagnostic information in patient assessment and care• Analyzes ongoing assessments to determine patient's and/or significant others learning and discharge needsDiagnosis• Integrates assessment data and formulates an individual nursing diagnosis according to policies and proceduresPlanning• Formulates an individualized plan of care including discharge planning based on standards of care and policies and procedures• Modifies individualized plan of care based on ongoing assessment and changes in patient status• Anticipates and manages changing situationsImplementation• Administers prescribed treatments and medications promptly according to hospital policies and procedures• Recognizes and questions unsafe, incorrect or inadequate orders. Intervenes to clarify patient order• Utilizes opportunities during delivery of patient care to teach the patient information necessary to attain the optimal level of self-careEvaluation• Evaluates patient's response to care and comprehension of educationDocumentation• Documents all aspects of the nursing process in a legible, concise, clear, and timely manner utilizing PCS or appropriate hospital forms, utilizing correct medical terminology and accepted abbreviationsCommunication• Involves patient and significant other(s) in all aspects of the nursing process• Acts as a patient advocate and respects the rights and confidentiality of patients• Promotes communication and relays information in a clear manner• Understand and acts within the guidelines for addressing ethical concerns• Communicates delays or wait times to patient/significant otherJudgment• Demonstrates sound judgment with the Nursing Process based upon critical thinking skills and a problem-solving approach• Anticipates and takes proper action in emergency and complex patient care situationsEquipment• Demonstrates the ability to utilize appropriate equipment when providing nursing care according to unit/organizational policies, including ability to trouble shoot equipment
What you will do
- Assess and monitor patient condition, documenting and communicating results to physician as appropriate.
- Document all aspects of patient care provided in the medical record, adhering to documentation standards.
- Administer prescribed medications adhering to the six rights of medication administration, IV fluids, enteral feedings, monitoring their effectiveness, and addressing needs.
- Answer patients' calls and provides assistance or determines how to assist them.
- Assemble equipment, performs procedures and treatments and/or assists medical staff with patient procedures
- Provide basic patient care and treatments such as dressing wounds, preventing and treating pressure ulcers or performing catheterizations.
- Prepare patients for examinations, tests or treatments and explain procedures.
- Collect samples such as blood, urine and sputum from patients, and perform routine laboratory tests on samples (such as blood glucose monitoring) or sends the specimen to lab appropriately labeled.
- Formulate, evaluate and modify an individualized plan of care including discharge planning. Evaluate nursing intervention outcomes, conferring with other health care team members as necessary.
- Monitor patients' medication usage and results as well as responsible use of Medical and pharmaceutical supplies.
- Help patients with bathing, dressing, maintaining personal hygiene, moving in bed, or standing and walking.
- Measure and record patients' vital signs, such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, oxygen saturation and pain.
- Provide patient and family education. Assess resources to plan and coordinate patient care.
- Act as a patient advocate, respect rights and confidentiality of patients.
- Work as part of a health care team to assess patient needs, plan and modify care and implement interventions. Participate in treatment team conferences regarding diagnosis or treatment of difficult cases.
- Participate in performance improvement activities, including quality assurance, quality monitoring and improvement efforts.
- Delegate aspects of care to others including certified nursing assistants, patient service associates, and licensed practical nurses; provides oversight for ensuring completion of the functions. Mentor new employees and students.
- Adhere to safety practices and evidence based practices. Adhere to safety practices for own personal protection, i.e. infection control devices, lifts, gait belts, eye shields, gloves.
- Prioritize specific aspects of assignment based on patient care needs. Coordinate and oversee nursing care provided for patient care assignement. Monitor patients' medication usage and results as well as responsible use of Medical and pharmaceutical supplies.
Qualifications
- Associate’s Degree (AA) Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) Required
- Bachelor’s Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) bachelor’s degree in nursing or other related field Preferred
- Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
- Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
- Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions.
- Knowledge of basic math to calculate medication doses.
- Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
- Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
- Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Actively looking for ways to help people.
- The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
- The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
- The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
- The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
- Basic Life Support Healthcare Provider - American Heart Association within 60 Days Required
- Child Abuse Iowa Mandatory Reporter - Iowa Department of Human Services within 180 Days Required
- Dependent Adult Abuse Mandatory Reporter - Iowa Department of Human Services within 180 Days Required
- Registered Nurse Iowa Board of Nursing (IBON) (United States of America) Required
Qualifications:
MOAB within 1 year of hire for all inpatient units.
Specialties at each campus:
FM: ENT, Gastroenterology, General, OB/Gynecology, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Pain Management, Podiatry.
HCHC: ENT, Gastroenterology, General, Orthopedics, Ophthalmology, Podiatry, Urology
WB: Dental/Oral, ENT, Gastroenterology, General, OB/Gynecology, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Podiatry, Spine, Urology and Vascular
WB DHC: Gastroenterology, Neurology – Lumber Puncture, Pain Management and Pulmonary
ED: Geriatric, Medical/Surgical, Adult, Telemetry, Pediatric, Behavioral Health, Critical Care. Including triage of patients, providing emergency support measures to patients, working closely with providers and family members to keep them updated, and reporting patient results. NIHSS and 8 Hours of Primary Stroke Education within 90 days of hire
Basic Dysrhythmia within six months of hire
ACLS, PALS, MOAB Provider, and HERT within one year of hire.
TNCC within 18 months of hire.
Great River Health and its affiliates are Equal Opportunity employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
See All 13 Emergency Room RN Jobs in Iowa
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Find Emergency Room RN JobsEmergency Room RN Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Emergency Room RN Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring


What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in emergency room RN jobs across Iowa.
- Active Iowa RN license or a Nurse Licensure Compact license recognized in Iowa
- Current BLS certification and ACLS certification required at time of hire
- Minimum one to two years of emergency department or acute care nursing experience
- Completion of an accredited associate or bachelor of science in nursing program
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Ability to work rotating shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays as scheduled
Emergency Room RN Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a emergency room rn in Iowa?
To become an emergency room rn in Iowa, you must hold an active Iowa RN license issued by the Iowa Board of Nursing, which requires passing the NCLEX-RN after completing an accredited nursing program. Iowa participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses already licensed in a compact state can work in Iowa without obtaining a separate license. Most Iowa emergency departments then expect new hires to complete a department-specific orientation and earn ACLS certification within a set timeframe after starting.
How much do emergency room RNs make in Iowa?
Emergency room RNs 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 emergency room rns in Iowa?
Companies currently hiring emergency room rns in Iowa include MercyOne, Voyage Health, and UnityPoint Health, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Iowa's largest emergency department employers are typically anchored in the Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City metro areas, where major health systems operate the state's busiest trauma centers.
Which Iowa cities have the most emergency room rn jobs?
The Iowa cities with the most emergency room rn openings are Denison, Pella, and DeWitt. Des Moines leads because it is the state's largest metro and home to the flagship campuses of UnityPoint Health and MercyOne, while Iowa City's concentration of openings is driven by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, one of the region's only academic level I trauma centers, and Cedar Rapids benefits from a dense cluster of regional medical facilities serving a large surrounding population.
How can I get hired as a emergency room rn in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to a new graduate RN residency program at a large Iowa health system such as UnityPoint Health or MercyOne, both of which run structured residencies that include emergency department rotations for nurses without prior ED experience. Candidates who have worked as an emergency department technician, patient care technician, or in a high-acuity med-surg or ICU role are particularly competitive. Earning your ACLS certification and completing any available TNCC coursework before applying signals readiness and helps offset limited direct ED hours.
Where can I find and apply to emergency room rn jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to emergency room rn jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings from employers hiring right now. Search the listings, find the roles that match your experience and preferred location, and apply directly to whichever ones fit your situation.
See All 13 Emergency Room RN Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Emergency Room RN Jobs