Travel Nurse RN - OR - Operating Room
Des Moines, IA
GHR Healthcare - PH Division
5x8 hrs

Travel Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN) – Des Moines, IA. 13-week travel assignment at a Level 1 Trauma Center; requires 2+ years OR experience, EPIC/EPIC EMR, and Circulating experience. Ideal for experienced perioperative/surgical nurses seeking Iowa travel nursing jobs.

Join a dynamic surgical team as an Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN) in the heart of Des Moines, Iowa! This travel nursing opportunity places you in a Level 1 Trauma Center with 16 OR suites, advanced surgical technology, and a broad case mix including trauma, pediatrics, robotics, and transplants. Des Moines (50309) is a vibrant city with a friendly community, arts, and parks—perfect for travel nurses relocating to Iowa.

Job Details

• Job Title: Travel Operating Room Registered Nurse (OR RN) / Perioperative Nurse
• Location: Des Moines, IA 50309 (Des Moines healthcare jobs, Iowa travel nursing)
• Assignment Length: 13 weeks (March 30, 2026 – June 29, 2026)
• Setting: Level 1 Trauma Center, 16 OR suites
• Shift: 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday, 4x10-hour shifts/week (rotating day off)
• On-Call: Up to 1 overnight/week and 3 weekends per 13-week contract (weekend call: Fri 5:00 PM – Mon 6:30 AM)
• Hours per Week: 40
• Floating: Required across all campuses
• Scrubs: Provided
• Job Type: Travel Nurse / Operating Room (OR) RN / Surgical Nurse
• Estimated Weekly Pay: $2470–$2600

Qualifications / Job Requirements

• Active Iowa RN license or compact/multistate license (must be valid at time of submission)
• Minimum 2 years of current operating room experience (within the last 24 months)
• Required: Circulating experience in the operating room
• Preferred: Scrub experience (perioperative scrub)
• Required: Experience with General, DaVinci Robotics, Pediatrics, and Trauma cases
• Highly preferred: Neurology, Orthopedics (primarily trauma), Gynecology, Urology, Transplants, Plastics, ENT, and Vascular experience
• EPIC / EPIC EMR experience within the last 3 years (required)
• Level I Trauma experience (required); Level II Trauma experience (highly preferred)
• Must have completed at least one travel assignment within the past 15 months (no first-time travelers)
• BLS certification from AHA or ARC (required)
• Professional reference from a supervisor/manager within the last 24 months (preferred)
• Driver’s License (required)

Responsibilities

• Circulate and (preferably) scrub in a busy operating room environment; manage a high surgical caseload (35–50 cases/day depending on assignment)
• Deliver high-quality perioperative nursing care for diverse patient populations including trauma, pediatric, cardiac, neuro, ortho, robotics, and transplant patients
• Operate and support advanced surgical technology such as DaVinci robotics and Stealth neuro-navigation
• Ensure efficient room turnovers (expectation: < 20 minutes) to support surgical throughput
• Float between campuses as needed to meet patient care needs across the health system
• Participate in on-call rotation including overnight and weekend coverage as scheduled
• Accurately document patient care and procedures in EPIC EMR
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia, techs, and multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes

This travel OR RN role is an excellent opportunity for experienced perioperative nurses and travel registered nurses looking for challenging surgical cases and professional growth in Des Moines, Iowa. Apply now to join our healthcare team and advance your career in surgical nursing. Contact us today to learn more about this travel nursing assignment and next steps.

401K with Matching, Healthcare, Dental and Vision

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity across our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.