OPT Charge Nurse Jobs
Charge Nurse jobs on OPT require employers comfortable with clinical visa sponsorship, which narrows the field but doesn't eliminate it. Hospital systems, long-term care facilities, and specialty clinics regularly hire international nurses. Your NCLEX licensure and RN experience are your strongest assets when approaching sponsorship conversations.
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UCI Health is one of California's largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health - Orange, UCI Health - Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties.
As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education.
Position Summary:
The Charge Nurse plays a critical leadership role in ensuring high-quality, individualized patient care within the Medical Acute department within 4-East Telemetry-Oncology. This leadership role is responsible for organizing, planning, and directing nursing activities while overseeing clinical competency among staff. Responsibilities include policy development, consulting on complex nursing cases, mentoring new staff, leading performance improvement initiatives, and supporting continuing education programs.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- All External Candidates must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher
- Minimum two (2) years RN experience in an acute care facility
- Strong customer service skills with internal and external colleagues
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
- Ability to fully understand Patient Classification Staffing System
- Demonstrated leadership skills in leadership roles/responsibilities through the following: Leadership of department focused project with effective outcome and implementation; Qualified preceptor; Participation in a Practice Council and/or Qualify Council; Teaching a skills lab or acting as a clinical instructor.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with strong multi-tasking and decision-making skills.
- Completion of annual CBT courses and in-service
- Must possess the skill, knowledge and ability essential to the successful performance of assigned duties
- Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
- Ability to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the Health System
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:
- Current California Registered Nurse (RN) License
- Current Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy Certification
- AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
- AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification
- CPI Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification
- NIHSS Certification
- American Nursing Association (ANA) Medical-Surgical Certification
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Knowledge of University and Medical Center organizations, policies, procedures and forms
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, & ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
To comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the essential physical, mental and environmental requirements for this job are listed below. These are requirements normally expected to perform regular job duties. Incumbent must be able to successfully perform all of the functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
MOBILITY
- Sitting: 20% of time
- Standing: 50% of time
- Walking: 30% of time
AGILITY (F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)
- Balancing: N
- Bending: O
- Climbing: N
- Crawling: N
- Crouching: O
- Kneeling: O
- Turning: F
- Twisting: F
STRENGTH
- Carrying: Up to 25 Pounds
- Lifting: Up to 25 Pounds
- Pulling: Up to 50 Pounds
- Pushing: Up to 50 Pounds
TOTAL REWARDS
We offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:
- Background Check and Live Scan
- Employment Misconduct*
- Legal Right to Work in the United States
- Vaccination Policies
- Smoking and Tobacco Policy
- Drug Free Environment
*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.
- California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
- E-Verify
- Pre-Placement Health Evaluation
Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page: https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php
CLOSING STATEMENT:
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.
We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.
UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact UCI's Employee Experience Center (EEC) at eec@uci.edu or at (949) 824-0500, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Overview:
UCI Health is one of California's largest academic health systems and the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. Established on July 1, 1976, UCI Health has grown into a 1,461-bed health system that includes UCI Health - Orange, UCI Health - Irvine, four Community Network hospitals and a growing network of ambulatory care centers across Orange and Los Angeles counties.
As Orange County’s only academic health systems, UCI Health is home to the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center based in the county, the region’s only American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, American College of Emergency Physicians Gold Level 1 Geriatric Emergency Department and a nationally recognized regional burn center verified by the American Burn Association. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people across Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County through excellence in patient care, research and medical education.
Position Summary:
The Charge Nurse plays a critical leadership role in ensuring high-quality, individualized patient care within the Medical Acute department within 4-East Telemetry-Oncology. This leadership role is responsible for organizing, planning, and directing nursing activities while overseeing clinical competency among staff. Responsibilities include policy development, consulting on complex nursing cases, mentoring new staff, leading performance improvement initiatives, and supporting continuing education programs.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- All External Candidates must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher
- Minimum two (2) years RN experience in an acute care facility
- Strong customer service skills with internal and external colleagues
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
- Ability to fully understand Patient Classification Staffing System
- Demonstrated leadership skills in leadership roles/responsibilities through the following: Leadership of department focused project with effective outcome and implementation; Qualified preceptor; Participation in a Practice Council and/or Qualify Council; Teaching a skills lab or acting as a clinical instructor.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, with strong multi-tasking and decision-making skills.
- Completion of annual CBT courses and in-service
- Must possess the skill, knowledge and ability essential to the successful performance of assigned duties
- Must demonstrate customer service skills appropriate to the job
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
- Ability to maintain a work pace appropriate to the workload
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across the Health System
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:
- Current California Registered Nurse (RN) License
- Current Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Chemotherapy/Immunotherapy Certification
- AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
- AHA Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification
- CPI Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Certification
- NIHSS Certification
- American Nursing Association (ANA) Medical-Surgical Certification
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Knowledge of University and Medical Center organizations, policies, procedures and forms
PHYSICAL, MENTAL, & ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS
To comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the essential physical, mental and environmental requirements for this job are listed below. These are requirements normally expected to perform regular job duties. Incumbent must be able to successfully perform all of the functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
MOBILITY
- Sitting: 20% of time
- Standing: 50% of time
- Walking: 30% of time
AGILITY (F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)
- Balancing: N
- Bending: O
- Climbing: N
- Crawling: N
- Crouching: O
- Kneeling: O
- Turning: F
- Twisting: F
STRENGTH
- Carrying: Up to 25 Pounds
- Lifting: Up to 25 Pounds
- Pulling: Up to 50 Pounds
- Pushing: Up to 50 Pounds
TOTAL REWARDS
We offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:
- Background Check and Live Scan
- Employment Misconduct*
- Legal Right to Work in the United States
- Vaccination Policies
- Smoking and Tobacco Policy
- Drug Free Environment
*Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.
- California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
- E-Verify
- Pre-Placement Health Evaluation
Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page: https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php
CLOSING STATEMENT:
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.
We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.
UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact UCI's Employee Experience Center (EEC) at eec@uci.edu or at (949) 824-0500, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
See all 345+ OPT Charge Nurse Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Charge Nurse Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Charge Nurse
Lead with your RN license, not your visa status
Charge Nurse roles require active state RN licensure, which is hard to obtain. Employers know that. Open with your NCLEX pass and license status before discussing OPT. It reframes you as a credentialed hire, not a sponsorship ask.
Target hospital systems with international hiring track records
Large health systems like academic medical centers and nonprofit hospital networks are far more experienced with OPT and H-1B visa sponsorship than small clinics. Their HR teams have immigration processes in place and are less likely to reject you on paperwork alone.
Apply before your OPT start date, not after
Charge Nurse hiring moves slower than most roles due to credential verification and background checks. Submit applications two to three months before your OPT begins so your work authorization is active before the onboarding process concludes.
Clarify your STEM OPT eligibility if your nursing program qualifies
Some nursing informatics, healthcare technology, or clinical systems programs qualify for STEM OPT extension. If yours does, you gain 24 additional months of work authorization. Confirm with your DSO and communicate the extended timeline clearly to prospective employers.
Understand that H-1B is the typical post-OPT path for nurses
Charge Nurse roles fall under specialty occupation criteria, making H-1B sponsorship the standard next step after OPT. Confirm early that a potential employer has sponsored H-1B visas for clinical staff before investing time in the hiring process.
Address shift expectations and float pool assignments directly
Many Charge Nurse OPT roles are in high-need units requiring night, weekend, or rotating shifts. Showing flexibility in your application signals commitment and increases your chances with employers who associate sponsorship decisions with long-term retention.
Charge Nurse OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Charge Nurse on OPT without a separate work visa?
Yes. F-1 OPT authorizes you to work as a Charge Nurse for any employer in a role related to your field of study, typically nursing or healthcare. You do not need a separate visa during your OPT period. Your employer will verify your work authorization using your EAD card and F-1 documents. Standard OPT lasts 12 months.
Do Charge Nurse jobs qualify for STEM OPT extension?
Standard nursing programs are not on the STEM designated degree list, so most Charge Nurse roles do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. However, if your degree is in nursing informatics, clinical data science, or a related STEM-classified program, you may qualify. Confirm your program's classification with your DSO before assuming eligibility.
What happens to my Charge Nurse job if I miss the H-1B lottery?
If you don't get selected in the H-1B lottery, your OPT will eventually expire and you'll lose work authorization unless another visa applies. Some nurses pursue the EB-3 green card route through their employer, which does not require lottery selection. Discussing long-term sponsorship options with your employer before OPT ends is essential.
Where can I find Charge Nurse jobs that sponsor OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically to surface jobs at employers with a history of sponsoring international workers, including clinical roles like Charge Nurse. Standard job boards don't filter for sponsorship willingness, which means you spend time on roles that will reject you at the offer stage. Migrate Mate filters that out upfront.
Does my nursing degree need to match the Charge Nurse role for OPT to be valid?
Yes. OPT requires that your job be directly related to your degree. A Charge Nurse role is clearly within scope for a nursing or clinical healthcare degree. If your degree is in a different field, such as public health or health administration, the match may be less direct and worth discussing with your DSO before accepting an offer.