Join Our RN Residency Program at UnityPoint Health in the Operating Room (OR)

Days (6:30 AM–3:00 PM or 8:30 AM–5:00 PM) + call, weekend, and holiday rotation

$10,000 Sign-On Bonus for Eligible External Hires

Start your nursing career in a fast-paced, team-focused environment through UnityPoint Health’s RN Residency Program. Our Operating Room nurses work alongside surgeons, anesthesia providers, surgical technologists, and other members of the care team to provide safe, high-quality care before, during, and immediately following surgical procedures.

With 16 operating rooms across our Quad Cities locations, including two open-heart ORs and two dedicated urology ORs, nurses gain exposure to a wide variety of surgical specialties. These include cardiothoracic, vascular, robotic, orthopedic, general, gynecologic, neurological, urology, podiatry, and cataract procedures, providing an excellent opportunity to build a strong foundation in perioperative nursing.

OR nurses develop strong assessment, communication, organization, and critical thinking skills while learning to anticipate the needs of the surgical team, maintain a safe and sterile environment, and advocate for patients throughout their surgical experience.

We’re committed to helping new nurses succeed. Our comprehensive orientation combines hands-on training, education, and support from experienced OR nurses and leadership to help you build the specialized skills and confidence needed to thrive in the Operating Room.

Nursing practice is guided by the ANA Code of Ethics, UnityPoint Health’s Philosophy of Nursing, and the Professional Nurse Practice Model, fostering collaboration, professionalism, and excellence in patient care.

What makes our Quad Cities/Muscatine Market unique? Our Commit to Sit program encourages nurses to spend five intentional minutes each day connecting with every patient, strengthening relationships, improving communication, and enhancing the patient experience through compassionate, holistic care.

At UnityPoint Health, you matter. We’re proud to be recognized as a Top Place to Work in Healthcare by Becker's Healthcare several years in a row for our commitment to our team members.

Our competitive Total Rewards program offers benefits options focused on your needs and priorities, no matter what life stage you’re in. Here are just a few:    

• Expect paid time off, parental leave, 401K matching and an employee recognition program.
• Dental, health and vision insurance, paid holidays, short and long-term disability and more. We even offer pet insurance for your four-legged family members.
• Early access to earned wages with Daily Pay, tuition reimbursement to help further your career and adoption assistance to help you grow your family.

With a collective goal to champion a culture of belonging where everyone feels valued and respected, we honor the ways people are unique and embrace what brings us together.  

And, we believe equipping you with support and development opportunities is a vital part of delivering an exceptional employment experience.

Join our team of experts and make a difference with UnityPoint Health.

• Designed specifically for newly graduated nurses, our RN Residency Program provides the support and resources needed for a successful transition from student to professional nurse.
  • Comprehensive Support for New Nurses: Our Nurse Residency Program is designed to ease your transition from student to professional nurse, providing professional, emotional, and social support throughout your first year.
  • Evidence-Based Learning: Participate in a 12-month program built on the latest evidence supporting new nurse success, with monthly in-person sessions focused on real-world skills and leadership.
  • Active, Paid Learning Environment: Enjoy paid time to attend engaging sessions featuring role-play, discussion, and reflective writing, all in a supportive peer and mentor network.
  • Diverse, Relevant Topics: Develop expertise in stress management, teamwork, patient care, quality and safety, evidence-based practice, ethical decision-making, technology, and leadership.
  • Professional Development: Create and present an evidence-based practice or quality improvement project, and earn nursing contact hours recognized by the Iowa Board of Nursing.
  • Automatic Enrollment: All newly graduated nurses (less than 12 months of clinical experience) are automatically enrolled upon hire—no separate application required!
  • Multiple Start Dates: Flexible, rolling start dates throughout the year to fit your schedule.
  • Proven Benefits: Graduates experience smoother transitions into practice, increased job satisfaction, decreased burnout, and improved clinical competency.

  Why These Points Stand Out:

  • They directly address the top concerns of new graduates: support, learning, and professional growth.
  • The program’s structure (paid time sessions, mentorship, project work) is a strong differentiator.
  • Automatic enrollment and flexible start dates remove barriers to participation.
  • The focus on evidence-based practice and leadership appeals to ambitious candidates seeking long-term career development.

  Responsibilities:

  • Delivers high quality care utilizing the nursing process while demonstrating knowledge and clinical skills of the specialty required on assigned unit in accordance with established policies, procedures and standards of care.
  • Consults appropriate resources within the hospital to provide specialized education.
  • Demonstrates knowledge that patient and workplace safety is a priority by preventing errors, accidents and infections and reporting potential or actual concerns immediately.
  • Promptly completes documentation to assure an accurate legal record of patient’s care.
  • Continues professional development and involvement in professional activities that enhance nursing practice by sharing knowledge through networking and research.

Education:

• Diploma from an accredited Registered Nurse (RN) program required.

License(s)/Certification(s):

• Current RN license in good standing in the primary state of employment required.
• Must apply for RN licensure in the secondary state within 90 days of hire.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

Experience:

• Less than 12 months of clinical nursing experience in a hospital setting.

Other Requirements:

• Must participate in the 12-month Nurse Residency Program, including monthly in-person sessions.
• Strong communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills.
• May occasionally require travel to other UnityPoint Health facilities.

 *Specific offers are determined by various factors, such as experience, skills, internal equity, and other business needs. The salary range listed does not include other forms of compensation which may include bonuses/incentive, differential pay, or other forms of compensation or benefits that may be applicable to this role.