Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Iowa
Registered Nurse Operating Room jobs in Iowa are concentrated in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Cedar Rapids, where health systems like UnityPoint Health, University of Iowa Health Care, and MercyOne operate busy surgical programs that hire at every experience level. Perioperative care, scrub and circulating roles, and robotic-assisted surgery support are the specialties drawing the most consistent demand across Iowa's major OR suites. Hiring is steady year-round, with experienced OR nurses and new graduates completing perioperative residencies both finding openings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 33+ Registered Nurse Operating Room jobs
Full time
Shift:
Day Shift
Description:
At MercyOne, health care is more than just a doctor’s visit or a place to go when you’re in need of medical attention. Our Mission is based on improving the health of our communities – that means not only when you are sick but keeping you well.Dubuque, located right on the Mississippi River, is known for its historic charm and has a cost of living approximately 12% below the U.S. average. The Dubuque Community School District is highly regarded, and the city offers private schools plus colleges like Loras College and Clarke University. Families enjoy cultural attractions such as the National Mississippi River Museum, arts festivals and an abundance of parks and trails.As the region's leading hospital, MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center offers the only Level II NICU and the most comprehensive cardiology center in the tri-state area. It holds Magnet designation (fifth consecutive cycle), CMS 5-star quality rating and national recognition including Fortune/IBM Watson's 100 Top Hospitals. It's a Wellmark Blue Distinction Center+ for maternity and earns American Heart Association awards -- Stroke Gold Plus, Mission: Lifeline NSTEMI and STEMI Gold. It recently celebrated 100 years of American Heart Association membership.Want to learn more about MercyOne Dubuque? Click here:
Find a Location Dubuque, Iowa (IA), MercyOne Dubuque
Join the MercyOne Family! We are looking to hire a Registered Nurse!
An Operating Room Registered Nurse at MercyOne provides perioperative patient care, specifically in the intraoperative phase, in both the scrub and circulating roles according to established guidelines. Serves the population from neonate, infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric.
Essential Functions:
- Knows, understands, incorporates, and demonstrates the Trinity Health and MercyOne Mission, Vision, and Values in behaviors, practices, and decisions.
- Scrubs and circulates on cases independently, with minimal direction.
- Prepares for surgical cases in an efficient manner, anticipating needs of patient, surgeon, anesthesia and other O.R. team members.
- Provides a safe environment for patient and staff by implementing standards of aseptic technique and by controlling the physical and psychological aspects of that environment.
- Collects and analyzes data and assesses patient in developing nursing diagnosis.
- Communicates effectively with the patient, staff, physicians, and families.
- Maintains knowledge of equipment set-up and function.
- Initiates and directs room clean up and turnover.
- Participates in orientation and training of new personnel.
- Assists in maintenance of physician's preference cards and other O.R. resource material.
- Utilizes computer in surgical documentation, disposition of specimens and obtaining pertinent information.
- Participates in departmental Performance Improvement activities as appropriate.
- Attends department meetings and in-services.
- Other duties as assigned by the manager.
- Maintains a working knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, Trinity Health’s Organizational Integrity Program, Standards of Conduct, as well as other policies and procedures in order to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical, and professional behavior.
- 1.0 FTE, 40 hours per week
- Day shift - 10 hour days
- 6:30 am - 5:00 pm
- On call rotation for weekends and holidays
- 30-minute response time​
Minimum Qualifications:
- Associate degree in nursing required.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
- Current Iowa RN license, (MercyOne Genesis - current Registered Nurse (RN) license in either Iowa or Illinois is required at the time of hire. A secondary RN license for the other state must be obtained within 12 months of the hire date.) 
- Operating Room experience preferred.
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) required. 
- Proof of completion of Mandatory Reporter – Child and/or Dependent Adult Abuse training within three (3) months of hire.   
- Must be comfortable operating in a collaborative, shared leadership environment.
- Must possess a personal presence that is characterized by a sense of honesty, integrity, and caring with the ability to inspire and motivate others to promote the philosophy, mission, vision, goals, and values of Trinity Health and MercyOne.
Visit MercyOne Careers to learn more about the benefits, culture, and career development opportunities available to you at MercyOne Health System circle of care.
Our Commitment
Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
Full time
Shift:
Day Shift
Description:
At MercyOne, health care is more than just a doctor’s visit or a place to go when you’re in need of medical attention. Our Mission is based on improving the health of our communities – that means not only when you are sick but keeping you well.Dubuque, located right on the Mississippi River, is known for its historic charm and has a cost of living approximately 12% below the U.S. average. The Dubuque Community School District is highly regarded, and the city offers private schools plus colleges like Loras College and Clarke University. Families enjoy cultural attractions such as the National Mississippi River Museum, arts festivals and an abundance of parks and trails.As the region's leading hospital, MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center offers the only Level II NICU and the most comprehensive cardiology center in the tri-state area. It holds Magnet designation (fifth consecutive cycle), CMS 5-star quality rating and national recognition including Fortune/IBM Watson's 100 Top Hospitals. It's a Wellmark Blue Distinction Center+ for maternity and earns American Heart Association awards -- Stroke Gold Plus, Mission: Lifeline NSTEMI and STEMI Gold. It recently celebrated 100 years of American Heart Association membership.Want to learn more about MercyOne Dubuque? Click here:
Find a Location Dubuque, Iowa (IA), MercyOne Dubuque
Join the MercyOne Family! We are looking to hire a Registered Nurse!
An Operating Room Registered Nurse at MercyOne provides perioperative patient care, specifically in the intraoperative phase, in both the scrub and circulating roles according to established guidelines. Serves the population from neonate, infant, pediatric, adolescent, adult and geriatric.
Essential Functions:
- Knows, understands, incorporates, and demonstrates the Trinity Health and MercyOne Mission, Vision, and Values in behaviors, practices, and decisions.
- Scrubs and circulates on cases independently, with minimal direction.
- Prepares for surgical cases in an efficient manner, anticipating needs of patient, surgeon, anesthesia and other O.R. team members.
- Provides a safe environment for patient and staff by implementing standards of aseptic technique and by controlling the physical and psychological aspects of that environment.
- Collects and analyzes data and assesses patient in developing nursing diagnosis.
- Communicates effectively with the patient, staff, physicians, and families.
- Maintains knowledge of equipment set-up and function.
- Initiates and directs room clean up and turnover.
- Participates in orientation and training of new personnel.
- Assists in maintenance of physician's preference cards and other O.R. resource material.
- Utilizes computer in surgical documentation, disposition of specimens and obtaining pertinent information.
- Participates in departmental Performance Improvement activities as appropriate.
- Attends department meetings and in-services.
- Other duties as assigned by the manager.
- Maintains a working knowledge of applicable Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, Trinity Health’s Organizational Integrity Program, Standards of Conduct, as well as other policies and procedures in order to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical, and professional behavior.
- 1.0 FTE, 40 hours per week
- Day shift - 10 hour days
- 6:30 am - 5:00 pm
- On call rotation for weekends and holidays
- 30-minute response time​
Minimum Qualifications:
- Associate degree in nursing required.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
- Current Iowa RN license, (MercyOne Genesis - current Registered Nurse (RN) license in either Iowa or Illinois is required at the time of hire. A secondary RN license for the other state must be obtained within 12 months of the hire date.) 
- Operating Room experience preferred.
- American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) required. 
- Proof of completion of Mandatory Reporter – Child and/or Dependent Adult Abuse training within three (3) months of hire.   
- Must be comfortable operating in a collaborative, shared leadership environment.
- Must possess a personal presence that is characterized by a sense of honesty, integrity, and caring with the ability to inspire and motivate others to promote the philosophy, mission, vision, goals, and values of Trinity Health and MercyOne.
Visit MercyOne Careers to learn more about the benefits, culture, and career development opportunities available to you at MercyOne Health System circle of care.
Our Commitment
Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
See All 33 Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Iowa
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Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Registered Nurse Operating Room Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in registered nurse operating room jobs across Iowa.
- Active Iowa RN license issued or recognized by the Iowa Board of Nursing
- Current BLS certification required by most Iowa hospital employers
- CNOR certification preferred or required for senior perioperative positions
- Minimum one to two years of hands-on operating room or perioperative nursing experience
- Demonstrated competency in scrub and circulating roles across surgical specialties
- Ability to respond to on-call assignments during nights and weekends as scheduled
Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a registered nurse operating room in Iowa?
You start by earning an associate or bachelor's degree in nursing, passing the NCLEX-RN, and obtaining an active Iowa RN license through the Iowa Board of Nursing. Iowa participates in the Nurse Licensure Compact, so nurses licensed in compact states can practice without a separate Iowa license. From there, many hospitals offer perioperative nursing residencies designed specifically for RNs who want OR training but have not worked in a surgical setting before.
How much do registered nurse operating rooms make in Iowa?
Registered nurse operating rooms 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 operating rooms in Iowa?
Companies currently hiring registered nurse operating rooms in Iowa include The University of Iowa, MercyOne, and American Traveler, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Iowa's largest health systems, including academic medical centers and regional hospital networks, tend to run the most active OR hiring because of their volume of elective and trauma surgical cases.
Which Iowa cities have the most registered nurse operating room jobs?
Iowa City, Des Moines, and Davenport have the most registered nurse operating room openings in Iowa. Des Moines anchors the largest share because of the concentration of flagship hospitals and specialty surgical centers headquartered there, while Iowa City's openings are driven by University of Iowa Health Care, a major academic medical center that runs high-volume specialty surgery programs, and Cedar Rapids draws consistent volume through its regional hospital campuses serving eastern Iowa.
Are there remote registered nurse operating room jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. Operating room nursing is an inherently hands-on, sterile-field role that requires physical presence in the surgical suite, so remote work is not a realistic option for the core position. About 0% of registered nurse operating room openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, and those postings typically involve perioperative education, clinical documentation review, or surgical services coordination rather than direct patient care.
How can I get hired as a registered nurse operating room in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic path is applying to a perioperative nursing residency, which UnityPoint Health and University of Iowa Health Care both run for licensed RNs who have no prior OR background. These structured programs provide scrub and circulating training over several months before independent practice. Nurses coming from medical-surgical, emergency, or procedural areas have the strongest lateral footing, and holding or actively pursuing CNOR eligibility signals commitment that Iowa hiring managers respond to.
Where can I find and apply to registered nurse operating room jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to registered nurse operating room jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current Iowa openings from hospitals and health systems across the state. Search the listings for roles that match your specialty, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to the ones that fit.
See All 33 Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Iowa
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