Jefferson County Health Center
Community Hospital · Fairfield, IA
On the floor
What the day-to-day looks like
- Setting
- Community Hospital
What stands out
Experienced nurses
Patients rate nursing communication here at five stars, which shows up in how your handoffs and bedside teaching land day to day.
As of 2026-07 · 2026Source 1: ottumwaradio.comSource 2: jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.orgSource 3: jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.org
Experienced nurses
Occasional and PRN ER RN roles post with a varying schedule, so you can pick up shifts that fit around the rest of your life.
As of 2026Source: jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.org
Moving here
This is Iowa’s oldest county hospital, still running as a critical-access campus in Fairfield with a full-service primary care clinic now open in Ottumwa.
As of 2026Source 1: linkedin.comSource 2: carlanelsoncoconstruction.comSource 3: jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.org
Experienced nurses
The hospital earned a Chartis rural quality leadership nod and sits in the top quarter of rural hospitals on that measure.
As of 2026Source: jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.org
More about working here
New graduates
Reviewers mention real chances to learn and a sense of purpose, with most coworkers described as friendly.
As of 2026-07-26 · 2023-09-01Source 1: indeed.comSource 2: glassdoor.com
Travel nurses
Med-Surg contract postings reference this Fairfield campus, and staff RN base pay has appeared around $63 an hour on public listings.
As of 2026-07-26Source 1: facebook.comSource 2: indeed.com
Experienced nurses
Specialties on campus include hospital medicine, OB/GYN, oncology, orthopedics, wound care, and a range of outpatient clinics.
As of 2026Source: jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.org
Working conditions
- Scheduling
- ER RN roles posted as Occasional/PRN, schedule Varies
As of 2026Source: jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.org
- Pay and benefits
- RN position listed at Jefferson County Health Center, Fairfield IA
As of 2026-07-26Source: indeed.com
- Pay and benefits
- Med Surg RN travel/contract breakdown W2 taxable rate, Fairfield IA 52556
As of 2026Source: facebook.com
- Pay and benefits
- Med Surg RN per-diem non-taxed stipend $1246/week, Fairfield IA
As of 2026Source: facebook.com
The city
Living in Fairfield, IA
Fairfield is a small southeast Iowa city where traditional Midwestern farm heritage meets an unexpected arts-and-meditation culture anchored by Maharishi International University. A classic town square and surrounding rolling countryside give nurses a quiet, community-focused lifestyle with easy access to outdoor recreation.
Browse roles in Fairfield
- State price level · Iowa
- 12% below the national average
- State index 87.8 (100 = national)
- Median gross rent
- $870/mo
- rent and tenant-paid utilities
- Median household income
- $51,311/yr
- all local households, not nurse pay
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · 2024 Regional Price Parities · Census ACS 2024
Who they are
You would be walking into Jefferson County Health Center in Fairfield, Iowa — a county hospital that has been open since 1912 and still serves as a critical-access campus.
- Community Hospital · Fairfield
More about Jefferson County Health Center
ER RN roles here post as Occasional or PRN with a varying schedule; you report to the unit Nurse Manager or House Supervisor and direct LPNs, CNAs, and the unit clerk. The building is climate-controlled, with the usual moderate-to-loud equipment noise and possible exposure to communicable disease. Patients have rated nursing communication and cleanliness at five stars, and the hospital sits among the top group of rural hospitals on a Chartis quality leadership award. Specialties on campus run from hospital medicine and OB/GYN to oncology, orthopedics, wound care, and outpatient clinics, and a full-service primary care clinic is now open in Ottumwa. Coworkers often get described as friendly, and reviewers mention flexibility and a chance to keep learning. Pay fairness is a weaker note on public reviews, with overall Indeed scores around 3.3 out of 5 and management and advancement trailing work-life. If a smaller Iowa county hospital with PRN texture fits how you want to work, this is a concrete place to look.
Working here
Culture and working life
Themes from public reviews
Summaries of published reviews, with the original sources.
- Overall rating and category scores
- Indeed overall about 3.3/5; work-life higher than pay, advancement, and management scores.
As of 2026-07-26Source: indeed.com
- Flexibility and purpose
- Reviewers cite time/location flexibility, sense of purpose, and chances to learn.
As of 2026-07-26Source: indeed.com
More review themes
- Management quality
- Maintenance worker said top leadership puts unqualified people into management roles.
As of 2026-07-26Source: indeed.com
- Staff vs administration
- Nurse review praised coworkers but said administration does not listen and makes no improvements.
As of 2018-09-30Source: glassdoor.com
- Coworker friendliness
- Physical therapist assistant called most staff very friendly with no cons reported.
As of 2023-09-01Source: glassdoor.com
What to weigh
On Indeed, fair pay is called out as an area that still needs work, and overall scores sit around 3.3 out of 5 with management and advancement trailing work-life.
As of 2026-07-26Source: indeed.com
The reality check
Before you decide
Quick facts
- Relationship
- Direct employer
- Roles last seen active
- Jul 24, 2026
Weighing a first job here?
The license clock and the job hunt run at once, and new-grad windows do the deciding. Residency commitments carry fine print worth reading before you sign.
Work here?
This page is built from public postings and employer research. Help us get it right: corrections, photos, and the story of the floor itself.
Improve this page →The units
A closer look at the units
Open counts come from the live roles below. Source links show where unit details were reported.
- ERnew grads · reported1 open
Emergency Room
Employer posts Occasional/PRN ER RN roles; reports to unit Nurse Manager/House Supervisor; directs LPN/CNA/Unit Clerk.
Source location unconfirmedSource: jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.org
Nursing
JCHC seeking qualified candidates for Nursing, Radiology, Lab, and Dietary departments.
Source location unconfirmedSource: jeffersoncountyhealthcenter.org
Med-Surg
Travel/contract Med Surg RN posting references Facility Jefferson County Health Center Fairfield IA 52556.
Source location unconfirmedSource: facebook.com
Open roles
Current openings at Jefferson County Health Center
Refreshed throughout the day.
Emergency Room Registered Nurse
Jefferson County Health CenterFairfield, IA
- New grads welcomed · reported
- RN
- Per diem
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