OPT Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner jobs on OPT require STEM-eligible nursing programs and an employer willing to sponsor future H-1B visa status. Healthcare systems frequently sponsor NPs, but NCLEX licensure and state-specific NP certification must be in hand before your start date. Your 12-month OPT clock starts immediately upon authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsAt Houston Methodist, the Nurse Practitioner Acute Care (NP) AC (ACLS) position is responsible for functioning as a licensed registered nurse and care provider to provide all aspects of patient care, including diagnosis, treatment and consultation while maintaining and promoting the health of the patient. This position may work in both inpatient and outpatient situations and performs according to the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Texas and as part of a treatment team. The NP AC (ACLS) position role models compassionate communication with patients, physicians and the interprofessional health care team and provides education to patients about preventative care and prescribed treatments. This position may also conduct physicals, order tests and serve as a patient's healthcare provider, prescribing medications as appropriate. The NP AC (ACLS) position affects direct patient care according to the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model, Nursing Practice and Professional Performance policies and procedures.
FLSA STATUS
Exempt
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Master’s degree or higher from an accredited school of Nursing and graduate from an accredited Nurse Practitioners program
Experience
Two years of registered nurse, advanced practice or nurse practitioner clinical experience
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required
- RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure - Texas Board of Nursing_PSV Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency)
- APRN Acute Care state license
- Magnet ANCC-recognized Acute-Care practitioner certification
- BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
- ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
- AP - Prescriptive Authority - Texas Board of Nursing - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV
- DEA - Narcotics License (DEA) - Drug Enforcement Administration_PSV
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
- Demonstrates highly developed assessment, clinical, documentation, leadership, and analytical skills
- Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional team to collaborate on the plan of care
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skill as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components
- Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families
- Demonstrates proficient time management skills
- Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Demonstrates leadership as a clinical resource, interprofessional consultant, and patient advocate. Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals.
- Communicates organizational information and aspects of administrative and clinical practice in a respectful and positive manner when interacting with staff. Advocates for a balanced workload, promotes positive behaviors, and peer-to-peer accountability. Facilitates the promotion of teamwork.
- Collaborates with the interprofessional healthcare team members to manage/coordinate patient care. Advocates on patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns.
- Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Acts as a role model and coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Serves as preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students and medical resident(s), as applicable. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of department score for employee engagement.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Coordinates appropriate, timely patient care under physician supervision, for a defined patient population(s), focusing on identified expected unit/optimal outcomes, individualized to the patient.
- Prioritizes care based on the patient’s needs, abilities, and preferences.
- Coordinates patient care between healthcare providers. Attends and participates in interprofessional rounds, as appropriate.
- Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Functions as a quality care provider, coordinating, maintaining, and promoting the health of the patient. Assists the interprofessional healthcare team in the development and implementation of protocols to ensure patient safety. Affects direct patient care according to the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Texas and the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance.
- Conducts health assessments (initial, ongoing, discharge, as appropriate). Identifies normal/abnormal health characteristics, develops plan of care, initiates appropriate interventions, and evaluates care outcomes on defined patient populations(s).
- Performs invasive, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures necessary for defined patient population(s) based on licensure and credentialed privileges.
- Provides safe and effective care by leading and initiating outcome, quality, and safety improvement activities in alignment with organizational goals. Integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols and leads improvements in patient safety-related processes.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Implements department strategies to achieve financial targets and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to departmental specifications.
- Projects awareness and understanding of resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge, and skills.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Promotes quality health care through integration of current research into practice and participation in research/evidence-based activities. Identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement.
- Provides education of information/knowledge in professional activities such as research, presentations, and publications. Expands individual nursing knowledge and coaches staff to grow in knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes. Serves as clinical resource. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform: No
- Scrubs: Yes
- Business professional: Yes
- Other (department approved): Yes
ON-CALL
- Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
- On Call Yes
TRAVEL
Travel specifications may vary by department
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group is an integral part of Houston Methodist’s overall strategy to become one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. Established as a nonprofit corporation certified by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, the Specialty Physician Group enables physicians to maintain autonomy with respect to clinical practice while growing their practice within an academic environment.
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
At Houston Methodist, the Nurse Practitioner Acute Care (NP) AC (ACLS) position is responsible for functioning as a licensed registered nurse and care provider to provide all aspects of patient care, including diagnosis, treatment and consultation while maintaining and promoting the health of the patient. This position may work in both inpatient and outpatient situations and performs according to the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Texas and as part of a treatment team. The NP AC (ACLS) position role models compassionate communication with patients, physicians and the interprofessional health care team and provides education to patients about preventative care and prescribed treatments. This position may also conduct physicals, order tests and serve as a patient's healthcare provider, prescribing medications as appropriate. The NP AC (ACLS) position affects direct patient care according to the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model, Nursing Practice and Professional Performance policies and procedures.
FLSA STATUS
Exempt
QUALIFICATIONS
Education
Master’s degree or higher from an accredited school of Nursing and graduate from an accredited Nurse Practitioners program
Experience
Two years of registered nurse, advanced practice or nurse practitioner clinical experience
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required
- RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure - Texas Board of Nursing_PSV Compact Licensure – Must obtain permanent Texas license within 60 days (if establishing Texas residency)
- APRN Acute Care state license
- Magnet ANCC-recognized Acute-Care practitioner certification
- BLS - Basic Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
- ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support or Instructor (AHA) - American Heart Association
- AP - Prescriptive Authority - Texas Board of Nursing - Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation_PSV
- DEA - Narcotics License (DEA) - Drug Enforcement Administration_PSV
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through ongoing skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations
- Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security
- Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles
- Demonstrates highly developed assessment, clinical, documentation, leadership, and analytical skills
- Uses therapeutic communication to establish a relationship with patients, families and interprofessional team to collaborate on the plan of care
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skill as evidenced by capacity to prioritize multiple tasks and role components
- Ability to function independently and exercise judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team and patients and their families
- Demonstrates proficient time management skills
- Uses critical thinking skills and clinical judgment to work autonomously as defined by the Nurse Practice Act
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Demonstrates leadership as a clinical resource, interprofessional consultant, and patient advocate. Identifies staff development opportunities for professional growth of colleagues, provides coaching to meet identified goals.
- Communicates organizational information and aspects of administrative and clinical practice in a respectful and positive manner when interacting with staff. Advocates for a balanced workload, promotes positive behaviors, and peer-to-peer accountability. Facilitates the promotion of teamwork.
- Collaborates with the interprofessional healthcare team members to manage/coordinate patient care. Advocates on patient/family’s behalf to identify and resolve clinical and ethical concerns.
- Collaborates to foster healthy relationships in the work environment. Acts as a role model and coaches staff in effective verbal, non-verbal and written communication. Serves as preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students and medical resident(s), as applicable. Uses peer-to-peer accountability towards improvement of department score for employee engagement.
SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Coordinates appropriate, timely patient care under physician supervision, for a defined patient population(s), focusing on identified expected unit/optimal outcomes, individualized to the patient.
- Prioritizes care based on the patient’s needs, abilities, and preferences.
- Coordinates patient care between healthcare providers. Attends and participates in interprofessional rounds, as appropriate.
- Helps drive improvement of department score for patient satisfaction, through peer-to-peer accountability to service standards.
QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Functions as a quality care provider, coordinating, maintaining, and promoting the health of the patient. Assists the interprofessional healthcare team in the development and implementation of protocols to ensure patient safety. Affects direct patient care according to the Nurse Practice Act of the State of Texas and the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model Nursing Practice and Professional Performance.
- Conducts health assessments (initial, ongoing, discharge, as appropriate). Identifies normal/abnormal health characteristics, develops plan of care, initiates appropriate interventions, and evaluates care outcomes on defined patient populations(s).
- Performs invasive, diagnostic, or therapeutic procedures necessary for defined patient population(s) based on licensure and credentialed privileges.
- Provides safe and effective care by leading and initiating outcome, quality, and safety improvement activities in alignment with organizational goals. Integrates and contributes to professional practice standards, policies, procedures, protocols and leads improvements in patient safety-related processes.
FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Implements department strategies to achieve financial targets and mentors others to do the same through timely documentation of care, decreasing length of stay, optimizing efficiency, and other areas according to departmental specifications.
- Projects awareness and understanding of resource allocation based on patient needs and staff experience, knowledge, and skills.
GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Promotes quality health care through integration of current research into practice and participation in research/evidence-based activities. Identifies opportunities for practice changes and performance improvement.
- Provides education of information/knowledge in professional activities such as research, presentations, and publications. Expands individual nursing knowledge and coaches staff to grow in knowledge, abilities, skills, and attitudes. Serves as clinical resource. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management. Completes and updates the My Development Plan on an ongoing basis.
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
WORK ATTIRE
- Uniform: No
- Scrubs: Yes
- Business professional: Yes
- Other (department approved): Yes
ON-CALL
- Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. Disaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.
- On Call Yes
TRAVEL
Travel specifications may vary by department
- May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
- May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No
Company Profile:
Houston Methodist Specialty Physician Group is an integral part of Houston Methodist’s overall strategy to become one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. Established as a nonprofit corporation certified by the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, the Specialty Physician Group enables physicians to maintain autonomy with respect to clinical practice while growing their practice within an academic environment.
Houston Methodist is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
See all 96+ OPT Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Verify your NP certification before applying
ACNPC-AG or AGACNP-BC certification is required before most acute care positions will consider you. Credentialing delays can eat into your OPT window, so sit for boards as early as possible after graduation.
Target large hospital systems over small practices
Academic medical centers and large health systems like Kaiser, Dignity Health, and HCA typically have dedicated immigration teams familiar with H-1B visa sponsorship. Smaller outpatient practices often lack the infrastructure to support visa sponsorship processes.
Confirm state licensure requirements early
NP scope of practice varies significantly by state. Some states have full practice authority; others require physician collaboration agreements. Identify states where licensing timelines align with your OPT start date to avoid authorization gaps.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship during the offer stage
Raise sponsorship intentions before accepting an offer, not after onboarding. Frame it as future planning: you are authorized now on OPT and will need H-1B filing before your authorization expires. Most large systems expect this conversation.
Use your OPT period to build specialty documentation
Document every critical care case type, procedure, and patient population you manage. This record strengthens both specialty occupation arguments for H-1B and any future O-1 visa petition if H-1B lottery selection does not occur.
Understand your STEM OPT eligibility before you graduate
Some nursing programs qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extensions; many do not. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before graduation so you can plan your employer reporting requirements and 12 versus 36-month authorization timeline accurately.
Acute Care Nurse Practitioner OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner on OPT?
Yes, but your OPT authorization must be in a field directly related to your degree. If you graduated from an acute care or advanced practice nursing program, working as an Acute Care NP qualifies. You must also hold active NP certification and a valid state license before your start date. Working without these in place violates both OPT rules and state practice law.
Do hospitals commonly sponsor Acute Care NPs for H-1B visas?
Large academic medical centers and integrated health systems sponsor Acute Care NPs at meaningful rates. The specialty occupation argument is well-established for NPs because the role requires a graduate-level nursing degree and national certification. Smaller community hospitals and independent practices sponsor far less frequently, so targeting systems with existing immigration programs during your OPT period is the most practical path.
How do I find Acute Care Nurse Practitioner jobs that support OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Acute Care NP roles specifically vetted for OPT and visa sponsorship compatibility. Filtering by sponsorship willingness saves significant time compared to applying broadly and learning mid-process that an employer does not support international candidates. Use Migrate Mate to identify employers with a documented history of sponsoring healthcare workers before investing in the application process.
Does my nursing degree qualify for STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your program's Classification of Instructional Programs code. Standard BSN and MSN programs typically do not qualify for the 24-month STEM extension. However, some nursing informatics, clinical systems, or bioinformatics-adjacent programs do qualify. Check with your Designated School Official before graduation. If you do not qualify for STEM OPT, you have 12 months of work authorization, making early H-1B planning critical.
What happens if I do not get selected in the H-1B lottery during my OPT period?
If H-1B lottery selection does not occur and your OPT authorization is expiring, you have a few options. You can explore the O-1A visa if your clinical or research record supports an extraordinary ability argument. Some Acute Care NPs also qualify for TN visa status if they are Canadian or Mexican citizens. Otherwise, returning to school for an additional degree resets your OPT eligibility and buys additional authorized time.