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CNA (Psychiatric Security Specialist)

State of Iowa

Cherokee - 51012 - Cherokee County, IAFull-time$48–71K/yrPosted 5 days agoStill listed 4 days ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$48–71K/yr
Location
Cherokee - 51012 - Cherokee County, IA
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

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Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Nursing Assistant Certification

Job overview

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services is seeking a CNA/Psychiatric Security Specialist for its Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders in Cherokee. The role provides general care to a high-risk population in a secure, structured setting, including nursing care, therapeutic support, and security observation. The position is full-time, with afternoon and evening shift options and an every-other-weekend rotation.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Nursing CareHealth PromotionDisease PreventionHealth EducationTherapeutic ActivitiesPsychological SupportPatient AmbulationPatient BathingBehavior DocumentationSecurity Observation

Qualifications

Nursing Assistant CertificationHigh School Diploma or EquivalentBackground Check

Benefits

Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off
401(k) Match

Full job description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Division of State-Operated Specialty Care, Bureau of Civil Commitment Unit for Sex Offenders (CCUSO) is seeking a CNA/Psychiatric Security Specialist to join our team! This is a full-time position featuring a 1:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. (4 shifts) OR 2:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. (5 shifts) schedule with some flexibility, every other weekend rotation, and strong opportunity for advancement, growth, and development. Certification as a Nursing Assistant (CNA) is required. The CNA/PSS staff provides general 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, ambulating and bathing patients, documentation of patient behaviors and attitudes, and general security and observation in a locked setting. Applicants will be required to complete a background check to be considered for this position. 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. The facility provides state-of-the-art treatment to patients to lower their risk of re-offending and to release them from confinement as quickly as possible. There is a full range of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitative services focused on addressing the conditions impacting a patient’s likelihood of re-offending. For more CCUSO info: https://hhs.iowa.gov/family-community/specialty-care-facilities/civil-commitment-unit-sexual-offenders Benefits of Joining CCUSO Working for the State of Iowa comes with its perks. In addition to a competitive salary, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

  • Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage: Health and dental insurance packages to keep you and your family healthy at a low cost with outstanding coverage!
  • Paid Time Off: Take time to recharge with paid time off, including vacation (96 hours/year to begin, increasing with years of service), sick leave (144 hours/year), and paid holidays (9 days/year).
  • Retirement Plans: Participate in retirement plans such as IPERS (employees contribute 6.29% and the State of Iowa contributes 9.44%) as well as our Retirement Investors Club (RIC), Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan (the State of Iowa matches dollar for dollar up to $75/month).
  • Flexible Spending Accounts: Take advantage of flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care expenses.
  • Insurance Coverage: Benefit from life insurance and free long-term disability insurance for added peace of mind.
  • Employee Assistance Program: Access resources and support through our Employee Assistance Program for personal and professional challenges.
  • Employee Discount Programs: Enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services through our employee discount programs.

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 which 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 HHS 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). E-Verify and Right to Work The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States. The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization. For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov. Graduation from high school, GED, or equivalency. For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description.

How this job compares

Set against the 1,467 open Certified Nursing Assistant jobs on Olive Jobs, counted October 28, 2026.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 19 open Certified Nursing Assistant jobs in Iowa and 1,467 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Experience
Certified Nursing Assistant postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year of experience at the median (278 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a high school diploma; 331 of the 1,467 open Certified Nursing Assistant jobs (23%) ask for a high school diploma or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on October 28, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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