RN

Ottumwa Regional Health Center

Ottumwa, Iowa

Eligibility: Critical Access

Posted Aug 8 · New grads welcomed · reported

Shift and hours: 12-⁠hour days3 shifts · 36 hours a week
Unit and setting: Hospital
License: RN license
Term: 13 weeks · starts Aug 24, 2026 · Travel

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New grads: Welcomed
License: RN License

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Your six-month RN application plan

Start about six months before graduation. Some programs open earlier; use each employer’s application dates.

Graduation month

6 months before
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Check application windows. Gather clinical experience, references and your expected graduation date.
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4–6 months before
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Why start this early?

Advocate describes a 6–9 month application runway for several regional RN programs. These milestones are a planning guide, not deadlines for every employer. See program calendars.

What it pays

Against similar roles: In range for Iowa travel rolesIowa travel postings that state pay run $49/hr to $69/hr, the middle half $53/hr to $67/hr, across 146 postings.

The role and schedule

Not in this role: Floating
On call: No call

The workplaceFrom Medicare Care Compare, Sep 2026.

Ottumwa Regional Health Center

Hospital: Ottumwa Regional Health Center
Address: 1001 E PENNSYLVANIA, OTTUMWA, IA, 52501
CMS rating: 2 of 5 stars
Beds: 76

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Original listing

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Details
Job Type
Travel
Profession
RN
Specialty
Critical Access
Job ID
18921462
Shift Details
Shift
12 Hour Day Shift
Shifts Per Week
3
Job Order Details
Start Date
08/24/2026
End Date
11/13/2026
Duration
13 Week(s)
Float Required
No
Call Required
No
Client Details
City
Ottumwa
State
IA

What's around it?

In Ottumwa, IA

Ottumwa, IAFrom Census ACS 2024.

Living costs about 12% below the US average

Median rent: $921/mo
Household income: $61,103/yr, all local households, not nurse pay

Life in Ottumwa, IA

NeighborhoodsOttumwa is split by the Des Moines River into distinct north and south sides joined by a series of bridges, alongside a compact historic City Center featuring converted downtown lofts. Popular residential pockets include the E Mary St area and Swanson, both recognized for family-friendly, quieter surroundings, as well as the E Pennsylvania Ave / N Jefferson St corridor, which offers walkable access to local stores and creekside scenery. The Wildwood Park area stands out for its direct access to green space, quiet residential streets, and mature trees, making it appealing for healthcare workers seeking quick drives to local facilities.

Ottumwa is split by the Des Moines River into distinct north and south sides joined by a series of bridges, alongside a compact historic City Center featuring converted downtown lofts. Popular residential pockets include the E Mary St area and Swanson, both recognized for family-friendly, quieter surroundings, as well as the E Pennsylvania Ave / N Jefferson St corridor, which offers walkable access to local stores and creekside scenery.

The Wildwood Park area stands out for its direct access to green space, quiet residential streets, and mature trees, making it appealing for healthcare workers seeking quick drives to local facilities.

Sources

As of Sep 16, 2026Source 1: apartments.com Source 2: neighborhoodscout.com Source 3: nextdoor.com

Getting aroundNavigating Ottumwa is predominantly vehicle-dependent, with local transit options being very limited. Daily travel times are exceptionally short compared to major metropolitan areas, with reported average one-way commutes ranging between 12 and 16 minutes. Crossing between the north and south sides requires navigating the river bridges, but general roadway congestion is minimal outside of seasonal summer street repairs and winter driving conditions.

Navigating Ottumwa is predominantly vehicle-dependent, with local transit options being very limited. Daily travel times are exceptionally short compared to major metropolitan areas, with reported average one-way commutes ranging between 12 and 16 minutes.

Crossing between the north and south sides requires navigating the river bridges, but general roadway congestion is minimal outside of seasonal summer street repairs and winter driving conditions.

Sources

As of Sep 16, 2026Source 1: areavibes.com Source 2: apartments.com Source 3: livability.com Source 4: youtube.com

OutdoorsOutdoor recreation centers on Greater Ottumwa Park, a 340-acre green space located right along the Des Moines River, complemented by the Wapello County Trails Council's 16-mile trail network. Wildwood Park offers disc golf courses, while the Beach Ottumwa complex provides an indoor-outdoor water park with wave pools and sand volleyball. Nearby regional escapes include Garrison Rock and Horse Thief Cave, the 18-hole Cedar Creek Golf Course, and boating or hiking at Lake Wapello State Park and Rathbun Lake.

Outdoor recreation centers on Greater Ottumwa Park, a 340-acre green space located right along the Des Moines River, complemented by the Wapello County Trails Council's 16-mile trail network. Wildwood Park offers disc golf courses, while the Beach Ottumwa complex provides an indoor-outdoor water park with wave pools and sand volleyball.

Nearby regional escapes include Garrison Rock and Horse Thief Cave, the 18-hole Cedar Creek Golf Course, and boating or hiking at Lake Wapello State Park and Rathbun Lake.

Sources

As of Sep 16, 2026Source 1: apartments.com Source 2: facebook.com Source 3: oakmeadowdelightbnb.com

Others hiring in Ottumwa, IA

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Moving for this role?

Employer relocation terms

Relocation assistance offered for registered nurses

Ottumwa Regional Health Center · eligibility varies by role

Sources

Source: facebook.com

Check the commute at your shift’s start and end, upfront housing costs, and whether moving assistance must be repaid if you leave.

Living in Ottumwa

Straddling the Des Moines River in southeast Iowa, Ottumwa is a resilient, bridge-connected community that blends small-town ease with distinctive cultural heritage. For relocating nurses, the primary practical advantage is effortless logistics: the average commute takes roughly 12 to 16 minutes, eliminating the daily traffic gridlock typical of larger healthcare hubs. Housing options span converted lofts in the historic downtown core, garden apartments, and modest ranch homes located in peaceful, tree-lined neighborhoods like Wildwood Park, Swanson, and E Mary St. Outside of work shifts, the city surprises newcomers with an eclectic local culinary footprint featuring Ethiopian, Filipino, and Mexican eateries alongside staples like Canteen Lunch in the Alley and coffee spots like HUB Coffee. Outdoor lovers can unwind across the 340 acres of Greater Ottumwa Park, walk along 16 miles of county river trails, or visit nearby Lake Wapello. While public transit is minimal and the city lacks big-metro shopping and nightlife, healthcare professionals willing to embrace a quieter, car-dependent Midwestern setting will find a welcoming, evolving community focused on steady revitalization.

AI area guide

Sources

As of 2026-09Source 1: apartments.com Source 2: livability.com Source 3: fieldsandheels.com Source 4: nextdoor.com Source 5: welcomeandconnect.org

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Do you qualify?

Shortlist units

Apply as windows open

Meet the unit manager

Confirm your start

What it pays

The role and schedule

The workplaceiFrom Medicare Care Compare, Sep 2026.

Worth asking

Ask Mira

Your fit

On your path

Original listing

What's around it?

Ottumwa, IAiFrom Census ACS 2024.

Life in Ottumwa, IA

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Nurses on this role

Life in Ottumwa, IA

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

The workplaceFrom Medicare Care Compare, Sep 2026.

Ottumwa, IAFrom Census ACS 2024.