OPT CNS Jobs
CNS roles in clinical research, healthcare IT, and network infrastructure regularly appear on OPT job boards, and many employers are experienced with F-1 work authorization. Most CNS positions qualify as specialty occupations, making them strong candidates for H-1B visa sponsorship after your OPT period ends.
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Get Access To All JobsJob ID JR211435
Date posted 10/23/2026
Location Oceanside, California
STCMC Tri
Day
* Regular
Overview
At Sharp, being a nurse means transforming the health care experience for your patients, for your colleagues and for yourself. In a collaborative environment with state-of-the-art facilities and advanced clinical practices, we encourage you to follow your passions wherever they take you.
As a recognized leader in nursing excellence with Magnet® recognitions for high-quality, patient-centered care, we invite you to join us in providing health care the way it should be. We offer a wide variety of nursing positions — from RNs and clinical nurse leads to case managers and clinical nurse specialists.
Success Profile
Wondering what qualities it takes to be a successful nursing professional at Sharp? View some of the traits we’re looking for below.
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Resourceful
- Advocate
- Person-centered
- Critical Thinker
Job Details
Job ID JR211435
Hours:
Shift Start Time:
Variable
Shift End Time:
Variable
AWS Hours Requirement:
8/40 - 8 Hour Shift
Additional Shift Information:
Start time between 0700 - 0800
Weekend Requirements:
As Needed
On-Call Required:
No
Hourly Pay Range (Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum):
$59.160 - $72.470 - $85.780
The stated pay scale reflects the range that Sharp reasonably expects to pay for this position. The actual pay rate and pay grade for this position will be dependent on a variety of factors, including an applicant’s years of experience, unique skills and abilities, education, alignment with similar internal candidates, marketplace factors, other requirements for the position, and employer business practices.
What You Will Do
This position is accountable for assuming responsibility in the area of NICU. This person serves as a clinical expert, educator, and consultant to the staff, physicians, patients and their care givers. The focus of this position is on accomplishing strategic and tactical aims within the domains of the NICU department. Fosters multidisciplinary relationships and linkages that support implementation of innovations; leads interdisciplinary groups in implementing patient care programs across the care continuum.
Required Qualifications
- Master's Degree level in Nursing.
- 3 Years clinical experience as a staff nurse.
- Requires previous experience in educational activities related to the scope of nursing practice.
- California Registered Nurse (RN) - CA Board of Registered Nursing - REQUIRED
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) - CA Board of Registered Nursing - REQUIRED
- AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professional (AHA BLS Healthcare) - American Heart Association - REQUIRED
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - Various-Employee provides certificate - REQUIRED
Preferred Qualifications
- ACLS Certification (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - American Heart Association - PREFERRED
Other Qualification Requirements
- Current certification in NICU from a nationally recognized accrediting organization, required.
Essential Functions
The position characteristics reflect the most important duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job in a fully competent manner. They should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. The characteristics of the position and standards of performance may be changed by TCMC with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.
-
Maintains a safe, clean working environment, including unit based safety and infection control requirements.
-
Acts as an Educator, Clinical Expert, Consultant, Researcher and Practitioner for NICU to ensure optimal patient care outcomes.
-
Coordinates and assesses NICU educational development and clinical competency of the nursing staff and ensures continued competency through educational programs for both the newly hired and experienced staff.
-
Provides expertise, developing prevention strategies and protocols to improve patient outcomes.
-
Leads nurses to ‘think outside the box’, to try new ways through evidenced based practice to enhance and improve patient outcomes.
-
Guides the development of consistent and constant standards of practice of nurses, ensures the highest level of care is provided.
-
Troubleshoots complex patient care issues.
-
Measures patient functioning and quality of well being along with disease specific clinical outcomes.
-
Collaborates with the physicians to update clinical guidelines, procedures and policies.
-
Participates in all NICU committees, quality monitoring, marketing and community services.
-
Obtains reviews and analyzes information in collaboration with the patient, family, significant other as related to educational needs.
-
Provides community education services as necessary.
-
Plans for personal growth as related to goals based on self assessment, evaluation, and feedback.
-
Provides consultation to internal customers (e.g. staff and physicians) and external customers (e.g. patients/significant others and other medical facilities).
-
Assists in the development of nurses’ advocacy and moral agency through role modeling, teaching and/or coaching.
-
Serves as an agent for professional nursing educational issues.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Effective interpersonal skills – oral and written, and presentations.
- Requires effective collaboration, problem-solving, negotiation and written and verbal communication skills.
- Requires knowledge of computer software applications.
Sharp HealthCare is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability or any other protected class.
Our Mission and Values
At Sharp, our mission is to improve the health of those we serve with a commitment to excellence in all that we do. We aim to offer quality care and services that set community standards, exceed patients’ expectations and are provided in a caring, convenient, cost-effective and accessible manner.
We have a vision to transform the health care experience through a culture of caring, quality, safety, service, innovation and excellence. Our goal is to be the best place to work, the best place to practice medicine and the best place to receive care.
Our team members are the driving force behind our mission and vision. At Sharp, we’re focused on providing an environment that will meet the needs of both our patients and our employees. Our team members are encouraged to connect with their passions and recommit to the purpose of their work each day.
Benefits
-
Medical, vision, dental and more
Our flexible benefits include a choice of two HMO medical plans (both of which include vision), two PPO dental choices, flexible spending accounts, accident insurance, long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
-
Generous vacation, holiday and sick leave
We offer one of the most generous plans among health care systems in San Diego, and new Sharp employees start with 25 days of paid time off in just the first year.
-
Wellness programs
We focus on your overall well-being by giving you tools to improve both yourself and your life — mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and environmentally. Our focus is on balanced health and wellness to help you reach your health goals and enjoy life along the way.
-
Employee assistance program
At Sharp, we understand that personal problems occasionally arise and you may need to seek outside professional advice. We’re here to help. Our employee assistance program helps employees develop and maintain a lifestyle that supports good health and productivity.
-
Retirement plans
We’re proud to offer two retirement plans to match your needs. The Sharp$aver 401(a) plan matches your after-tax contributions and the 403(b) plan offers a long-term savings plan for pre-tax and Roth contributions with available loan and withdrawal provisions.
-
Educational opportunities and tuition reimbursement
We support and encourage the growth and development of our employees through educational courses for credit in institutions of higher learning, continuing education programs (conferences, workshops, seminars) and specialty certification examinations.
-
Discount programs, perks and other benefits
Our employees are eligible to participate in several group voluntary benefit plans — including group legal, college savings, critical illness insurance, group auto and home insurance and pet insurance.
Job ID JR211435
Date posted 10/23/2026
Location Oceanside, California
STCMC Tri
Day
* Regular
Overview
At Sharp, being a nurse means transforming the health care experience for your patients, for your colleagues and for yourself. In a collaborative environment with state-of-the-art facilities and advanced clinical practices, we encourage you to follow your passions wherever they take you.
As a recognized leader in nursing excellence with Magnet® recognitions for high-quality, patient-centered care, we invite you to join us in providing health care the way it should be. We offer a wide variety of nursing positions — from RNs and clinical nurse leads to case managers and clinical nurse specialists.
Success Profile
Wondering what qualities it takes to be a successful nursing professional at Sharp? View some of the traits we’re looking for below.
- Innovative
- Collaborative
- Resourceful
- Advocate
- Person-centered
- Critical Thinker
Job Details
Job ID JR211435
Hours:
Shift Start Time:
Variable
Shift End Time:
Variable
AWS Hours Requirement:
8/40 - 8 Hour Shift
Additional Shift Information:
Start time between 0700 - 0800
Weekend Requirements:
As Needed
On-Call Required:
No
Hourly Pay Range (Minimum - Midpoint - Maximum):
$59.160 - $72.470 - $85.780
The stated pay scale reflects the range that Sharp reasonably expects to pay for this position. The actual pay rate and pay grade for this position will be dependent on a variety of factors, including an applicant’s years of experience, unique skills and abilities, education, alignment with similar internal candidates, marketplace factors, other requirements for the position, and employer business practices.
What You Will Do
This position is accountable for assuming responsibility in the area of NICU. This person serves as a clinical expert, educator, and consultant to the staff, physicians, patients and their care givers. The focus of this position is on accomplishing strategic and tactical aims within the domains of the NICU department. Fosters multidisciplinary relationships and linkages that support implementation of innovations; leads interdisciplinary groups in implementing patient care programs across the care continuum.
Required Qualifications
- Master's Degree level in Nursing.
- 3 Years clinical experience as a staff nurse.
- Requires previous experience in educational activities related to the scope of nursing practice.
- California Registered Nurse (RN) - CA Board of Registered Nursing - REQUIRED
- Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) - CA Board of Registered Nursing - REQUIRED
- AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Professional (AHA BLS Healthcare) - American Heart Association - REQUIRED
- Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) - Various-Employee provides certificate - REQUIRED
Preferred Qualifications
- ACLS Certification (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) - American Heart Association - PREFERRED
Other Qualification Requirements
- Current certification in NICU from a nationally recognized accrediting organization, required.
Essential Functions
The position characteristics reflect the most important duties, responsibilities and competencies considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job in a fully competent manner. They should not be considered as a detailed description of all the work requirements of the position. The characteristics of the position and standards of performance may be changed by TCMC with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.
-
Maintains a safe, clean working environment, including unit based safety and infection control requirements.
-
Acts as an Educator, Clinical Expert, Consultant, Researcher and Practitioner for NICU to ensure optimal patient care outcomes.
-
Coordinates and assesses NICU educational development and clinical competency of the nursing staff and ensures continued competency through educational programs for both the newly hired and experienced staff.
-
Provides expertise, developing prevention strategies and protocols to improve patient outcomes.
-
Leads nurses to ‘think outside the box’, to try new ways through evidenced based practice to enhance and improve patient outcomes.
-
Guides the development of consistent and constant standards of practice of nurses, ensures the highest level of care is provided.
-
Troubleshoots complex patient care issues.
-
Measures patient functioning and quality of well being along with disease specific clinical outcomes.
-
Collaborates with the physicians to update clinical guidelines, procedures and policies.
-
Participates in all NICU committees, quality monitoring, marketing and community services.
-
Obtains reviews and analyzes information in collaboration with the patient, family, significant other as related to educational needs.
-
Provides community education services as necessary.
-
Plans for personal growth as related to goals based on self assessment, evaluation, and feedback.
-
Provides consultation to internal customers (e.g. staff and physicians) and external customers (e.g. patients/significant others and other medical facilities).
-
Assists in the development of nurses’ advocacy and moral agency through role modeling, teaching and/or coaching.
-
Serves as an agent for professional nursing educational issues.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Effective interpersonal skills – oral and written, and presentations.
- Requires effective collaboration, problem-solving, negotiation and written and verbal communication skills.
- Requires knowledge of computer software applications.
Sharp HealthCare is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, status as a protected veteran, among other things, or status as a qualified individual with disability or any other protected class.
Our Mission and Values
At Sharp, our mission is to improve the health of those we serve with a commitment to excellence in all that we do. We aim to offer quality care and services that set community standards, exceed patients’ expectations and are provided in a caring, convenient, cost-effective and accessible manner.
We have a vision to transform the health care experience through a culture of caring, quality, safety, service, innovation and excellence. Our goal is to be the best place to work, the best place to practice medicine and the best place to receive care.
Our team members are the driving force behind our mission and vision. At Sharp, we’re focused on providing an environment that will meet the needs of both our patients and our employees. Our team members are encouraged to connect with their passions and recommit to the purpose of their work each day.
Benefits
-
Medical, vision, dental and more
Our flexible benefits include a choice of two HMO medical plans (both of which include vision), two PPO dental choices, flexible spending accounts, accident insurance, long-term disability insurance and life insurance.
-
Generous vacation, holiday and sick leave
We offer one of the most generous plans among health care systems in San Diego, and new Sharp employees start with 25 days of paid time off in just the first year.
-
Wellness programs
We focus on your overall well-being by giving you tools to improve both yourself and your life — mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and environmentally. Our focus is on balanced health and wellness to help you reach your health goals and enjoy life along the way.
-
Employee assistance program
At Sharp, we understand that personal problems occasionally arise and you may need to seek outside professional advice. We’re here to help. Our employee assistance program helps employees develop and maintain a lifestyle that supports good health and productivity.
-
Retirement plans
We’re proud to offer two retirement plans to match your needs. The Sharp$aver 401(a) plan matches your after-tax contributions and the 403(b) plan offers a long-term savings plan for pre-tax and Roth contributions with available loan and withdrawal provisions.
-
Educational opportunities and tuition reimbursement
We support and encourage the growth and development of our employees through educational courses for credit in institutions of higher learning, continuing education programs (conferences, workshops, seminars) and specialty certification examinations.
-
Discount programs, perks and other benefits
Our employees are eligible to participate in several group voluntary benefit plans — including group legal, college savings, critical illness insurance, group auto and home insurance and pet insurance.
See all OPT CNS Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT CNS Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in CNS
Verify your role qualifies as a specialty occupation
CNS positions typically require a bachelor's degree in computer science, nursing, or a related field. Confirm the job posting specifies a degree requirement, not just a preference. A preferred-only requirement can complicate your H-1B visa petition down the road.
Apply before your OPT start date
Many CNS employers begin the hiring process two to three months before a target start date. Applying early gives you time to negotiate sponsorship terms and allows your employer to file an LCA before your authorization begins.
Ask about STEM OPT extension eligibility early
If your degree is in computer science, information systems, or a STEM-designated field, you may qualify for a 24-month STEM extension. Confirm your employer is E-Verify enrolled before accepting an offer, as that is a hard requirement.
Target employers with a history of sponsoring F-1 workers
Healthcare systems, managed IT services firms, and federal contractors frequently hire CNS candidates on OPT. Employers already familiar with the process move faster and make fewer documentation mistakes during your authorization period.
Keep your employment authorization documents current
Your employer's HR team will need your EAD card, I-20 with OPT endorsement, and I-94 record before your start date. Organize these in advance so onboarding delays do not create gaps in your authorized employment period.
Clarify H-1B sponsorship intent before signing an offer
Ask directly whether the employer sponsors H-1B petitions for CNS roles. If they do, request written confirmation in your offer letter. Verbal assurances from a hiring manager carry no weight if HR policy later changes.
CNS OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a CNS on OPT without additional authorization?
Yes. If you have an approved EAD and your CNS role is directly related to your field of study, you can work without any additional authorization during your OPT period. Roles in clinical informatics, network systems, or healthcare IT typically satisfy the practical training requirement, but your job duties should align clearly with your degree program.
Do CNS jobs qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
They can, depending on your degree. If your bachelor's or master's degree is in a STEM-designated field such as computer science, information technology, or biomedical engineering, your CNS role may qualify for the extension. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and you must file Form I-765 with USCIS before your initial OPT expires.
Where can I find CNS jobs that are open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate filters job listings specifically for F-1 OPT students, so you can browse CNS roles from employers already familiar with work authorization requirements. Searching there saves time compared to filtering through general job boards where OPT eligibility is rarely stated upfront.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I change CNS employers?
Your EAD remains valid, but you must report the employer change to your DSO within 10 days and update your record in the SEVP Portal. If you are on STEM OPT, your new employer must also be E-Verify enrolled and you will need a new Form I-983 training plan submitted before you begin work.
How soon should I discuss H-1B sponsorship with a CNS employer?
Raise it before you accept an offer. The H-1B cap lottery opens in March for an October 1 start date, so if your OPT expires mid-year, timing matters significantly. Employers who have sponsored before will understand the urgency. If your role qualifies as cap-exempt through a nonprofit or university-affiliated system, the timeline is more flexible.