OPT Hospital Social Worker Jobs
Hospital Social Worker jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with degrees in social work, psychology, or a related field. Most roles require a BSW or MSW and state licensure eligibility. STEM OPT does not apply here, so your 12-month standard OPT window is the primary authorization period to work with.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Summary and Responsibilities
Eligible for up to a $3,000 sign-on bonus and premium pay for this weekend position. Work Saturdays and Sundays along with a Friday OR Monday.
As our Weekend Social Worker MSW you will collaborate with the Registered Nurse Manager for timely discharge planning, assessing psychosocial impacts of illness, and providing direct patient services utilizing community resources.
Every day you will perform psychosocial assessments, discharge planning/coordination, community referrals, crisis intervention, and supportive counseling. You'll play an integral role in the Multi-disciplinary Team, managing patient services, determining abuse/neglect referrals, coordinating care for psychiatric patients, ensuring safe discharges, and educating doctoral residents.
To be successful in this role, you will ideally have experience in a medical setting, with Medicare/Medicaid populations, and in patient education. You will demonstrate strong assessment, planning, and advocacy skills within a team-based setting.
- Assesses, develops, implements and monitors a comprehensive plan of care through an interdisciplinary team process in conjunction with the patient and family in internal and external settings.
- Comprehensively assesses patient’s goals as well as their biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, and discharge planning needs and financial status.
- Works collaboratively with care partners to develop appropriate discharge plan and ensure indicated referrals are completed in a timely manner.
- Procures services and serves as advocate on behalf of patients and families for scarce resources.
- Acts as a liaison to post hospital care provider and community health resources.
- Educates patients, families, and medical staff regarding available resources and guidelines associated in accessing resources. Provide applications as needed for these resources.
Job Requirements
Certified Master Social Worker in Nebraska and Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association upon hire.
Where You'll Work
At CHI Health CUMC-Bergan Mercy, our focus is patient-centered care. Our level I trauma center and academic medical center campus is designed to heal the body, mind, and spirit of every person in a more comfortable, less stressful hospital environment. Our full range of medical services includes trauma services, heart and vascular care, emergency services, surgery, maternity, cancer care, and diagnostic imaging.
Pay Range
$24.27 - $36.10 /hour
Job Summary and Responsibilities
Eligible for up to a $3,000 sign-on bonus and premium pay for this weekend position. Work Saturdays and Sundays along with a Friday OR Monday.
As our Weekend Social Worker MSW you will collaborate with the Registered Nurse Manager for timely discharge planning, assessing psychosocial impacts of illness, and providing direct patient services utilizing community resources.
Every day you will perform psychosocial assessments, discharge planning/coordination, community referrals, crisis intervention, and supportive counseling. You'll play an integral role in the Multi-disciplinary Team, managing patient services, determining abuse/neglect referrals, coordinating care for psychiatric patients, ensuring safe discharges, and educating doctoral residents.
To be successful in this role, you will ideally have experience in a medical setting, with Medicare/Medicaid populations, and in patient education. You will demonstrate strong assessment, planning, and advocacy skills within a team-based setting.
- Assesses, develops, implements and monitors a comprehensive plan of care through an interdisciplinary team process in conjunction with the patient and family in internal and external settings.
- Comprehensively assesses patient’s goals as well as their biophysical, psychosocial, environmental, and discharge planning needs and financial status.
- Works collaboratively with care partners to develop appropriate discharge plan and ensure indicated referrals are completed in a timely manner.
- Procures services and serves as advocate on behalf of patients and families for scarce resources.
- Acts as a liaison to post hospital care provider and community health resources.
- Educates patients, families, and medical staff regarding available resources and guidelines associated in accessing resources. Provide applications as needed for these resources.
Job Requirements
Certified Master Social Worker in Nebraska and Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association upon hire.
Where You'll Work
At CHI Health CUMC-Bergan Mercy, our focus is patient-centered care. Our level I trauma center and academic medical center campus is designed to heal the body, mind, and spirit of every person in a more comfortable, less stressful hospital environment. Our full range of medical services includes trauma services, heart and vascular care, emergency services, surgery, maternity, cancer care, and diagnostic imaging.
Pay Range
$24.27 - $36.10 /hour
See all 58+ OPT Hospital Social Worker Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Hospital Social Worker
Lead with your MSW and licensure status
Hiring managers in hospital settings prioritize licensure eligibility above almost everything else. State clearly in your application whether you're eligible to sit for the LMSW or LCSW exam, and note your current license status if you've already passed.
Target hospitals with established HR infrastructure
Large hospital systems and academic medical centers employ dedicated HR and compliance teams familiar with OPT work authorization. They're significantly more likely to have processed EAD-based hires before than smaller community clinics or private practices.
Address your OPT timeline early in the process
Hospital social work roles often involve 60-to-90-day onboarding timelines. Proactively tell recruiters your OPT start date and expiration date so they can assess fit before extending an offer, avoiding surprises late in the process.
Frame field placements as direct clinical experience
MSW field placements in hospital or healthcare settings are directly equivalent to paid clinical experience. Describe your placement hours, patient population, and interdisciplinary team involvement using the same language you'd use for a professional role.
Understand which employers can support H-1B after OPT
Social work qualifies as a specialty occupation for H-1B visa purposes when the role requires an MSW. Prioritize employers who have sponsored H-1B visas for social workers before, as this signals willingness to continue your authorization beyond OPT.
Get your EAD card situation squared away before applying
Apply for your EAD as early as USCIS allows, ideally 90 days before your program end date. Hospital HR departments need to verify work authorization before your start date, and delays in EAD receipt can cost you an offer.
Hospital Social Worker OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Hospital Social Worker on F-1 OPT?
Yes, provided your degree is in social work, psychology, counseling, or a closely related field and the role aligns with your area of study. Hospital social work roles typically require a BSW or MSW, which maps cleanly to OPT eligibility requirements. You'll work using your Employment Authorization Document as proof of authorization.
Does Hospital Social Work qualify for STEM OPT extension?
No. Social work is not a STEM-designated field under the Department of Homeland Security's STEM OPT list, so the 24-month STEM extension is not available. You'll have the standard 12-month OPT period. If you want to remain in the U.S. after that, your employer would need to sponsor an H-1B or another nonimmigrant visa.
Do hospitals typically sponsor OPT students for H-1B visas after OPT ends?
Large hospital systems and academic medical centers are among the more consistent H-1B sponsors in the social work field, particularly for MSW-level roles. Social work qualifies as a specialty occupation when an MSW is a genuine requirement of the position. Search Migrate Mate to find hospital employers with a track record of visa sponsorship for social workers.
Is state licensure required to work as a Hospital Social Worker on OPT?
It depends on the state and the specific role. Many hospital positions require you to be licensed or license-eligible at the time of hire. Some entry-level or unlicensed associate roles exist, but clinical positions with direct patient contact almost always require at minimum an LMSW. Check your state's licensing board requirements before applying, as they vary significantly.
How much of my OPT period is typically consumed by a hospital hiring process?
Hospital hiring processes are slower than most industries. From application to start date, expect 60 to 90 days on average, and sometimes longer for roles requiring credentialing or background checks. If your OPT window is 12 months, beginning your search at least four to five months before your ideal start date gives you a realistic runway.