Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa
Registered Nurse jobs in Iowa are in strong and steady demand, concentrated in hospital systems, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and outpatient clinics, with openings available from new graduate to experienced charge nurse. The heaviest hiring activity is in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, where employers like UnityPoint Health, MercyOne, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics maintain large and consistent nursing workforces. Critical care, medical-surgical, and emergency nursing are the specialties seeing the most consistent openings across the state. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Assignment Overview
- Shift: Days, 3x12hrs
- Hours: 36 hrs/wk
- Start Date: Sep 21, 2026
- Length: 26 weeks
- Openings: 1
Description
American Traveler is hiring an experienced ICU RN for a CCU/CMICU position requiring ACLS certification and a compact or Iowa RN license.
Details
- CCU/CMICU unit within a hospital setting
- 26-week assignment length
- Day shift schedule from 07:00 to 19:30
- Every other weekend and every other holiday rotation required
Requirements
- Active RN license (Compact or Iowa) currently in hand, verified within 30 days of start
- Current BLS certification (American Heart Association)
- Current ACLS certification (American Heart Association) required for CCU RNs
- TNCC and NIHSS certifications preferred
- Reference checks required for consideration
- Proof of COVID vaccination status required for consideration
Additional Information
- Provide critical care nursing services within a combined CCU/CMICU unit
- Holiday coverage required on a rotating basis
See All 66 Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa
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Find Registered Nurse JobsRegistered Nurse Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Registered Nurse Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Maxim Healthcare16

- MercyOne10

- Care Initiatives6

- UnityPoint Health6

- Mercy Cedar Rapids3

Top Industries Hiring
- Insurance
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Technology & Software
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in 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 work
- Minimum one year of acute care or specialty clinical experience preferred
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Ability to work rotating shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays
Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a registered nurse in Iowa?
To become a registered nurse in Iowa, you must complete an accredited nursing program at the associate or bachelor's level, then pass the NCLEX-RN examination and apply for licensure through the Iowa Board of Nursing. Iowa is a Nursing Licensure Compact member state, so nurses already licensed in another compact state can work in Iowa without obtaining a separate Iowa license. New graduates should submit their application to the Iowa Board of Nursing promptly after passing the NCLEX.
How much do registered nurses make in Iowa?
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 registered nurses in Iowa?
Employers hiring registered nurses in Iowa right now include Maxim Healthcare, MercyOne, and Care Initiatives, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Iowa's largest nursing employers tend to be integrated health systems and academic medical centers with facilities distributed across multiple cities and rural communities throughout the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most registered nurse jobs?
Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, and Des Moines are the Iowa cities with the most registered nurse openings. Des Moines anchors the largest share of listings as the state's population center, home to major health systems and regional specialty hospitals, while Iowa City's openings are driven largely by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, one of the Midwest's leading academic medical centers, and Cedar Rapids benefits from a dense concentration of community hospitals and long-term care networks.
Are there remote registered nurse jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of registered nurse openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, which reflects how hands-on and facility-based the role is by nature. The registered nurse positions most likely to offer remote work are telephone triage, care management, utilization review, and insurance case management roles, where direct patient contact is replaced by phone or system-based assessment.
How can I get hired as a registered nurse in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying directly to new graduate nurse residency programs, which large Iowa employers run specifically to bring early-career nurses up to clinical readiness. UnityPoint Health and MercyOne both operate structured residency programs that accept new graduates and provide supervised rotations in med-surg or critical care. Applicants who hold a current Iowa nursing license, even without hospital experience, are competitive for these programs. Nursing assistant or patient care technician roles at target employers also provide a recognized entry point.
Where can I find and apply to registered nurse jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to registered nurse jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings from employers across the state. Search the listings to find roles that match your specialty, preferred location, and experience level, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
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