University of Iowa
Academic medical center in Iowa City, IA
- $58k–$104k/yr posted pay across 6 roles
- Sign-on bonus up to $12,500 on 14 roles
- Hiring days and nights
- Nurse residency
From 24 postings, the employer’s site and nurse reviews · Employer research Jul 27, 2026Sources
The short version
You would be joining University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City—the state’s only comprehensive academic medical center and regional referral center, with a workforce of more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers. The stated mission is simple: Changing Medicine.
Employer research, Jul 27, 2026
You enter a 12-month CCNE-accredited Nurse Residency with a Residency Coordinator, nurse educators, experienced preceptors, and paid monthly cohort classes on evidence-based practice, well-being, and end-of-life care.
For new gradsQualified Staff Nurse candidates can see sign-on incentives up to $12,500 on Medicine Specialty (6RC) and up to $10,000 in Emergency Medicine on the University Campus.
For experienced nursesSources
Qualified Nurse Residency and nursing-grad candidates are offered a sign-on incentive up to $7,500.
For new gradsSources
As of 2026Source: uiowa.referrals.selectminds.com
Who it fits
Best fit
- New grads: Nurse residency: UI Health Care Nurse Residency Program · Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) · Applications: Nursing students graduating within next 4 months or graduated within last year; ADN or BSN; no prior RN experience
Nursing here
- Recognition
Magnet recognized
University of Iowa · employer research
- Nurse residency
UI Health Care Nurse Residency Program · Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) · Applications: Nursing students graduating within next 4 months or graduated within last year; ADN or BSN; no prior RN experience
University of Iowa · employer research
- Preceptors and orientation
First-year RNs get support from Residency Coordinator, Nurse Educators, and clinically experienced preceptors; monthly resident classes
University of Iowa · employer research
Sources
- Tuition support
Employer encourages ADN hires to continue education toward BSN (FAQ incomplete on formal tuition benefit)
University of Iowa · employer research
Sources
As of 2026Source: uihc.org- Scheduling
Staff Nurse roles often 50–100% FTE; Medicine Specialty 6RC varying shifts; OR Gyn 8/9/10/12-hr Mon–Fri with weekend/night/holiday call; clinic roles Mon–Fri no weekends
University of Iowa · employer research
Sources
- Floating
Employer advertises a nursing float pool with stackable incentives, competitive pay, sign-on, relocation, and flexible schedules
University of Iowa · employer research
Sources
As of 2023Source: facebook.com
Benefits
Sign-on incentives on selected residency and Staff Nurse roles; nursing float pool advertised with stackable incentives that can include relocation; Iowa Paid Parental Leave; wellness incentives such as Personal Health Assessment rewards.
Published pay and benefits
- Annual pay
Community-cited UI published pay grade range for 32-40 hr/week roles: $44,517–$55,646 (exclusions unclear)
As of 2022
Sources
- Sign-on bonus
Sign-on incentive up to $7,500 for qualified Nurse Residency Program / nursing grad candidates
As of 2026
- Sign-on bonus
Sign-on bonus up to $12,500 for qualified Staff Nurse candidates on Medicine Specialty Unit (6RC)
As of 2026
Sources
- Sign-on bonus
Sign-on bonus up to $10,000 for qualified Emergency Medicine Staff Nurse (University Campus) candidates
As of 2026
- Relocation
Employer social post references relocation assistance among nurse float-pool incentives
As of 2023
Sources
Units hiring now
- PACUDays 1 · Evenings 14 open
- ORDays 1 · Nights 13 open
- RehabDays 1 · Weekends only 12 open
- Urology procedure suiteDays 22 open
- DermatologyDays 11 open
- DOSADays 11 open
- Higher educationDays 11 open
- InfusionDays 11 open
- Internal medicineRotating 11 open
- Med surgDays 11 open
- Procedure suiteDays 11 open
- Surgery specialty clinicDays 11 open
What nurses say
Themes from public reviews
Summaries of published reviews, with the original sources.
- Overall recommendation and ratings
- Glassdoor overall ~4.0/5 with about 70% recommending; Iowa City subset higher at 4.1 with 86% recommending.
Sources
- Staff Nurse role satisfaction
- Small Staff Nurse Iowa City sample rated 4.0 with very high friend-recommend rate and strong career-opportunity scores.
Sources
As of 2026Source: www2.glassdoor.com.au- Compensation and career growth scores
- Category scores show compensation/benefits mid-3s and career opportunities lower overall, though Staff Nurse subset rated career opportunities very high.
Sources
More review themes
- Travel/contract working conditions interest
- Travel nurses seek recent intel on stepdown ratios and conditions; thread indicates active interest but limited concrete answers in source snippet.
Sources
As of 2024Source: reddit.com
The hard parts
From 2025 through about 2032 the Iowa City campus will live with major construction for a new patient care tower—main entrance closure, Parking Ramp 1 and water tower demolition, skywalk realignment—so your commute and campus walk will be noisier and more disrupted for years.
Sources
What to ask
- How is base pay set for the role, and which differentials apply?
- When would a sign-on bonus have to be repaid?
- Which shifts are open, and what are the weekend, holiday and call rules?
- How long is orientation, and will I have one preceptor?
- What is the usual patient load, and how often do nurses float?
Living in Iowa City, IA
Anchored by University of Iowa Health Care, Iowa City pairs high-acuity academic medicine with a storied UNESCO City of Literature charm. Commute past the brick-lined downtown Ped Mall, settle into historic neighborhoods like Goosetown, and stretch your nursing salary with a cost of living about 8.5% below the national average.
Browse roles in Iowa City- Metro price level · Iowa City area
- 8% below the national average
- BEA index 91.5 (100 = national)
- Median gross rent
- $1,094/mo
- rent and tenant-paid utilities
- Median household income
- $58,546/yr
- all local households, not nurse pay
U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis · 2024 metro Regional Price Parities · Census ACS 2024
Common questions
Does University of Iowa hire new grads?
9 of 24 roles ask for nursing experience, and none says it welcomes new grads. Its nurse residency: UI Health Care Nurse Residency Program · Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) · Applications: Nursing students graduating within next 4 months or graduated within last year; ADN or BSN; no prior RN experience.
Is there a sign-on bonus?
Yes, on 14 of 24 roles, up to $12,500.
Which shifts are open?
Of the 21 roles with a stated shift, 15 are day shifts, 2 are night shifts, 2 are rotating shifts, 1 is an evening shift and 1 is weekends only.
Which units are hiring?
PACU (4), OR (3), rehab (2), urology procedure suite (2) and more.
How do I apply?
Choose a role and press Apply. Your application comes to our team, we send it to University of Iowa, and we tell you what happens next.
Current openings at University of Iowa
- Magnet-designated
Staff Nurse Float - UI Health Care Tipton/Solon/West Branch Family Medicine Clinics
Posted last week
$50/hr
- RN
- Day shift
- ADN accepted
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- Day shift
- ADN accepted
- RN
- Weekend shift
Staff Nurse - 5Telemetry - 90% Nights (1900-0730) - Downtown Campus
From $59,315/year
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- 12-hour nights
Staff Nurse - 3W Medical - 90% Days - Downtown Campus
From $59,315/year
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- Day shift
- ADN accepted
ASC Pre/Recovery/PACU Staff Nurse 50% to 100%
$58,000–$106,000/year
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- ADN accepted
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- 8-hour days
- ADN accepted
Staff Nurse - Urgent Care Clinics 90%
$53,384–$97,924
- RN
- 12-hour days
- ADN accepted
- RN
- Rotating shift
- ADN accepted
Staff Nurse - Urology Procedure Suite Pre-Op (50% -100)
From $61,782/year
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- 10-hour days
- ADN accepted
Staff Nurse - Day of Surgery Admissions (DOSA) (100%)
From $61,782/year
- Magnet-designated
- RN
- Day shift
- ADN accepted
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- ADN accepted
- Floating required
Staff Nurse - Urology Procedure Suite (50% -100%)
From $61,782/year
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- 10-hour days
- ADN accepted
Staff Nurse - PACU & Second Stage Recovery- 50-100% D/E Rotating
From $61,183/year
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- Rotating shift
- ADN accepted
Staff Nurse - Otolaryngology Clinic
$62,000/year
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- Day shift
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- Evening shift
- ADN accepted
Staff Nurse - Dermatology Clinic (80% -100%)
$62,000/year
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- 8-hour days
- ADN accepted
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- Day shift
- RN
- Day shift
- Sign-on bonus
- RN
- 12-hour nights
- ADN accepted
Sources
- constructconnect.com/construction-economic-news/board-approves-funding-to-start-university-of-iowa-healthcare-2-billion-hospital-project
The hard parts · as of 2025
- facebook.com/uihealthcare/posts/nurses-join-our-%F0%9D%97%A1%F0%9D%97%98%F0%9D%97%AA-nursing-float-pool-to-enjoy-%EF%B8%8F-stackable-incentives-competiti/1366210412215362
Nursing here · as of 2023
- glassdoor.com/Reviews/University-of-Iowa-Health-Care-Reviews-E19596.htm
What nurses say · as of 2026
- glassdoor.com/Reviews/University-of-Iowa-Health-Care-Iowa-City-IA-Reviews-EI_IE19596.0,30_IL.31,43_IC1149332.htm
What nurses say · as of 2026
- reddit.com/r/nursing/comments/whhvrr/a_hospital_i_work_at_will_pay_new_grad_nurses
Nursing here · as of 2022
- reddit.com/r/TravelNursing/comments/1cnsa89/any_university_of_iowa_health_care_reviews
What nurses say · as of 2024
- uihc.org/nurse-residency-program
Employer website, The short version, Nursing here · as of 2026
- uihc.org/faq-nurse-residency-program
The short version, Nursing here · as of 2026
- uihealthcare.org/article/faq-phase-one-construction-future-patient-care-tower
The hard parts · as of 2025
- uiowa.referrals.selectminds.com/jobs/ui-health-care-nurse-residency-program-49114
The short version, Nursing here · as of 2026
- uiowa.referrals.selectminds.com/jobs/emergency-medicine-staff-nurse-university-campus-50-100-49106
The short version, Nursing here · as of 2026
- uiowa.taleo.net/careersection/2b/jobdetail.ftl
The short version, Nursing here · as of 2026
- www2.glassdoor.com.au/Reviews/University-of-Iowa-Health-Care-Staff-Nurse-Iowa-City-Reviews-EI_IE19596.0,30_KO31,42_IL.43,52_IC1149332.htm
What nurses say · as of 2026
Help improve this pageShare what it’s like, fix a detail, or add a useful photo.
Hiring here? List this unit.
Claim or manage this pageFrom nurses, to nurses
“We tried to imagine how loved ones for whom we might be solicitous would react were they in the place of the patients whom we hoped to serve.”
Keep some distance from the chronic complainers on your unit. Of everything that spreads in a hospital, negativity spreads fastest.