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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Overview

Open roles48
Top employerThe University of Iowa
Top cityIowa City, IA
Cities hiring12
Work type100% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 4 of 48+ Registered Nurse Operating Room jobs

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RN Operating Room - PRN *EXPERIENCE REQUIRED*
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Added 1d ago
RN Operating Room - PRN *EXPERIENCE REQUIRED*
Advanced Surgery Center of Central Iowa
West Des Moines, Iowa
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
On-Site
PALS Certification

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MercyOne
OR RN-Operating Room Registered Nurse
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MercyOne
Added 2d ago
OR RN-Operating Room Registered Nurse
MercyOne
Davenport, Iowa
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
BLS Certification

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White Glove Placement, Inc.
RN Operating Room
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White Glove Placement, Inc.
Added 2d ago
RN Operating Room
White Glove Placement, Inc.
Mason City, Iowa
Healthcare Administration
Nursing
Patient Services & Wellbeing
NRP Certification
1,001-5,000

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The University of Iowa
Staff Nurse - Main Operating Room, Cardiothoracic Team 1
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The University of Iowa
Added 2d ago
Staff Nurse - Main Operating Room, Cardiothoracic Team 1
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa
Executive Leadership & C-Suite
Program Management
Project Management
$61k/yr
Nursing Diploma
10,000+

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See All 48 Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs in Iowa

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Registered Nurse Operating Room Jobs by City in Iowa

Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Iowa City
18 jobs
Des Moines
7 jobs
Davenport
5 jobs
West Des Moines
5 jobs
Waterloo
3 jobs
Cedar Rapids
3 jobs
Mason City
2 jobs
DeWitt
1 job
Dubuque
1 job

Registered Nurse Operating Room Job Market in Iowa

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

Who's Hiring

  • The University of Iowa
    The University of Iowa18
  • MercyOne
    MercyOne9
  • UnityPoint Health
    UnityPoint Health6
  • FirstChoice
    FirstChoice3
  • American Traveler
    American Traveler3

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services11
  • Education9
  • Insurance1

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 UnityPoint Health, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 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 August 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.

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