Northwestern Medicine OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Northwestern Medicine hires OPT students across clinical, research, and administrative roles, with particular demand in nursing, healthcare technology, and biomedical research. As a major academic health system, it's a strong destination for F-1 students seeking healthcare experience and a pathway to long-term H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Company Description
At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?
Job Description
The Clinical Pharmacist reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization’s Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.
The Clinical Pharmacist is responsible for identifying, preventing, and/or resolving medication related problems; for providing authoritative information to other health care professionals, patients, and the public; and for assuring that the informational, clinical, and drug distribution components of pharmacy services function as an integrated system to provide patient centered care to the patients and staff of Northwestern Medicine.
The mission of the Department of Pharmacy is to deliver the safest, highest quality, most effective and efficient patient care while developing the best people, advancing research, and integrating pharmacy services to successfully coordinate care across the Northwestern Medicine enterprise.
The vision of the Department of Pharmacy is to be a recognized as a national leader in advancing the pharmacy enterprise through excellence, innovation, education and research.
Responsibilities:
- Interprets medication orders to ensure safety and proper use of medications and is alert to compatibilities, incompatibilities, medication duplication, medication allergies, and potential medication administration errors. Coordinates the solving of medication related problems between pharmacy, nursing, and prescribers, demonstrating initiative and sound judgment.
- Monitors medication therapy for significant drug-drug, drug-diet, or drug-laboratory test interactions. Intervenes in circumstances of significant interactions, therapeutic duplications, and other occasions where pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic expertise is warranted.
- Evaluates and documents that the medication(s) selected are appropriate for achieving the desired therapeutic outcome. Communicates potential problems and likely solutions to the prescriber.
- Acts as a consultant in the areas of pharmacokinetics and adverse reactions to physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Participates in all therapeutic drug monitoring or intervention programs; adjusting therapy as indicated by patient condition and laboratory results.
- Processes all medication order information into the Electronic Health Record to ensure accuracy of records regarding past, current and future dispensing and charging.
- Maintains a comprehensive pharmacy patient profile. The profile should include age, maturation, weight, allergies, diagnosis, estimated and actual pharmacokinetic parameters, and pertinent information which may affect medication therapy decisions.
- Oversees the packaging labeling, and distribution of medications for all patients and employees according to established policies, procedures, and guidelines. Monitors the use of scheduled medications on the nursing units and maintains controlled inventories of medication in the dispensing areas.
- Compounds and dispenses pharmaceuticals including sterile products, chemotherapy and parenteral nutrition products.
- Verifies medication orders before delivery to patient care areas and ensures accuracy and completeness. Resolves discrepancies as necessary.
- Reviews all laboratory data for appropriateness of medication use and recommends changes when needed. Including microbial culture and sensitivity data, toxicology, therapeutic drug monitoring, etc.
- Develops and presents orientation, education and training programs for medical, nursing, hospital and pharmacy staff, as well as assisting in the educating of pharmacy students, residents, and fellows.
- Educates patients and their families about specific medications.
- Responds to emergency situations to assist with medication management (e.g. response to cardiac arrests).
- Provides accurate and timely medication information and or teaching to healthcare professionals or patients.
- Maintains the hospital formulary and acts to limit medication usage to formulary items when appropriate.
- Documents all clinical activities and interventions performed. Collects data, maintains logs, records and other documentation as required by the department.
- Communicates professional knowledge effectively in both oral and written forms to patients and other health professionals.
- Participates in quality improvement and medication use review activities of the department.
- Organizes, prioritizes, and plans workload within given time constraints. Works cooperatively with fellow pharmacists to oversee and direct the activities of the work area, to assign work to technicians, and to assure that the established department objectives are accomplished.
- Reviews restocking automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) throughout the hospital and resolves any problems.
- Ensures compliance with hazardous waste collection and disposal procedures.
- Maintains proficiency and expertise in area/s of practice through continuous professional development.
- All other job duties as assigned.
This position is full time, 72-hour per pay period, rotating all 3 shifts (1st, 2nd, 3rd). 1st and 2nd shift would be an 8-hour shift, 3rd shift would be 10-hour shift. Overnight (3rd) shift coverage may include weekend.
Qualifications
Required
- Active Clinical Pharmacist license in the state of Illinois (IDFPR)
- Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy or a Doctor of Pharmacy Degree
Preferred
- Training and knowledge of specialty areas (neonatology, critical care, oncology, etc.)
- Completion of a pharmacy residency program or equivalent hospital pharmacy experience
Additional Information
Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.
Background Check
Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check. Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.
Sign-on Bonus Eligibility (if sign-on bonus offered for position): Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Northwestern Medicine OPT Eligible Jobs USA
Align your degree to clinical role requirements
Northwestern Medicine's clinical and research roles require a direct field match between your degree and the job. Use O*NET to confirm your occupation's degree requirements before applying, so your OPT EAD clearly supports the role you're targeting.
Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers
STEM OPT's 24-month extension requires your employer to be enrolled in E-Verify. Ask Northwestern Medicine's HR team to confirm active E-Verify enrollment during the offer stage, before you give notice anywhere else or let your initial OPT window run down.
Target departments with recurring OPT hiring patterns
Northwestern Medicine's biomedical research labs, health informatics teams, and clinical operations units have historically brought on OPT students. Focus your applications on those departments rather than administrative or facilities roles, which rarely require the specialized degrees that support OPT.
Search Migrate Mate to find Northwestern Medicine OPT roles
Filter Northwestern Medicine job listings on Migrate Mate to surface roles where OPT candidates have been hired before. That history is a faster signal of sponsorship readiness than a generic careers-page search, which doesn't surface visa-filing patterns by department.
Benchmark your salary against OFLC Wage Search early
When Northwestern Medicine extends an offer, cross-check your offered salary against the OFLC Wage Search for your occupation and Chicago metro area. If the offer falls below the prevailing wage level, that gap can create problems if Northwestern Medicine later files an H-1B or PERM petition for you.
Time your application around OPT authorization windows
USCIS allows you to apply for OPT up to 90 days before your program end date, and your EAD must be in hand before you start work. Submit your I-20 OPT recommendation request to your DSO early enough that your EAD arrives before Northwestern Medicine's onboarding date.
Northwestern Medicine OPT Eligibility: Frequently Asked Questions
Does Northwestern Medicine sponsor OPT visas?
Northwestern Medicine doesn't sponsor OPT directly. OPT is work authorization that USCIS grants to you as an F-1 student. What Northwestern Medicine does is hire students who already hold an OPT EAD, particularly in clinical, research, and health informatics roles. For STEM OPT, Northwestern Medicine must also be enrolled in E-Verify, which is standard for a health system of its size.
Which departments at Northwestern Medicine typically hire OPT students?
Biomedical research, clinical informatics, nursing, and healthcare technology teams at Northwestern Medicine have the strongest track record of hiring OPT students. These roles require specialized degrees that align well with OPT's field-of-study requirement. Administrative, facilities, and general support roles are far less likely to result in OPT-compatible placements.
How do I apply for OPT jobs at Northwestern Medicine?
Apply through Northwestern Medicine's careers portal and filter for roles that match your degree field. Use Migrate Mate to identify specific Northwestern Medicine positions where OPT candidates have historically been placed. Bring your OPT EAD and I-20 to any offer discussions so HR can complete Form I-9 verification before your start date.
Does Northwestern Medicine sponsor H-1B visas after OPT?
Northwestern Medicine has an established record of sponsoring H-1B visas, particularly for employees in clinical, research, and specialized technical roles. If you're hired on OPT and perform well, H-1B sponsorship is a realistic next step. Discuss the transition timeline with your manager and HR early, since USCIS H-1B cap registration opens each March for an October start date.
How long does it take to get a job offer from Northwestern Medicine as an OPT student?
Hiring timelines at Northwestern Medicine vary by department and role type, but clinical and research positions can take several weeks from application to offer. Build in enough lead time so that your OPT EAD is valid when you'd start work. STEM OPT extension applications must be filed before your initial OPT expires, so confirm your STEM designation with your DSO as soon as you receive an offer.
How does Northwestern Medicine hire OPT students?
OPT is work authorization granted directly to F-1 students after graduation — no employer petition is required. Northwestern Medicine can hire OPT students as soon as their EAD card is approved. STEM degree holders can extend OPT by 24 months when their employer is enrolled in E-Verify. Most companies that hire OPT students also support the transition to H-1B when the student's OPT period is ending. Check Northwestern Medicine's individual postings on Migrate Mate to confirm OPT acceptance per role.