Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs in Iowa
Registered Nurse Med Surg jobs in Iowa are consistently active, with strong demand across large acute care hospital systems, critical access hospitals serving rural communities, and regional medical centers throughout the state. The heaviest hiring concentrates in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids, where employers like UnityPoint Health, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and MercyOne anchor the market at every level from new graduate to experienced charge nurse. The most in-demand specialties within med-surg include post-operative care, oncology step-down, and telemetry-monitored units. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Showing 5 of 28+ Registered Nurse Med Surg jobs
The RN is responsible for the delivery of safe and reliable patient care, in coordination with the healthcare team. The primary role of the RN is the execution of the nursing process in providing required care and evaluation of the care given. Responsibilities include: assessment, nursing diagnosis related to focus problem areas, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care. Performance of these responsibilities requires specialized knowledge, critical thinking and skills based on principles of psychological, social, physical and biological sciences that utilize the nursing process.
At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.
Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:
- Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
- Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
- Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.
With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.
And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.
Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.
Responsibilities:- Assumes primary responsibility for the plan of care for a patient or group of patients, per unit standards and nursing care required for the specified patient population.
- Effectively delegates tasks and responsibilities to other health care team members and assumes responsibility for follow-up and collaboration.
- Performs admission assessment process per specific department standards to include patient history, physical, and psycho-social assessment. Utilizes physical assessment data, diagnostic data (lab, radiology, diagnostic testing), pharmacological information and patient/family perceptions in formulating nursing diagnosis related to focus problem areas and identifying goals of care.
- Assumes responsibility for developing a plan of care that is mutually established with the patient and family. Each patient is treated as an individual, with their identified goals and expectations reviewed each shift to verify priorities.
- Implements the plan of care according to current standards of nursing practice, evidence-based practice, and hospital protocol/procedures.
- Integrates multidisciplinary approach to maintain comfort, support human functions and responses, and maintain an environment conductive to safety and well-being. Implements measures to promote a safe environment.
- Partners with healthcare team to achieve the patient care outcomes and goals of care.
- Administers medications and nursing treatments within scope of practice.
- Incorporates St. Luke’s Comfort/C.A.R.E. Professional Practice Model in their daily nursing care.
- Assess and chooses teaching strategies appropriate to the patient’s and their families’ age specific needs, culture, gender, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.
- Consults appropriate resources within the hospital to provide specialized education.
- Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.
- Integrates patient/family teaching throughout the hospitalization, including the plan and goals of care, pre- and post-operative procedures, diagnostic procedures, and discharge teaching.
- Integrates preventative health maintenance into the education plan.
- Assess and chooses teaching strategies appropriate to the patient’s and their families’ age specific needs, culture, gender, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.
- Consults appropriate resources within the hospital to provide specialized education.
- Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.
- Integrates patient/family teaching throughout the hospitalization, including the plan and goals of care, pre- and post-operative procedures, diagnostic procedures, and discharge teaching.
- Integrates preventative health maintenance into the education plan.
- Graduate of accredited nursing program
- Possess current RN licensure in the State of Iowa or compact state
- Current BCLS
- Writes, reads, comprehends and speaks fluent English
- Multicultural sensitivity
- Demonstrates proficiency in the manual skills and techniques required to perform basic/advanced nursing procedures in the administration of medication therapy and the operation of specialized equipment
- Ability to complete a basic computer course on the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) through in-hospital training
- Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position
The RN is responsible for the delivery of safe and reliable patient care, in coordination with the healthcare team. The primary role of the RN is the execution of the nursing process in providing required care and evaluation of the care given. Responsibilities include: assessment, nursing diagnosis related to focus problem areas, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care. Performance of these responsibilities requires specialized knowledge, critical thinking and skills based on principles of psychological, social, physical and biological sciences that utilize the nursing process.
At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top 150 Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.
Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options that align with your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:
- Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
- Dental and health insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
- Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.
With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.
And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.
Find a fulfilling career and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.
Responsibilities:- Assumes primary responsibility for the plan of care for a patient or group of patients, per unit standards and nursing care required for the specified patient population.
- Effectively delegates tasks and responsibilities to other health care team members and assumes responsibility for follow-up and collaboration.
- Performs admission assessment process per specific department standards to include patient history, physical, and psycho-social assessment. Utilizes physical assessment data, diagnostic data (lab, radiology, diagnostic testing), pharmacological information and patient/family perceptions in formulating nursing diagnosis related to focus problem areas and identifying goals of care.
- Assumes responsibility for developing a plan of care that is mutually established with the patient and family. Each patient is treated as an individual, with their identified goals and expectations reviewed each shift to verify priorities.
- Implements the plan of care according to current standards of nursing practice, evidence-based practice, and hospital protocol/procedures.
- Integrates multidisciplinary approach to maintain comfort, support human functions and responses, and maintain an environment conductive to safety and well-being. Implements measures to promote a safe environment.
- Partners with healthcare team to achieve the patient care outcomes and goals of care.
- Administers medications and nursing treatments within scope of practice.
- Incorporates St. Luke’s Comfort/C.A.R.E. Professional Practice Model in their daily nursing care.
- Assess and chooses teaching strategies appropriate to the patient’s and their families’ age specific needs, culture, gender, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.
- Consults appropriate resources within the hospital to provide specialized education.
- Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.
- Integrates patient/family teaching throughout the hospitalization, including the plan and goals of care, pre- and post-operative procedures, diagnostic procedures, and discharge teaching.
- Integrates preventative health maintenance into the education plan.
- Assess and chooses teaching strategies appropriate to the patient’s and their families’ age specific needs, culture, gender, readiness to learn and level of comprehension.
- Consults appropriate resources within the hospital to provide specialized education.
- Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.
- Integrates patient/family teaching throughout the hospitalization, including the plan and goals of care, pre- and post-operative procedures, diagnostic procedures, and discharge teaching.
- Integrates preventative health maintenance into the education plan.
- Graduate of accredited nursing program
- Possess current RN licensure in the State of Iowa or compact state
- Current BCLS
- Writes, reads, comprehends and speaks fluent English
- Multicultural sensitivity
- Demonstrates proficiency in the manual skills and techniques required to perform basic/advanced nursing procedures in the administration of medication therapy and the operation of specialized equipment
- Ability to complete a basic computer course on the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) through in-hospital training
- Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position
See All 28 Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsRegistered Nurse Med Surg Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Registered Nurse Med Surg Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- MercyOne13
- UnityPoint Health2
- RN Staff1
- Healthforce1
- Avera Health1
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in registered nurse med surg jobs across Iowa.
- Active registered nurse license issued or recognized by the Iowa Board of Nursing
- Current BLS certification required before start date
- Associate or bachelor of science in nursing degree from an accredited program
- One or more years of acute care med-surg or clinical inpatient experience preferred
- Strong proficiency with electronic health record systems such as Epic or Cerner
- Ability to manage a full patient load with demonstrated assessment and prioritization skills
Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a registered nurse med surg in Iowa?
You must earn an associate or bachelor of science in nursing from an accredited program, pass the NCLEX-RN examination, and obtain an active license through the Iowa Board of Nursing. Iowa participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses licensed in other compact states may work in Iowa without obtaining a separate license. Most hospitals then require new hires to complete an internal med-surg orientation or unit-specific training before independent patient assignments begin.
How much do registered nurse med surgs make in Iowa?
Registered nurse med surgs 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 nurse med surgs in Iowa?
Employers hiring registered nurse med surgs in Iowa right now include MercyOne, UnityPoint Health, and RN Staff, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. UnityPoint Health, MercyOne, and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics are among the most consistent large-system hirers in the state across multiple Iowa locations.
Which Iowa cities have the most registered nurse med surg jobs?
The cities with the most registered nurse med surg openings in Iowa are Des Moines, West Des Moines, and Centerville. Des Moines drives the largest share of listings as home to major health systems including UnityPoint Health Iowa Methodist and MercyOne Des Moines, while Iowa City's volume reflects the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and Cedar Rapids supports a dense concentration of regional acute care and specialty hospital campuses.
Are there remote registered nurse med surg jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. Med-surg nursing is a hands-on, bedside role that requires direct patient care, so the vast majority of positions are fully on-site. About 0% of registered nurse med surg openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those roles typically involve care coordination, telephonic case management, or utilization review functions rather than direct floor nursing.
How can I get hired as a registered nurse med surg in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a new graduate nurse residency program, which several large Iowa employers offer specifically to help RNs transition from school to independent practice. UnityPoint Health and University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics both run structured residency cohorts that place new graduates on med-surg floors with extended preceptorship. Candidates who have completed clinical rotations in acute care or who hold a certified nursing assistant credential have a clear edge when applying, and targeting critical access hospitals in smaller Iowa communities can also lower the competition threshold for a first full-time role.
Where can I find and apply to registered nurse med surg jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to registered nurse med surg jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings from employers across the state. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your experience and preferred location, and apply directly to each position that fits.
See All 28 Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs in Iowa
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