Registered Nurse (RN) - Temporary
State of Iowa
Posted: January 12, 2026 (3 days ago)
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State of Iowa
400 Health & Human Services - State Operated Specialty Care
Location
Iowa, 50319
Salary
$32.69 - $46.49
per hour
Type
Full Time
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This job is for a registered nurse at a state mental health institute in Iowa, where you'll provide care to children and adolescents with psychiatric needs, including treatments, emergency responses, and teamwork with doctors and other staff.
It's ideal for compassionate nurses who enjoy helping people with mental health challenges and want opportunities for professional growth through training.
The role offers incentives like recruitment bonuses and shift pay, plus strong benefits in a rewarding but demanding environment.
This position is eligible for a $10,000 recruitment payment. This position is also eligible for a retention payment of $10,000 for every 6 months of commitment.
Speak to the Hiring Manager for more information on eligibility. Current state employees are not eligible for recruitment payments upon transfer, demotion, or promotion to another agency.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau of Independence Mental Health Institute (IMHI) is seeking a Registered Nurse (RN) to join our team!
This is a full-time position with HHS. In addition to the base pay rate, there is an available shift differential of $0.90 per hour for second shift and $1.00 per hour for third shift.
We also offer a strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development.
An effective RN, under the functional supervision of the nursing supervisor, will have the ability to communicate and collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, receive, and transcribe physician orders and report and document client conditions.
RNs routinely provide treatment, implement nursing interventions, and respond to emergency situations.
Documentation is important so RNs will need to accurately and efficiently capture client assessments, observations, progress, and care provided.IMHI and HHS want you to grow as a professional so offer opportunities for you to attend seminars, conferences, and other training activities to stay current in nursing practice standards and evidence-based nursing care.
Our RNs must also maintain licensure, basic life support certification, and other mandatory continuing education activities.
Applicants will be required to complete a background check and hold valid, unrestricted Iowa Registered Nurse licensure to be considered for this position.
IMHI provides inpatient treatment and acute psychiatric services, including individualized treatment plans and support for children and adolescent patients to continue their education.
Individuals are encouraged to collaborate with staff members in formulating their own plan. Medication, group counseling, and activities therapies might be included as well.
If you enjoy helping people with adult, children and family services, mental health treatment, disabilities services, and long-term care, this is a wonderful opportunity to consider.
For more IMHI info: https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/specialty-care-facilities/independence-mental-health-institute
When a long-term team member was asked “why did you choose a career at IMHI,” the team member stated, “It really is the work that has kept me here. The work is rewarding.
The patients are the most difficult to treat and most expensive. We are the final stop for getting cutting edge psychiatric treatment.”
We are seeking dedicated RNs to care for our patients. If you are a caring and compassionate professional who is looking to join a great team, please consider applying!
Benefits of Joining IMHI
Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.
For additional information on benefits click here.
Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator.
Independence Highlights
IMHI is in Independence, Iowa, a city of approximately 6,000, located in scenic Northeast Iowa.
The Wapsipinicon River flows through town offering many recreational opportunities from canoeing to fishing.
Independence is a progressive community sporting a newer public library, trails, and Cedar Rock state park which includes a Frank Lloyd Wright home.
Independence is 30 minutes from Waterloo/Cedar Falls home of the UNI Panthers, 45 minutes from Cedar Rapids and 1 hour from Iowa City, home of the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer
HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply.
Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).
E-Verify and Right to Work
The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.
Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States.
The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization.
For more information, please visitwww.e-verify.gov.
More information regarding the Nurse Licensure Compact Administrators agreement of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing is available at the Nurse Licensure Compact
Review the provisions of the statute that authorized the creation of the Nurse Licensure Compact at Chapter 152E, Iowa Code.
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