Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa
Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant jobs in Iowa concentrate heavily in primary care, rural health, and hospital-based medicine, with steady demand at every level from new graduates to experienced clinicians. The most active hiring markets are Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids, where large systems like UnityPoint Health, University of Iowa Health Care, and MercyOne maintain consistent openings. Family practice, urgent care, and behavioral health are the most in-demand specialties across the state. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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DayScheduled Weekly Hours
40Summary
This position supports Mercy's philosophy of patient centered care by providing professional medical services to patients of MercyCare Community Physicians. Within Nurse Practitioner (ARNP)/Physician relationship, ARNPs exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and services provided.Job Description
Job Duties
- Provides professional medical services to patients of MercyCare Community Physicians.
- Obtains and records an appropriate medical history of each patient, including, but not limited to: The patient's chief complaint, past medical history, family history, social history, review of systems, physical exam, diagnosis, assessment and plan of care.
- Performs and/or orders clinically appropriate procedures for each patient and documenting same.
- Analyzes reports and findings of tests and clinical examinations in order to assess the medical condition of each patient, including formulating a diagnosis and documenting same in conformity with applicable professional standards, third party payer requirements and Mercy policies and procedures.
- Prescribes clinically appropriate medication and treatment for each patient and timely documenting same, in collaboration with supervising physician.
- Refers each patient to other physicians, including specialists and other health care providers, whenever the patient's condition so warrants and documenting same.
- Keeps and maintains accurate, complete, appropriate, timely and legible medical records relating to all professional services rendered to Mercy patients in conformity with applicable professional standards, third party payer requirements and Mercy policies and procedures.
- Timely reports births, deaths, outbreaks of contagious disease and other information required by law to be reported to governmental authorities.
- Uses and promotes evidence-based clinical practice.
- Exercises final medical judgment in all issues of health care.
- Reviews on a regular basis long term cases that require ongoing medical attention.
- Consults with Medical Director and other medical professionals as needed regarding patient care, assessment, and education issues.
- Participates in quality improvement, management, continuing education, and other patient care programs established by Mercy.
- Assists in the resolution of complaints, requests and inquiries from patients.
- Maintains current knowledge regarding state and federal regulations impacting ARNP practice.
- Follows Mercy's safety guidelines, carries out job-specific safety duties and responsibilities, and promptly reports any unsafe conditions, situations, incidents and injuries.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Knowledge of and ability to apply professional medical principles, procedures, and techniques.
- Thorough knowledge of pharmacological agents used in patient treatment.
- Effective verbal and written communication skills along with proper telephone etiquette.
- Performs duties in a tactful and professional manner.
Professional Experience
- Previous clinical experience preferred.
- Previous experience in field of practice preferred.
Education
- Education sufficient to obtain required licensure.
Licensure, Certification, Registration
- Licensed to practice medicine without restriction or limitation in the State of Iowa required.
- Medical staff privileges at Mercy Medical Center may be required.
- Iowa Dependent Adult Abuse/Iowa Child Abuse Mandatory Reporter training required. Employee must submit certification of completed training to Human Resources prior to start or transfer date.
- Current certification in Basic Life Support (BLS), in accordance with the American Heart Association required.
Physical Requirements
Pay Rate Type
Hourly, SalaryMercy is an independent, community-based organization supporting the Cedar Rapids area for over 120 years.
Mercy is an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion and therefore evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, civil union status, parental status, religion, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
See All 62 Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa
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Find JobsNurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Signify Health29

- Curana Health6

- Medcor5

- Sentinel Health Services4
- Iowa Primary Care Association3

Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs across Iowa.
- Active Iowa nurse practitioner or physician assistant license issued by the Iowa Board of Nursing or Iowa Board of Physician Assistants
- Master's degree or doctoral degree in nursing or physician assistant studies from an accredited program
- Current national certification such as NCCPA for PAs or AANPCP or ANCC for NPs
- Current DEA registration and Iowa controlled substances prescribing authority where required
- Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certification required at hire
- Experience with electronic health record systems, particularly Epic, in a clinical setting
Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a nurse practitioner or physician assistant in Iowa?
Nurse practitioners in Iowa must hold an active license from the Iowa Board of Nursing, which requires completing an accredited graduate nursing program and passing the relevant national certification exam through AANPCP or ANCC. Physician assistants must be licensed by the Iowa Board of Physician Assistants after graduating from an accredited PA program and passing the PANCE through NCCPA. Both roles require maintaining continuing education to keep licensure current in Iowa.
Which companies hire nurse practitioner or physician assistants in Iowa?
Companies currently hiring nurse practitioner or physician assistants in Iowa include Signify Health, Curana Health, and Medcor, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Iowa's integrated health systems and federally qualified health centers across rural communities also maintain some of the most consistent hiring volumes in the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs?
Iowa, Davenport, and Cedar Rapids have the most nurse practitioner or physician assistant openings in Iowa. Des Moines drives the largest share of postings as the home base of major regional health systems, while Iowa City's volume is anchored by the University of Iowa Health Care academic medical center, and Cedar Rapids reflects the broader clinical infrastructure of Iowa's second-largest metro.
Are there remote nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. About 94% of nurse practitioner or physician assistant openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting the largely in-person nature of direct patient care. The sub-specialties most likely to offer remote or telehealth components include behavioral health, chronic disease management, and psychiatric mental health across Iowa's underserved rural communities.
How can I get hired as a nurse practitioner or physician assistant in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying to new-graduate or transition-to-practice residency programs offered by systems like UnityPoint Health and University of Iowa Health Care, which are designed for candidates without post-graduate clinical hours. Candidates who have worked as registered nurses or physician assistant students completing rotations at Iowa facilities often move directly into entry-level NP or PA roles. Holding a current Iowa license and national certification before applying gives any new-graduate candidate a significant competitive edge.
Where can I find and apply to nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to nurse practitioner or physician assistant jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings across health systems, clinics, and community health organizations. Search the listings, find the roles that match your specialty and availability, and apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 62 Nurse Practitioner Or Physician Assistant Jobs in Iowa
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