Nursing Officer Jobs for OPT Students
Nursing Officer roles on OPT require active RN licensure in the state where you'll practice, which takes time to obtain after graduation. Most positions fall under STEM OPT extension eligibility through healthcare informatics or clinical research pathways. Start your job search early given licensing timelines.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
CHIEF NURSING OFFICER (CNO)
$15,000 Sign-on Bonus
At Select Specialty/Regency Hospitals, a division of Select Medical, we care for chronically and critically ill or post-ICU patients who require extended hospital care. Select Medical employs over 48,000 people across the country and provides quality care to approximately 70,000 patients each and every day across our four divisions. Our mission is to provide an exceptional patient care experience that promotes healing and recovery in a compassionate environment. Each employee plays a vital role in doing that by living our cultural behaviors - celebrating success, owning the future, being patient-centered, creating change, thinking first and building trust. Are you resourceful in overcoming obstacles? Do you wish to build your career with other top performers? If you answered 'yes', consider an opportunity with us! We are looking for a valued employee who will be a Champion of the Select Medical Way, which includes putting the patient first, helping to improve quality of life for the community in which you live and work, continuing to develop and explore new ideas, providing high-quality care and doing well by doing what is right. As the clinical leader for your facility, you will collaborate with your CEO and your Human Resources leader to tackle problems and enhance both the employee and patient experience. You will learn high standard leadership skills, work with respiratory and rehabilitation departments, and lead a highly skilled clinical team.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Resolve staffing ratios and work with the senior nursing staff to improve the quality of care.
- Engage with your regional leaders on staffing initiatives, including leading educational programs for new graduates and re-entry nurses.
- Have fiscal responsibility to ensure that budgets are met and that costs are controlled within the hospital.
- Treat others as they would like to be treated and aim to create a supportive and engaging culture for your employees.
You are passionate about providing a superior patient and employee experience. You are an inventive problem solver who thrives in a dynamic environment.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- BSN required. MSN or equivalent Masters in Healthcare or enrollment in a Master's program required. Exceptions approved by SVP, Clinical Operations.
- Three to Five years of hospital nursing experience required. Three or more years' experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity preferred.
- Current state licensure as a Registered Nurse required.
- BLS required.
- ACLS required within 6 months of hire.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL
- Having experience with vents, hemodynamics, critical drips, ET Tubes and wounds.
INTRODUCTION
CHIEF NURSING OFFICER (CNO)
$15,000 Sign-on Bonus
At Select Specialty/Regency Hospitals, a division of Select Medical, we care for chronically and critically ill or post-ICU patients who require extended hospital care. Select Medical employs over 48,000 people across the country and provides quality care to approximately 70,000 patients each and every day across our four divisions. Our mission is to provide an exceptional patient care experience that promotes healing and recovery in a compassionate environment. Each employee plays a vital role in doing that by living our cultural behaviors - celebrating success, owning the future, being patient-centered, creating change, thinking first and building trust. Are you resourceful in overcoming obstacles? Do you wish to build your career with other top performers? If you answered 'yes', consider an opportunity with us! We are looking for a valued employee who will be a Champion of the Select Medical Way, which includes putting the patient first, helping to improve quality of life for the community in which you live and work, continuing to develop and explore new ideas, providing high-quality care and doing well by doing what is right. As the clinical leader for your facility, you will collaborate with your CEO and your Human Resources leader to tackle problems and enhance both the employee and patient experience. You will learn high standard leadership skills, work with respiratory and rehabilitation departments, and lead a highly skilled clinical team.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Resolve staffing ratios and work with the senior nursing staff to improve the quality of care.
- Engage with your regional leaders on staffing initiatives, including leading educational programs for new graduates and re-entry nurses.
- Have fiscal responsibility to ensure that budgets are met and that costs are controlled within the hospital.
- Treat others as they would like to be treated and aim to create a supportive and engaging culture for your employees.
You are passionate about providing a superior patient and employee experience. You are an inventive problem solver who thrives in a dynamic environment.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
- BSN required. MSN or equivalent Masters in Healthcare or enrollment in a Master's program required. Exceptions approved by SVP, Clinical Operations.
- Three to Five years of hospital nursing experience required. Three or more years' experience in a managerial or supervisory capacity preferred.
- Current state licensure as a Registered Nurse required.
- BLS required.
- ACLS required within 6 months of hire.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS THAT WILL MAKE YOU SUCCESSFUL
- Having experience with vents, hemodynamics, critical drips, ET Tubes and wounds.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Nursing Officer
Obtain your RN license before your OPT start date
State nursing boards can take 8 to 12 weeks to process licensure applications. Apply immediately after graduation so your license is active when your OPT employment authorization begins. Working without a valid RN license violates both state law and OPT regulations.
Clarify your OPT authorization status with HR before accepting offers
Many hospital HR departments conflate OPT with H-1B sponsorship. Bring your EAD card and a brief explanation that OPT is a 12-month federal work authorization requiring no employer petition. Removing that confusion early prevents offers from being rescinded unnecessarily.
Target health systems with established international hiring programs
Large academic medical centers and VA facilities regularly hire international nursing staff and have HR teams familiar with OPT documentation. Smaller community hospitals may lack the administrative infrastructure to process EAD-based employment correctly, creating delays at onboarding.
Understand which nursing degrees qualify for the STEM OPT extension
Nursing Informatics and Clinical Research programs often carry STEM CIP codes, making graduates eligible for a 24-month OPT extension. A standard BSN typically does not qualify. Verify your program's CIP code with your DSO before assuming you're eligible for the extension.
Document your clinical hours during OPT carefully
Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and your employment must be directly related to your degree field. Keep records of your job description, supervisor details, and hours worked. DSOs use this information to confirm your OPT remains compliant throughout your authorization period.
Plan around the 90-day unemployment limit from your OPT start date
Licensing delays can push your actual start date weeks past your OPT authorization date. Those weeks count as unemployment. Coordinate with your DSO to time your OPT start date realistically so you don't exhaust your 90-day buffer before your license clears.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Do Nursing Officer jobs qualify as OPT-eligible employment?
Yes, provided your degree is in nursing or a closely related healthcare field and the Nursing Officer role directly applies that training. USCIS requires a direct connection between your degree program and your OPT job. A BSN graduate working as a Nursing Officer in a clinical setting meets this standard. If your role shifts significantly toward administration, confirm the connection with your DSO.
Can I work as a Nursing Officer on OPT before my NCLEX results come back?
No. You cannot practice as a registered nurse, even on OPT, without an active state RN license. Sitting for the NCLEX and receiving passing results is a prerequisite to licensure, which is itself a prerequisite to working in most Nursing Officer positions. Some states issue a temporary practice permit while your full license processes, but confirm this with your state nursing board before accepting any offer.
Do hospitals need to sponsor me if I'm working on OPT?
No. During your OPT period, you're authorized to work through your EAD card without any employer petition or sponsorship. The hospital does need to be enrolled in E-Verify, but that's a standard requirement for most healthcare employers. If you eventually want to stay beyond your OPT, H-1B sponsorship becomes relevant, but that's a separate process you'd navigate after establishing yourself in the role.
Where can I find Nursing Officer jobs that accept OPT students?
Migrate Mate lists Nursing Officer roles from employers experienced with OPT work authorization, so you can filter for positions without wading through listings that require immediate H-1B sponsorship. Searching through Migrate Mate saves time because the platform surfaces roles relevant to your visa status rather than requiring you to manually vet each employer's hiring policies.
Does a Nursing Informatics degree give me access to the STEM OPT extension for Nursing Officer roles?
It depends on your program's CIP code, not just the degree title. Nursing Informatics programs classified under STEM-designated CIP codes do qualify graduates for the 24-month extension. However, the Nursing Officer position you accept also needs to relate to your informatics training, not purely clinical bedside work. Check your program's CIP code with your DSO and discuss how your specific role connects to your informatics degree before applying for the extension.
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