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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Overview

Open roles37
Top employerFirstChoice
Top cityWest Des Moines, IA
Cities hiring21
Work type100% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 37+ Registered Nurse Med Surg jobs

Broadlawns Medical Center
Staff Nurse - Med Surg -7a-7p
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Broadlawns Medical Center
Added 1d ago
Staff Nurse - Med Surg -7a-7p
Broadlawns Medical Center
Des Moines, Iowa
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
BLS Certification
1,001-5,000

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tms
Travel RN – Med Surg / Tele / PCU
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tms
Added 2d ago
Travel RN – Med Surg / Tele / PCU
tms
Sioux City, Iowa
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$2,500 - $2,592
BLS Certification
11-50

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V
Travel RN Med Surg
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V
Added 5d ago
Travel RN Med Surg
Voyage Health
Dyersville, Iowa
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Public Health
$1,907 - $2,008/yr

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MercyOne
Jumpstart RN - Med Surg
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MercyOne
Added 6d ago
Jumpstart RN - Med Surg
MercyOne
West Des Moines, Iowa
Corporate Training
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Teaching & Instruction

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F
RN - OB with Med Surg
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F
Added 1w ago
RN - OB with Med Surg
Floyd Valley Healthcare
Le Mars, Iowa
Caregiving & Elderly Support
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
BLS Certification

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See All 37 Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs in Iowa

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Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

West Des Moines
4 jobs
Newton
3 jobs
Hampton
3 jobs
Des Moines
3 jobs
Sioux City
3 jobs
New Hampton
3 jobs
Ida Grove
2 jobs
Dyersville
2 jobs
Centerville
2 jobs

Registered Nurse Med Surg Job Market in Iowa

A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • FirstChoice
    FirstChoice10
  • MercyOne
    MercyOne9
  • Franklin General Hospital
    Franklin General Hospital3
  • tms
    tms1
  • Healthforce
    Healthforce1

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services
  • Technology & Software

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 FirstChoice, MercyOne, and Franklin General Hospital, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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 West Des Moines, Newton, and Hampton. 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 August 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 37 Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs in Iowa

Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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