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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Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON - RN)
Are you a compassionate Registered Nurse (RN) leader looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals during their healthcare journey? If so, join Care Initiatives as an ADON - RN, where you will provide comprehensive care that truly matters. With over forty (40) skilled nursing communities across Iowa, we are committed to providing exceptional care and support at every stage of the healthcare journey.
As an ADON on our team, you will have the opportunity to apply your skills and demonstrate your compassion, positively influencing the lives of our residents and team members. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our residents, their loved ones, and our team members.
Join a forward-thinking organization where your expertise is valued, and your leadership shapes the future of care. Apply today!
What You’ll Do & Key Responsibilities:
- Assist the DON in planning, organizing, and directing the nursing department, with the aim of gaining valuable experience and expertise for potential advancement within the organization.
- Conduct regular rounds to monitor care delivery concerns and progress; acknowledge the progress while proposing and helping implement solutions to address concerns.
- Enforce policies and guide the team, fostering both personal and team growth.
- Support and coach RN's to promote teamwork and high-quality care.
- Manage administrative functions to enhance department efficiency and pave the way for future growth.
- Communicate effectively with residents and families regarding care needs.
- Document care accurately to meet clinical, regulatory, and facility standards.
- Follow infection control, safety, and compliance protocols at all times.
- Participate in an on-call rotation with other members of the leadership team.
- Valid RN license in good standing. License must be valid within the state of Iowa, or ability to activate.
- Current, valid CPR Certification.
- Knowledge of federal and state long-term care regulations and laws.
- A desire to learn and grow as part of a quality focused clinical team.
- A strong commitment to helping others and consistently treating them with empathy, respect, patience, and discretion.
- Competitive Compensation: Earn a highly competitive wage.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Eligible employees enjoy robust benefit options including medical, dental, vision, 403(b) retirement savings plan, PTO, and more.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Develop your skills with company paid training and education to take your career to the next level.
- Digital Wallet Access: Get paid as you earn—no more waiting for payday!
Apply today and become part of a team where your compassion, dedication, and care truly matter. At Care Initiatives, we’re committed to helping you grow your career while improving the lives of those we serve.
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, Care Initiatives will honor your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.
Care Initiatives is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. Care Initiatives complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON - RN)
Are you a compassionate Registered Nurse (RN) leader looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals during their healthcare journey? If so, join Care Initiatives as an ADON - RN, where you will provide comprehensive care that truly matters. With over forty (40) skilled nursing communities across Iowa, we are committed to providing exceptional care and support at every stage of the healthcare journey.
As an ADON on our team, you will have the opportunity to apply your skills and demonstrate your compassion, positively influencing the lives of our residents and team members. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our residents, their loved ones, and our team members.
Join a forward-thinking organization where your expertise is valued, and your leadership shapes the future of care. Apply today!
What You’ll Do & Key Responsibilities:
- Assist the DON in planning, organizing, and directing the nursing department, with the aim of gaining valuable experience and expertise for potential advancement within the organization.
- Conduct regular rounds to monitor care delivery concerns and progress; acknowledge the progress while proposing and helping implement solutions to address concerns.
- Enforce policies and guide the team, fostering both personal and team growth.
- Support and coach RN's to promote teamwork and high-quality care.
- Manage administrative functions to enhance department efficiency and pave the way for future growth.
- Communicate effectively with residents and families regarding care needs.
- Document care accurately to meet clinical, regulatory, and facility standards.
- Follow infection control, safety, and compliance protocols at all times.
- Participate in an on-call rotation with other members of the leadership team.
- Valid RN license in good standing. License must be valid within the state of Iowa, or ability to activate.
- Current, valid CPR Certification.
- Knowledge of federal and state long-term care regulations and laws.
- A desire to learn and grow as part of a quality focused clinical team.
- A strong commitment to helping others and consistently treating them with empathy, respect, patience, and discretion.
- Competitive Compensation: Earn a highly competitive wage.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Eligible employees enjoy robust benefit options including medical, dental, vision, 403(b) retirement savings plan, PTO, and more.
- Tuition Reimbursement: Develop your skills with company paid training and education to take your career to the next level.
- Digital Wallet Access: Get paid as you earn—no more waiting for payday!
Apply today and become part of a team where your compassion, dedication, and care truly matter. At Care Initiatives, we’re committed to helping you grow your career while improving the lives of those we serve.
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, Care Initiatives will honor your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.
Care Initiatives is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. Care Initiatives complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
See All 43 Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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
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 Curana Health, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 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?
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Creston 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 50% of registered nurse openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of October 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.
See All 43 Registered Nurse Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Registered Nurse Jobs