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49 nursing jobs in Detroit Lakes, MN

Detroit Lakes is a lakeside community in west-central Minnesota, known for its namesake lake and surrounding waterways. Outdoor recreation dominates the local lifestyle, with boating, fishing, and trails like the Paul Bunyan State Trail drawing year-round visitors. It's a small-town setting where nurses can expect a slower pace and strong community ties.

Detroit Lakes, MN on the map· Open the live map

Find a nursing job in Detroit Lakes

Hiring here: St. Mary's Regional Health Center (31) · Essentia Health (12) · Aveanna Healthcare (1) · Diamond Willow and Keystone Bluffs Assisted Living (1) · Essentia Health (1) · Lakeland Mental Health Center (1)

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN

  • RN
  • 8-⁠hour days
  • Per diem
Aveanna Healthcare logo

Aveanna Healthcare

Detroit Lakes, MN

  • LPN
  • Compact license OK
Sanford logo

Sanford

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • New grads welcomed
  • LPN
  • 8-⁠hour days
  • NP
  • Rotating shift
  • EMERGENCY SERVICES - DL HOSP
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • Per diem
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • CNA
  • 8-⁠hour days
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • New grads welcomed
  • LPN
  • Rotating shift
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • Per diem
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • LPN
  • 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday
  • 3201250 PSYCHOLOGY - DL CLIN
One-tap apply

PNP - Pediatrics - Detroit Lakes, MN

Posted last week

$120,848–$169,187/year

  • NP
  • Day shift
  • 3201120 GENERAL PEDIATRICS - DL CLIN
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • LPN
  • Monday through Friday, 7:45 am to 4:15 pm, with one weekday off
  • 3201100 DERMATOLOGY - DL CLIN
  • LPN
  • Tuition reimbursement
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • LPN
  • 8-⁠hour days
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • ICU - DL HOSP
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

PNP - Pediatrics - Detroit Lakes, MN

$121,000–$169,000/year

  • RN
  • Day shift
  • Tuition reimbursement
One-tap apply

Registered Nurse (RN) - Swat/Flex

$38–$57/hr

  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • Float Pool - Med Surg
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • RN
  • Day shift
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • NURSING HOME - DL SNF
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • New grads welcomed · reported
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • Sign-on bonus
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • FLOAT POOL - MED SURG - DL HOSP
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • RN
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • LPN
  • Tuition reimbursement
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • Sign-on bonus
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • ADN accepted
  • Sign-on bonus
  • 8-⁠hour nights
  • MED SURG - DL HOSP
Essentia Health logo

Essentia Health

Detroit Lakes, MN · Health system employer

  • RN
  • Tuition reimbursement

St. Mary's Regional Health Center

18 open roles

One-tap apply

Registered Nurse (RN) - PACU - PRN

Detroit Lakes, MN

$38–$57

  • RN
  • Day shift
  • PACU - DL HOSP
One-tap apply

Nursing Assistant - Evenings

Detroit Lakes, MN

  • Sign-on bonus
  • Evening shift
  • FLOAT POOL - MED SURG - DL HOSP
One-tap apply

Registered Nurse (RN) - Med / Surg - Part Time

Detroit Lakes, MN

$38–$57/hr

  • RN
  • ADN accepted
  • Tuition reimbursement
One-tap apply

CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant - Build Your Own Schedule

Detroit Lakes, MN

$23–$29/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • CNA
  • Rotating shift
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Sign-on bonus
  • CNA
  • Evening shift
  • Tuition reimbursement
One-tap apply

Nursing Assistant (NA) - Med / Surg - Part Time Evenings

Detroit Lakes, MN

$18–$26/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • Evening shift
  • Tuition reimbursement
One-tap apply

Nursing Assistant (NA) - Float - Part Time Days

Detroit Lakes, MN

$18–$26/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • Day shift
  • Tuition reimbursement
One-tap apply

Registered Nurse (RN) Circulator - Surgery - PRN

Detroit Lakes, MN

$38–$57

  • RN
  • Day shift
  • Per diem
One-tap apply

Registered Nurse (RN) - Emergency Department - Full Time

Detroit Lakes, MN

$38–$57/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • ADN accepted
One-tap apply

New Grad RN - Nurse Resident

Detroit Lakes, MN

$38–$57/hr

  • New grads welcomed
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
One-tap apply

Nursing Assistant (NA) - Med / Surg - Part time Days

Detroit Lakes, MN

$18–$26/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • 8-⁠hour days
  • Tuition reimbursement
One-tap apply

Nursing Assistant - Evenings

Detroit Lakes, MN

$18–$26/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • Evening shift
  • FLOAT POOL - MED SURG - DL HOSP
One-tap apply

Registered Nurse (RN) - Endoscopy - PRN

Detroit Lakes, MN

$38–$57

  • RN
  • Per diem
  • ADN accepted
One-tap apply

Registered Nurse (RN) - Med / Surg - Full Time

Detroit Lakes, MN

$38–$57/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • MED SURG - DL HOSP
  • RN
  • Day shift
  • SURGERY - DL HOSP
One-tap apply

Registered Nurse (RN) - ICU - Full Time

Detroit Lakes, MN

$38–$57/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • ADN accepted
One-tap apply

Registered Nurse (RN) - Emergency Department - Full Time

Detroit Lakes, MN

$38–$57/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • RN
  • Rotating shift
  • ADN accepted
One-tap apply

Nursing Assistant (NA) - Float - Part Time Nights

Detroit Lakes, MN

$18–$26/hr

  • Sign-on bonus
  • Night shift
  • Tuition reimbursement

Working and living in Detroit Lakes

· 49 open roles

Posted hourly pay

RN
$38/hr median
$37–$38/hr middle half · 7 postings
LPN
$22/hr median
$22–$23/hr middle half · 6 postings

See roles with listed pay

Living costs

Median gross rent
$954/mo
Rent and tenant-paid utilities
Median household income
$62,958/yr
All local households, not nurse pay

Census ACS 2024

Open to new grads

6 postings explicitly welcome new grads.

Browse new grad roles

New to our board this week

2 current postings first appeared here in the past seven days.

Browse current openings

Credentials accepted

  • NP2
  • RN24
  • LPN12
  • CNA4

One posting may accept more than one credential.

Shifts listed

  • Days17
  • Rotating17
  • Evenings4
  • Nights3

Postings may list several shifts or leave the shift unspecified.

Living in Detroit Lakes

Detroit Lakes offers healthcare professionals a quintessential Minnesota lakes-country lifestyle anchored by natural beauty and small-town warmth.

More about life here

Set across Becker County with hundreds of lakes nearby, the city revolves around Detroit Lake, where the Mile-Long City Beach, boat launches, and waterfront spots like Zorbaz and Lakeside Tavern define warm-weather life. For nurses seeking outdoor recreation, shifts off can be spent mountain biking at Detroit Mountain, birding in Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, or tracking Thomas Dambo's public troll sculptures.

Downtown retains a vibrant character with boutique shops, Bucks Mill Brewing, and productions at the Historic Holmes Theatre, complemented by regional events like WE Fest. Relocating nurses face very short commutes along U.S. Highway 10, though winters are intensely cold with heavy snowfall, demanding solid winter driving prep.

While the summer tourist swell temporarily strains local roads and dining, Detroit Lakes provides an active, friendly community grounded in four-season outdoor living.

Sources
As of Sep 16, 2026
Neighborhoods

Residential living in Detroit Lakes spans distinct enclaves, from walkable central blocks near downtown and Washington Avenue to the suburban character of Detroit Lakes South, which is defined largely by mid-sized three-bedroom single-family homes. Waterfront living clusters tightly around the shorelines of Detroit Lake as well as nearby Big and Little Floyd lakes, representing the community's premier residential setting.

In-town neighborhoods place residents within minutes of medical facilities and local schools, while rural-residential parcels spread outward into Becker County lake country.

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Housing

The housing stock in Detroit Lakes consists primarily of single-family detached homes, townhomes, and low-rise garden-style apartment complexes. Waterfront parcels and modern homes lining Detroit Lake occupy the upper tier of the market, driven by seasonal demand and resort appeal.

Inland residential subdivisions and neighborhoods like Detroit Lakes South offer more attainable mid-sized single-family housing, while rental units are concentrated around the central street grid, providing practical options for incoming healthcare staff seeking low-maintenance living.

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Getting around

Daily travel in Detroit Lakes is exceptionally straightforward and heavily car-dependent, with typical in-town commutes averaging just over ten minutes. U.S. Highway 10 cuts directly through the community as the primary arterial, linking local commercial centers and providing a direct regional connection to the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area roughly forty-five miles to the west.

Public transit options are virtually nonexistent for shift workers, making a personal, winter-ready vehicle necessary for navigating shifts during icy and snowy conditions.

Sources
Food and dining

Dining in Detroit Lakes centers around lakeside patios and relaxed pub culture. Iconic waterfront spots like Zorbaz at the Beach offer pizzas and Mexican fare, while Lakeside Tavern and Bleachers Bar & Grill provide lake-view patio dining and burgers.

Upscale evenings feature regional walleye and steaks at The Fireside of Detroit Lakes and Spanky's Stone Hearth. Daytime coffee and casual bites thrive at Roasted Pub & Eatery, La Barista inside Washington Square Mall, local pints at Bucks Mill Brewing, and hearty classic breakfasts at Main Street Restaurant.

Sources
Outdoors

Outdoor life is dominated by water, with over four hundred lakes scattered across Becker County anchoring boating, kayaking, and fishing throughout the open-water season. Detroit Lake features a prominent public boat launch and the expansive Mile-Long City Beach.

Hikers and birdwatchers explore the nearby Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge, while mountain bikers and winter sports enthusiasts head to Detroit Mountain. In the heart of town, Detroit Lakes City Park serves as the starting trailhead to hunt for Thomas Dambo's giant outdoor wooden troll sculptures.

Sources
Arts and culture

Community entertainment blends local heritage with regional summer festivals. The Art Deco Historic Holmes Theatre serves as the civic anchor for live stage performances and films, while the Anishinaabe Cultural Center showcases regional Indigenous history.

Outside downtown, Soo Pass Ranch hosts WE Fest, one of the nation's largest outdoor country music festivals. Other cherished traditions include the summer Northwest Water Carnival, the Becker County Fair, the springtime Festival of Birds, winter Polar Fest, and weekend treasure-hunting at the 3.5-acre Shady Hollow Flea Market.

Sources
Seasons and weather

Living in northwest Minnesota requires embracing dramatic seasonal contrasts. Winters are extended, snowy, and sub-zero, yet they mobilize an active outdoor community dedicated to ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobiling on frozen lake surfaces.

Spring arrives briskly with bird migrations before giving way to warm, sun-drenched summers that draw boaters and swimmers to Detroit Lake. Fall delivers crisp air, vibrant changing foliage across Becker County's forests, and a peaceful return to small-town rhythms after summer tourists depart.

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For families

Detroit Lakes offers a secure, community-oriented environment for families, supported by public schools including Rossman Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, and Detroit Lakes Middle School. The town's parks and recreational amenities provide constant outdoor engagement, from swimming along the Mile-Long City Beach to exploring the trail system at Detroit Mountain and searching for public troll sculptures.

While childcare availability reflects typical rural capacity limits, neighborhood safety and community events like the Northwest Water Carnival foster an appealing setting for raising children.

Sources
What locals say

Locals praise Detroit Lakes for its friendly Midwestern hospitality, tight-knit lake-resort charm, and exceptional access to year-round outdoor recreation without the isolation of northern wilderness outposts. However, residents note practical trade-offs: the town experiences significant seasonal swings, shifting from quiet winter stillness to crowded waterfronts and heavy summer tourism traffic.

Additionally, newcomers must adjust to long, subzero winters and rely on Fargo for specialized commercial services or major airport connections.

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