OPT Nurse Practitioner Jobs
Nurse Practitioner jobs are available to F-1 OPT students with a nursing or advanced practice degree, but OPT authorization must align with your specific NP specialty. Most roles require active state licensure, and STEM OPT extension does not apply to nursing programs, so your 12-month OPT window matters.
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The OHSU Respiratory Care Department provides consultation 24/7 to the OHSU community. Respiratory Care provides diagnostic and therapeutic care to all ages of patients with respiratory impairment. We have Adult and Pediatric positions available.
The Respiratory Care Practitioner provides a variety of specialized respiratory care therapeutic interventions and diagnostic testing, as ordered by physicians, to patients with pulmonary disorders. Respiratory therapists work with patients of all ages who have breathing disorders. Common breathing disorders include asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Additionally, patients may experience breathing disorders as a result of a heart attack, a traumatic accident, newborn prematurity, or cystic fibrosis. Respiratory therapists perform diagnostic procedures such as blood gas analysis and pulmonary function tests and therapeutic procedures such as operating and maintaining mechanical ventilators, administering medications, and airway clearance treatments.
This is an Adult Respiratory Care position. Work units include South Waterfront, adult ICUs, Emergency Department, and pediatric & adult acute/intermediate care wards. Respiratory Therapists at OHSU provide bedside respiratory care modalities in accordance with hospital and departmental guidelines as ordered by healthcare providers.
Function/Duties of Position:
- Provides therapeutic interventions including but not limited to: airway management, therapeutic gases and ventilator management, newborn resuscitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Performs diagnostic procedures including but not limited to: sampling of arterial blood, bedside spirometry, spontaneous ventilatory parameters, point of care testing.
- Therapeutic modalities and communication approached with reference to age specific needs of the patient, including Doernbecher Children's Hospital Family Centered Care Program.
- Assists other Respiratory Care Practitioners and health professionals to provide quality patient care in the spirit of teamwork. Trains new Respiratory Therapists, students, and other healthcare team members.
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by a manager, supervisor, or lead worker.
Required Qualifications:
- A current, valid Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner's (LRCP) credential issued by the Health Licensing Office for the State of Oregon and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (Upon hire).
- Minimum of an associate degree from a respiratory therapy education program supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
- Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association. New hires will be enrolled and required to complete during orientation.
- For positions posted in the PANDA unit, 3 years Pediatric Intensive Care and/or Neonatal Intensive Care Experience required.
- Some positions may require ALCS, NRP, or PALS certification within 6 months of hire, as indicated on position description.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor Degree
- 2 years of clinical respiratory care
- Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
Additional Details:
Work location in sometimes noisy patient care areas. 12 hour shifts. Possible exposure to blood, body fluids, airborne pathogens, magnetic fields, and radiation.
Why apply to OHSU?: We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions, and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu
Department Overview:
The OHSU Respiratory Care Department provides consultation 24/7 to the OHSU community. Respiratory Care provides diagnostic and therapeutic care to all ages of patients with respiratory impairment. We have Adult and Pediatric positions available.
The Respiratory Care Practitioner provides a variety of specialized respiratory care therapeutic interventions and diagnostic testing, as ordered by physicians, to patients with pulmonary disorders. Respiratory therapists work with patients of all ages who have breathing disorders. Common breathing disorders include asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema. Additionally, patients may experience breathing disorders as a result of a heart attack, a traumatic accident, newborn prematurity, or cystic fibrosis. Respiratory therapists perform diagnostic procedures such as blood gas analysis and pulmonary function tests and therapeutic procedures such as operating and maintaining mechanical ventilators, administering medications, and airway clearance treatments.
This is an Adult Respiratory Care position. Work units include South Waterfront, adult ICUs, Emergency Department, and pediatric & adult acute/intermediate care wards. Respiratory Therapists at OHSU provide bedside respiratory care modalities in accordance with hospital and departmental guidelines as ordered by healthcare providers.
Function/Duties of Position:
- Provides therapeutic interventions including but not limited to: airway management, therapeutic gases and ventilator management, newborn resuscitation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
- Performs diagnostic procedures including but not limited to: sampling of arterial blood, bedside spirometry, spontaneous ventilatory parameters, point of care testing.
- Therapeutic modalities and communication approached with reference to age specific needs of the patient, including Doernbecher Children's Hospital Family Centered Care Program.
- Assists other Respiratory Care Practitioners and health professionals to provide quality patient care in the spirit of teamwork. Trains new Respiratory Therapists, students, and other healthcare team members.
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by a manager, supervisor, or lead worker.
Required Qualifications:
- A current, valid Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner's (LRCP) credential issued by the Health Licensing Office for the State of Oregon and Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (Upon hire).
- Minimum of an associate degree from a respiratory therapy education program supported or accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC).
- Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers certification issued by the American Heart Association. New hires will be enrolled and required to complete during orientation.
- For positions posted in the PANDA unit, 3 years Pediatric Intensive Care and/or Neonatal Intensive Care Experience required.
- Some positions may require ALCS, NRP, or PALS certification within 6 months of hire, as indicated on position description.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Bachelor Degree
- 2 years of clinical respiratory care
- Adult Critical Care Specialty (ACCS) credential issued by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
Additional Details:
Work location in sometimes noisy patient care areas. 12 hour shifts. Possible exposure to blood, body fluids, airborne pathogens, magnetic fields, and radiation.
Why apply to OHSU?: We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions, and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu
See all 2,425+ OPT Nurse Practitioner Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Nurse Practitioner
Secure your NP license before applying
Most employers won't consider NP candidates without an active state license. Begin your NCLEX-RN and NP certification process well before OPT starts so your license is ready when you apply. Licensing delays shrink your available work window.
Target health systems with dedicated immigration support
Large hospital networks and academic medical centers are more likely to sponsor H-1B visas after OPT. Look for employers with in-house immigration counsel or established J-1 visa waiver programs, as they already understand the sponsorship process for clinical roles.
Apply early in your OPT period
NP hiring cycles can run eight to twelve weeks from application to offer. Starting your job search at least three months before OPT begins ensures you have authorized employment lined up before your grace period creates urgency or limits your negotiating position.
Understand which NP specialties see more sponsorship
Psychiatry, primary care, and critical care NP roles tend to attract more employer sponsorship interest due to persistent workforce shortages. Targeting high-demand specialties improves your chances of finding an employer willing to support your long-term work authorization.
Clarify your OPT timeline upfront with employers
Be transparent about your OPT end date and H-1B eligibility during early conversations. Employers need time to prepare an H-1B petition before the April lottery. Waiting until an offer is made to raise sponsorship creates delays that can cost you the role.
Explore J-1 waiver programs as an alternative path
If H-1B sponsorship falls through, J-1 Conrad 30 waiver programs place NPs in underserved areas in exchange for a work visa and green card pathway. Many states actively recruit NPs, making this a practical backup for OPT students in clinical roles.
Nurse Practitioner OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Nurse Practitioner on F-1 OPT?
Yes, provided your OPT is authorized in a field directly related to your degree. If you completed an MSN or DNP program, NP clinical roles qualify. Your employment must start after your OPT authorization date and match the field listed on your EAD card. Working outside your authorized field puts your status at risk.
Do Nurse Practitioner programs qualify for STEM OPT extension?
No. Nursing and advanced practice nursing programs are not on the STEM Designated Degree Program list, so NPs are limited to the standard 12-month OPT period. This makes early employer engagement critical. Finding an employer willing to sponsor an H-1B before your OPT expires is the most common path forward.
What visa options exist after my OPT ends as an NP?
The H-1B is the primary route, and NP roles qualify as specialty occupations requiring at least a master's degree in nursing. The J-1 Conrad 30 waiver is another option, placing NPs in underserved communities for three years in exchange for work authorization. Both require employer sponsorship, so building those relationships during OPT is essential.
How do I find Nurse Practitioner employers who sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters for employers open to OPT and visa sponsorship. Searching there narrows your options to NP roles where sponsorship willingness is already signaled, saving significant time compared to applying broadly and raising the topic reactively during interviews.
Does state licensure affect my OPT employment authorization as an NP?
State licensure is a separate requirement from federal OPT authorization, but both must be in place before you can legally practice. You can have a valid EAD but still be unable to work if your NP license isn't active. Some states take three to six months to process NP licensure applications, so start that process as early as possible.