OPT ICU Registered Nurse Jobs
ICU Registered Nurse jobs on OPT require employers willing to sponsor H-1B visa or commit to STEM OPT extensions. Most hospital systems can sponsor, but bedside nursing roles face tighter immigration timelines than other healthcare positions. Your 12-month OPT window starts the moment you begin working, so starting your job search early is critical.
See All OPT ICU Registered Nurse JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 602+ ICU Registered Nurse jobs
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
Have you applied for this role?
See all 602+ ICU Registered Nurse Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new ICU Registered Nurse roles.
Get Access To All JobsIf you are looking to make an impact on a meaningful scale, come join us as we embrace the Power of One!
We strive to be an employer of choice and establish a reputation for being a talent rich organization where Associates can grow their career caring for others. For over a century, we’ve served the health care needs of the people of Memphis and the Mid-South.
Responsible for delivering and coordinating nursing care for patients within a multidisciplinary team, utilizing the nursing process to ensure comprehensive, high-quality care. Provides compassionate, patient-centered care while supporting patients and families through emotional challenges and crises. Prioritizes patient safety and strives for optimal care outcomes through evidence-based practice. Educates and advocates for both patients and their families, empowering them with the knowledge and resources needed for treatment and self-care. Demonstrates professionalism and upholds the MLH Mission, Vision, and Values, serving as a role model for excellence in nursing practice.
Working at MLH means carrying the mission forward of caring for our community and impacting the lives of patients in every way through compassion, a deliberate focus on service expectations and a consistent thriving for excellence.
A Brief Overview
Responsible for delivering and coordinating nursing care for patients within a multidisciplinary team, utilizing the nursing process to ensure comprehensive, high-quality care. Provides compassionate, patient-centered care while supporting patients and families through emotional challenges and crises. Prioritizes patient safety and strives for optimal care outcomes through evidence-based practice. Educates and advocates for both patients and their families, empowering them with the knowledge and resources needed for treatment and self-care. Demonstrates professionalism and upholds the MLH Mission, Vision, and Values, serving as a role model for excellence in nursing practice.
What you will do
- Conducts comprehensive nursing assessments to determine appropriate interventions and develop individualized care plans.
- Provides patient and family education on care plans, medications, and self-care strategies.
- Develops, implements, and adjusts personalized patient care plans based on ongoing clinical assessments.
- Administers medications safely, following best practices in medication management.
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated, high-quality patient care.
Education/Formal Training Requirements
- Required - Associates Degree Nursing
- Preferred - Bachelor's Degree Nursing
Work Experience Requirements
- Required - Registered Nurse 0-1 years
- Preferred - Clinical nursing 1-3 years
Licenses and Certifications Requirements
- Required - Registered Nurse Tennessee - Tennessee Board of Nursing
- Required - BASIC LIFE SUPPORT - American Heart Association
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Comprehensive understanding of patient care, including the ability to conduct thorough assessments using the nursing process.
- Strong knowledge of the Nurse Practice Act and the scope of practice for a Registered Nurse.
- Ability to process complex clinical information using critical thinking to develop, implement, and support individualized care plans.
- Ability to effectively delegate tasks to team members, ensuring a collaborative, team-based approach to delivering high-quality patient care.
- Familiarity with healthcare technology that enhances patient safety and care efficiency (e.g., bar code scanning, electronic health records).
Supervision Provided by this Position
The Registered Nurse directs and delegates all patient care activities on nursing units.
Physical Demands
- The physical activities of this position may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion.
- Must have good balance and coordination.
- The physical requirements of this position are: medium work - exerting up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 25 lbs. of force frequently.
- The Associate is required to have close visual acuity including color, depth perception, and field of vision to perform an activity, such as assessing patients, preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; or extensive reading.
- Frequent invasive and non-invasive patient contact.
- Exposure to patient body fluids as well as exposure to hazardous or poisonous materials.
- Ability to react quickly to emergency situations.
Our Associates are passionate about what they do, the service they provide and the patients they serve. We value family, team and a Power of One culture that requires commitment to the highest standards of care and unity.
Boasting one of the South's largest medical centers, Memphis blends a friendly community, a thriving and growing downtown, and a low cost of living. We see each day as a new opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people in our community.
If you are looking to make an impact on a meaningful scale, come join us as we embrace the Power of One!
We strive to be an employer of choice and establish a reputation for being a talent rich organization where Associates can grow their career caring for others. For over a century, we’ve served the health care needs of the people of Memphis and the Mid-South.
Responsible for delivering and coordinating nursing care for patients within a multidisciplinary team, utilizing the nursing process to ensure comprehensive, high-quality care. Provides compassionate, patient-centered care while supporting patients and families through emotional challenges and crises. Prioritizes patient safety and strives for optimal care outcomes through evidence-based practice. Educates and advocates for both patients and their families, empowering them with the knowledge and resources needed for treatment and self-care. Demonstrates professionalism and upholds the MLH Mission, Vision, and Values, serving as a role model for excellence in nursing practice.
Working at MLH means carrying the mission forward of caring for our community and impacting the lives of patients in every way through compassion, a deliberate focus on service expectations and a consistent thriving for excellence.
A Brief Overview
Responsible for delivering and coordinating nursing care for patients within a multidisciplinary team, utilizing the nursing process to ensure comprehensive, high-quality care. Provides compassionate, patient-centered care while supporting patients and families through emotional challenges and crises. Prioritizes patient safety and strives for optimal care outcomes through evidence-based practice. Educates and advocates for both patients and their families, empowering them with the knowledge and resources needed for treatment and self-care. Demonstrates professionalism and upholds the MLH Mission, Vision, and Values, serving as a role model for excellence in nursing practice.
What you will do
- Conducts comprehensive nursing assessments to determine appropriate interventions and develop individualized care plans.
- Provides patient and family education on care plans, medications, and self-care strategies.
- Develops, implements, and adjusts personalized patient care plans based on ongoing clinical assessments.
- Administers medications safely, following best practices in medication management.
- Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to ensure coordinated, high-quality patient care.
Education/Formal Training Requirements
- Required - Associates Degree Nursing
- Preferred - Bachelor's Degree Nursing
Work Experience Requirements
- Required - Registered Nurse 0-1 years
- Preferred - Clinical nursing 1-3 years
Licenses and Certifications Requirements
- Required - Registered Nurse Tennessee - Tennessee Board of Nursing
- Required - BASIC LIFE SUPPORT - American Heart Association
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Comprehensive understanding of patient care, including the ability to conduct thorough assessments using the nursing process.
- Strong knowledge of the Nurse Practice Act and the scope of practice for a Registered Nurse.
- Ability to process complex clinical information using critical thinking to develop, implement, and support individualized care plans.
- Ability to effectively delegate tasks to team members, ensuring a collaborative, team-based approach to delivering high-quality patient care.
- Familiarity with healthcare technology that enhances patient safety and care efficiency (e.g., bar code scanning, electronic health records).
Supervision Provided by this Position
The Registered Nurse directs and delegates all patient care activities on nursing units.
Physical Demands
- The physical activities of this position may include climbing, pushing, standing, hearing, walking, reaching, grasping, kneeling, stooping, and repetitive motion.
- Must have good balance and coordination.
- The physical requirements of this position are: medium work - exerting up to 50 lbs. of force occasionally and/or up to 25 lbs. of force frequently.
- The Associate is required to have close visual acuity including color, depth perception, and field of vision to perform an activity, such as assessing patients, preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; or extensive reading.
- Frequent invasive and non-invasive patient contact.
- Exposure to patient body fluids as well as exposure to hazardous or poisonous materials.
- Ability to react quickly to emergency situations.
Our Associates are passionate about what they do, the service they provide and the patients they serve. We value family, team and a Power of One culture that requires commitment to the highest standards of care and unity.
Boasting one of the South's largest medical centers, Memphis blends a friendly community, a thriving and growing downtown, and a low cost of living. We see each day as a new opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people in our community.
See all 602+ OPT ICU Registered Nurse Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT ICU Registered Nurse Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as an ICU Registered Nurse
Target hospital systems, not staffing agencies
Large hospital networks like academic medical centers and integrated health systems are far more likely to sponsor H-1B visas than staffing agencies. Agencies typically hire nurses on short-term contracts and rarely have the infrastructure or incentive to file petitions.
Confirm NCLEX licensure before applying
Most ICU RN roles require a valid state nursing license before your start date. The NCLEX process can take six to twelve weeks. Beginning the licensure process before graduation protects your OPT timeline and avoids gaps that complicate work authorization.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship directly and early
Bring up sponsorship before accepting any offer. Ask whether the hospital has sponsored H-1B petitions for nurses in the past and whether their HR team works with immigration counsel. Past sponsorship history is the strongest signal they will do it again.
Prioritize hospitals with established immigration programs
Academic medical centers, large nonprofit health systems, and teaching hospitals are more accustomed to sponsoring international nurses. These employers have HR teams experienced with USCIS petitions and understand the specialty occupation requirements that apply to nursing roles.
Understand your OPT end date before negotiating start dates
Your OPT authorization has a fixed end date. If an employer wants you to start later than your timeline allows, that gap in employment can jeopardize your status. Build your offer negotiation around your actual authorization window, not a preferred start date.
Get any sponsorship commitment in writing
Verbal promises to sponsor are not enforceable. Before resigning or declining other offers, confirm the employer's sponsorship intent in your offer letter or a written addendum. Specifics about timing, legal fees, and who files the petition matter significantly.
ICU Registered Nurse OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as an ICU Registered Nurse on OPT?
Yes, as long as your OPT is authorized and your job is directly related to your nursing degree. ICU RN roles qualify because they require the clinical knowledge and skills you developed in your program. You'll need a valid EAD card, a state nursing license, and an employer willing to hire you under OPT authorization before pursuing long-term sponsorship.
Is nursing a specialty occupation eligible for H-1B sponsorship?
Registered nursing has historically been one of the more contested specialty occupation classifications for H-1B purposes. USCIS has approved petitions for nurses in ICU and other specialized settings where the role demonstrably requires a specific bachelor's degree in nursing. The strength of the petition depends heavily on how the employer defines the position and documents its complexity. Working with an experienced immigration attorney significantly improves approval odds.
How long do I have to find an ICU RN job before my OPT expires?
OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment during the authorization period. Once you begin working, that 90-day clock pauses, but any future gaps in employment count against it cumulatively. The practical implication is that you should have an offer and a start date secured well before your 90-day threshold, since job searches in competitive hospital markets can take longer than expected.
Where can I find ICU Registered Nurse jobs that offer visa sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is the recommended platform for F-1 OPT students searching for ICU RN jobs with sponsorship. The job board filters for employers open to international candidates, which saves significant time compared to applying broadly and discovering late in the process that a hospital won't sponsor. Searching Migrate Mate early in your OPT period gives you the most runway to secure both the role and long-term status.
Does a nursing degree qualify as STEM OPT eligible?
Most traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs are not on the STEM Designated Degree Program list, which means standard 12-month OPT applies rather than the 24-month STEM extension. However, some universities offer nursing informatics, healthcare engineering, or biomedical science concentrations that do qualify. Check your specific CIP code with your DSO to confirm whether your degree program qualifies before making plans based on a STEM extension.