ER Registered Nurse
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Mercy Medical Center

Job Opportunity: ER Registered Nurse

Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Employment Type: Travel/Contract
Contract Length: 13 weeks

Job Details

• Work in a Level III trauma Emergency Room certified for Stroke and STEMI, serving both adult and pediatric patients.
• Total staffed beds in ER: 37
• Patient-to-nurse ratio: 1:6
• Scheduled to work every 3rd weekend.
• Night shift: 3 shifts per week, 12 hours each (17:00 to 5:30), totaling 36 hours/week.
• May be required to float to a nearby free-standing 14-bed ER (8 miles away), but no mid-shift floating.
• EPIC electronic health record experience is required.

Required Qualifications

• Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in Iowa.
• Minimum 2 years of Emergency Department (ED) nursing experience, including experience within the last year.
• Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
• Certifications required:

  • Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
  • Basic Life Support (BLS) issued by the American Heart Association
  • Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
  • Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC)
  • Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course (ENPC)
• Experience with EPIC electronic health record system.

Compliance & Documentation Requirements

• Valid government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, or state ID) with clear photo; expired IDs not accepted.
• Background checks must be current within 30 days of assignment start, including:

  • 7-year county checks (updated annually or with location changes)
  • National and federal criminal searches
  • Social Security trace
  • Sex offender search
  • OFAC, OIG/EPLS, SAM, and other federal sanction lists
• Education verification through official channels; diploma or transcript required.
• Two supervisory references required, at least one within the last year, both from ER specialty preferred.
• Employment history covering 7 years or back to graduation with no gaps over 30 days.
• Unit-specific skills checklist and competency exams with minimum 80% pass rate, including:

  • Medication/Pharmacology competency
  • Dysrhythmia/EKG competency (required for ER nurses)
  • Core competency exams (Parts I, II, III) updated annually
• Mandatory Reporter Certification for Child and Dependent Adult Abuse training (Iowa state requirement).

Health & Safety Requirements

• Annual physical exam or statement of health signed by MD, DO, NP, ARNP, or PA.
• Fit mask test within 12 months (3M N95 mask sizes required).
• Immunizations and/or titers required:

  • Tetanus/Diphtheria/Tdap (within 10 years)
  • Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella (MMR series or positive titers)
  • Hepatitis B vaccination series or positive titer/declination
  • Varicella vaccination or positive titer
• Negative TB test (QuantiFERON Gold or T-Spot) within 90 days or acceptable chest x-ray if previously positive. Annual TB questionnaire for positive history.
• 10-panel drug screen including THC within 30 days of start.
• Seasonal flu vaccination or approved exemption required annually by October 31.
• COVID-19 vaccination preferred but not mandatory as of July 2025.

Additional Information

• Candidates must complete facility-specific online learning modules prior to start.
• Must sign Iowa Sing Memorandum of Understanding and complete SING background check through Iowa State website within 30 days of start.
• Must create an “External Mandatory Reporter” account through Iowa HHS website and complete required abuse reporting courses and exams.
• References, employment verifications, and all documentation must be complete and verified before start date.

This position offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity to work in a busy, certified Level III trauma ER with a supportive team environment and the chance to gain diverse experience by floating to a nearby ER.