Travel nursing in Iowa
Stipend ceilings by area, compact license status, and every hospital guide in the state. Real numbers, with sources.
Housing stipend ceilings in Iowa
The most an agency can pay tax-free for housing is the GSA lodging rate × 7 nights. Cheapest: $791/wk (standard rate, every county not listed below, 109 hospitals). Most expensive: Des Moines at $854/wk on average.
| Area (county) | Housing /wk | Meals /wk | Hosp. |
|---|---|---|---|
Des Moines Polk | $854 flat all year | $560 | 4 |
Dallas Dallas | $819 flat all year | $560 | 1 |
Everywhere else Standard CONUS rate | $791 | $476 | 109 |
Got an offer? Decode it against the ceiling for your work ZIP and dates →
Iowa nursing license
Iowa is a compact state. If your primary state of residence is another compact state and you hold a multistate license, you can work here without a new license. If you live in Iowa, your multistate license comes from the Iowa board.
If you don't have a multistate license: typical endorsement steps
- Apply for licensure by endorsement on the Iowa board of nursing's site.
- Verify your current license through Nursys (or your original board if it doesn't use Nursys).
- Complete the criminal background check and fingerprints if the board requires them.
- Ask whether a temporary license is available while the full application processes, and how long processing takes now.
Requirements and timelines vary. Iowa board contact details (NCSBN) →
Where can your license take you?
Source: NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map, checked 2026-10-11. Covers RN/LPN compact licensure for the 50 states and DC. Confirm with the state board before you accept an assignment.
Charting systems in Iowa
Certified EHR reported to CMS by 112 of 114 hospitals (2 not reported, including VA hospitals). Know the system before day one.
- Epic49 · 44%
- Oracle Health35 · 31%
- MEDITECH17 · 15%
- TruBridge8 · 7%
- Altera3 · 3%
No hospital living guides in Iowa yet; guides cover the top 100 travel-nurse housing markets. Use the offer checker for any of the 114 hospitals here.
Questions
- What is the maximum tax-free housing stipend in Iowa?
- Under GSA FY2027 rates it ranges from $791/week (the standard rate for counties not listed) to $854/week in Des Moines at peak season. The meals and incidentals ceiling is $476/week or more depending on the area.
- Is Iowa a compact nursing license state?
- Compact state (Enacted NLC), per the NCSBN Nurse Licensure Compact map checked 2026-10-11.
- How many hospitals are in Iowa?
- CMS lists 114 acute care, critical access, children's and VA/DoD hospitals in Iowa. TravelNurseMap has living guides for 0 of them in the top travel-nurse markets.
- What EHR do hospitals in Iowa use?
- Of the 112 Iowa hospitals that reported a certified EHR to CMS for 2023–2024, 44% use Epic, 31% use Oracle Health, 15% use MEDITECH. Each hospital guide shows its own system.