Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to join the team at the Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO). This is a full-time position with HHS and generally requires the LPN to work either 2:00pm-10:00pm or 9:00pm-7:00am with a rotating schedule that includes working every third weekend. There may be times the LPN will be required to work outside of these hours.  In addition to the base pay rate, there is an available shift differential of $0.90 per hour for second shift and $1.00 per hour for third shift. We also offer a strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development.
 
LPNs provide general nursing care to a specific high-risk population. This includes direct acute and chronic nursing care, health promotion, disease prevention, health education strategies across the lifespan, treatment of patients through therapeutic activities, providing psychological support and direction, escorting patients, accurate documentation of patient's behaviors and attitudes, and medication ordering and MAR completion. The LPN works mostly independently with on-call supervisor and primary care provider available as needed.
 
LPNs must be in good standing with the Iowa Board of Nursing and have an unencumbered LPN License.
 
CCUSO provides a secure, long-term, and highly structured setting to treat sexual offenders who have served their prison terms, but, in a separate civil trial, have been found likely to reoffend. CCUSO has a 5-phase treatment program that includes group and individual therapy, psycho-educational programming, physiological assessments, and transitional release. Patients may also be court ordered into the community through supervised release. Treatment is determined using the Risk-Need-Responsivity Model based on the principles of respect for the person, behavior is changeable, and services align with the individual’s needs.
 
We have a great total compensation package, including:
 

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) (Employee contributes 6.29%/State of Iowa contributes 9.44%)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan) (State of Iowa matches up to $75/month)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance (See below for additional information)
• Vacation Leave (96 hours/year to begin, and increases with years of service)
• Sick Leave (144 hours/year)
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance ($20,000 paid for by the State of Iowa)
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

 
For additional information on benefits click here.
 
Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator.
 
Cherokee Highlights
 
CCUSO is located in Cherokee, a city of approximately 5,000 set in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa. Residents enjoy fishing and canoeing on the Little Sioux River that winds through town, providing a backdrop to a well-developed parks and trails system. In addition, Cherokee has over 1,000 acres of land devoted to parks and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and horseback riding. Cherokee is the home of the first accredited museum and planetarium in Iowa, Sandford Museum and Planetarium, established in 1951. Cherokee may be the smallest town in the world to have its own symphony orchestra! This 60-member orchestra has been referred to as the “best kept secret in Northwest Iowa.”
 
Cherokee is home to Western Iowa Tech Community College and 1 hour or less from other educational institutions including Morningside College, Northwestern College, Buena Vista University, and Dordt College. This quintessential Iowa town is 1 hour from Sioux City and 2 hours from Omaha. Check out these 10 Reasons to Move to Iowa.
 
The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer
 
HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).   
 
Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.