This is a temporary non-merit position with the Iowa Department of Human Services - Civil Commitment Unit (Cherokee).

The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) merged on July 1, 2022, to form one agency, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). We are seeking a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to join the team at the Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO) for a temporary appointment limited to less than 780 hours per fiscal year. This position has a variable, as needed schedule with an available shift differential of $0.90 per hour for second shift and $1.00 per hour for third shift and a strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development. The successful candidate must be in good standing with the Iowa Board of Nursing and have an unencumbered LPN License.

LPNs provide general nursing care to the specific high-risk population of CCUSO. This includes direct acute and chronic nursing care, treatment of patients through therapeutic activities, providing psychological support and direction, escorting patients, medication ordering and MAR completion. The LPN staff also offers guidance to patients in health promotion, disease prevention and health education strategies across the lifespan. In addition, LPNs are responsible for accurate documentation of patient behaviors and attitudes and will work mostly independently with on-call personnel available as needed.

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 groups 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.

Cherokee Highlights
CCUSO is located in Cherokee, Iowa, a city of approximately 5,000 set in the beautiful Little Sioux River Valley in Northwest Iowa. 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 for things 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. It is also 2 ½ hours from Des Moines, home to Wells Fargo Arena (a host site of NCAA Basketball and premier concerts), as well as Lauridsen Skatepark, the nation’s largest public skate venue. Additionally, Des Moines has one of the nation’s finest State Fairs and is home to professional sports teams the Iowa Cubs, Iowa Wolves, Iowa Barnstormers and Iowa Wild. 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 foster youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the HHS system to apply. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are also 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.

Licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse by the Iowa Board of Nursing or licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse in accordance with the Nurse Licensure Compact Administrator’s Agreement of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing - Nurse Licensure Compact