ICU Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa
ICU Registered Nurse jobs in Iowa are in steady demand, with consistent openings concentrated in hospital systems, academic medical centers, and regional trauma facilities serving communities from Des Moines and Iowa City to Cedar Rapids. Major employers with a lasting presence in the state include UnityPoint Health, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and MercyOne, all of which maintain active ICU hiring pipelines. The most sought-after specialties are cardiovascular ICU, neuro ICU, and medical-surgical critical care nursing. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 27+ ICU Registered Nurse jobs
Assignment Overview
- Shift: Days, 4x12hrs
- Hours: 48 hrs/wk
- Start Date: Nov 16, 2026
- Length: 13 weeks
- Openings: 1
Description
American Traveler is seeking an ICU RN for a 13-week travel assignment requiring BLS, ACLS, and at least 1 year of ICU experience with an active IA or compact RN license.
Details
- General ICU unit within a Trauma Level IV facility, currently combined with the Medical Unit
- 10-bed unit caring for adult patients with a 1:3 patient ratio in ICU
- Willing to accept stepdown, telemetry, and med-surg patients when ICU census is low
- Shift runs 7A-7P with every other weekend required
- Floating required
- No call requirements
- Uses Mindray and Omnicell equipment and Meditech EHR
Requirements
- Active RN license (IA or Compact) required
- BLS and ACLS certifications required
- Minimum 1 year of ICU experience required (1 year with travel experience will be considered)
- RN degree required
- Experience with cardiac drips preferred
- Familiarity with common ICU diagnoses such as DKA, ARF, CHF, and CAD preferred
- Must clear Iowa SING background check including criminal and child abuse portions
- Mandatory reporter certification (child and adult) required
- Must pass a 10-panel drug screening including opiates
- Titers required within the last 12 months for MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, and TB
Additional Information
- Provide direct patient care to adult ICU patients and assist with stepdown, telemetry, and med-surg patients as needed
- Work closely with a collaborative team supervised by the unit's RN, BSN leadership
- Scrubs of any color are acceptable; sweatshirts, sweatpants, and offensive clothing are not permitted
- Candidates must reside 60 miles or greater from the facility to be considered for the travel rate
- Cannot have worked as permanent staff at any LifePoint facility within the last 12 months
- Must not be employed elsewhere on a full-time basis
- Monday or Tuesday start dates will be accommodated
Assignment Overview
- Shift: Days, 4x12hrs
- Hours: 48 hrs/wk
- Start Date: Nov 16, 2026
- Length: 13 weeks
- Openings: 1
Description
American Traveler is seeking an ICU RN for a 13-week travel assignment requiring BLS, ACLS, and at least 1 year of ICU experience with an active IA or compact RN license.
Details
- General ICU unit within a Trauma Level IV facility, currently combined with the Medical Unit
- 10-bed unit caring for adult patients with a 1:3 patient ratio in ICU
- Willing to accept stepdown, telemetry, and med-surg patients when ICU census is low
- Shift runs 7A-7P with every other weekend required
- Floating required
- No call requirements
- Uses Mindray and Omnicell equipment and Meditech EHR
Requirements
- Active RN license (IA or Compact) required
- BLS and ACLS certifications required
- Minimum 1 year of ICU experience required (1 year with travel experience will be considered)
- RN degree required
- Experience with cardiac drips preferred
- Familiarity with common ICU diagnoses such as DKA, ARF, CHF, and CAD preferred
- Must clear Iowa SING background check including criminal and child abuse portions
- Mandatory reporter certification (child and adult) required
- Must pass a 10-panel drug screening including opiates
- Titers required within the last 12 months for MMR, Hepatitis B, Varicella, and TB
Additional Information
- Provide direct patient care to adult ICU patients and assist with stepdown, telemetry, and med-surg patients as needed
- Work closely with a collaborative team supervised by the unit's RN, BSN leadership
- Scrubs of any color are acceptable; sweatshirts, sweatpants, and offensive clothing are not permitted
- Candidates must reside 60 miles or greater from the facility to be considered for the travel rate
- Cannot have worked as permanent staff at any LifePoint facility within the last 12 months
- Must not be employed elsewhere on a full-time basis
- Monday or Tuesday start dates will be accommodated
See All 27 ICU Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find ICU Registered Nurse JobsICU Registered Nurse Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
ICU Registered Nurse Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in ICU registered nurse jobs across Iowa.
- Active registered nurse license issued or recognized by the Iowa Board of Nursing
- Current ACLS and BLS certifications required for ICU patient care settings
- Minimum one to two years of acute care or critical care nursing experience preferred
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree preferred or required by many Iowa health systems
- CCRN certification or active pursuit of certification valued by Iowa ICU employers
- Demonstrated ability to manage ventilated patients and hemodynamic monitoring equipment
ICU Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a icu registered nurse in Iowa?
To become an icu registered nurse in Iowa, you must first earn a nursing degree, either an ADN or BSN, from an accredited program and pass the NCLEX-RN examination. You then apply for licensure through the Iowa Board of Nursing, which administers RN licensure for the state. Iowa participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses licensed in other compact states may practice without a separate Iowa license. Most ICU positions require additional critical care experience or completion of a hospital-based critical care orientation program before independent practice.
How much do ICU registered nurses make in Iowa?
ICU 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 icu registered nurses in Iowa?
Employers hiring icu registered nurses in Iowa right now include MercyOne, American Traveler, and UnityPoint Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Iowa's largest health systems, including academic medical centers and regional hospital networks, maintain the most consistent ICU hiring volumes across the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most icu registered nurse jobs?
The cities with the most icu registered nurse openings in Iowa are Ottumwa, Des Moines, and Spencer. Des Moines anchors the largest share of listings given its concentration of major health system headquarters and Level I trauma centers, while Iowa City draws heavily from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and Cedar Rapids is supported by the regional campuses of UnityPoint Health and MercyOne.
How can I get hired as a icu registered nurse in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to a nurse residency or new graduate program at one of Iowa's major health systems. UnityPoint Health and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics both run structured new-graduate nurse residency programs that include critical care tracks for RNs without prior ICU experience. Starting in a progressive care unit, medical-surgical floor, or step-down unit at an Iowa hospital is a common bridge, as employers regularly promote internally into ICU roles. Earning your BLS and ACLS certifications before applying and expressing a clear interest in critical care during interviews strengthens candidacy considerably.
Where can I find and apply to icu registered nurse jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to icu registered nurse jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience, credentials, and preferred location within the state, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 27 ICU Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find ICU Registered Nurse Jobs