OPT PACU Nurse Jobs
PACU Nurse jobs on OPT require active RN licensure in your work state, which international graduates must secure before starting. Most positions are full-time hospital roles, making them straightforward for standard OPT. STEM OPT extension is not available for nursing, so your 12-month clock matters.
Find OPT PACU Nurse JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 133+ PACU Nurse jobs
See all 133+ PACU Nurse Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new PACU Nurse roles.
Get Access To All JobsFacility: Baylor Scott and White Hospital - College Station, TX
Department: Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
Shift/Status: Full Time, 40 hrs./wk.
Schedule: Day Shift (10 hr. shifts), self-scheduling
Department Specifics:
Patient Population: Post-surgical patients (6 months and up). ENT or small ortho pediatric cases.
# of beds: 13 PACU bays
Patient Ratios: 1:2
Baylor Scott & White Health College Station is a private, non-profit, 143-bed, multi-specialty hospital. The Medical Center is a certified advanced primary stroke center, a certified chest pain center as well as a Level III Trauma Center. Additionally, we have achieved the American Nurse Credentialing Center Magnet Designation. This is a hospital that works for you and exceeds all expectations! Don’t just take our word for it, let us show you a career that’s worth bragging about.
We welcome applicants who will serve faithfully, act honestly, never settle, and recognize that we are in it together to deliver world-class healthcare.
Why Baylor Scott & White Health
At Baylor Scott & White Health, we empower each other to create healthier communities and deliver safe and high-quality care across the state of Texas. With more than 52 hospitals, 800 access points, a quality health plan and an award-winning research institute, you’ll enjoy endless opportunities to make your mark on the future of healthcare. At Baylor Scott and White Health, you’ll be joining a team that’s committed to better. Because better never settles. And neither should you.
As the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States, Baylor Scott & White Health has the resources to offer a variety of career opportunities to meet your personal and professional goals.
The Baylor Scott & White Health nursing team challenges each other to innovate, to constantly raise the bar and to never settle. Every day, our diverse group of team members bring unique talents, a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to those we serve.
Baylor Scott & White Health Registered Nurses Enjoy
- Competitive pay including an RN Bonus Program rewarding nurses for providing exceptional care and improving patient outcomes.
- Attractive Relocation Assistance for full-time candidates.
- Excellent benefits including a generous 401(k) program with company match, vacation and paid time off (PTO), tuition assistance, immediate eligibility for health and welfare benefits and wellness programs to keep you and your family healthy. (Note: benefits may vary based on position type and/or level).
- A strong shared governance model featuring unit-based councils that empower nurses and improve patient outcomes.
- Access to more than 4,000 hours of online continuing education for professional development.
- A strong system Nurse Practice Council that uses autonomy, authority and accountability in collaboration with transformational nursing leadership to drive nursing practice throughout Baylor Scott & White Health.
- A spirit of inquiry and innovation that promotes evidence-based practice, research and innovations in nursing practice.
- A healthy work environment and culture of safety using inter-professional collaboration and professional competencies to meet the needs of patients to provide safe passage and quality outcomes at every encounter.
Qualifications
- Accredited program or (2) two years minimum, required for this position.
- A major focus or specialization in Nursing.
- Ideally, some relevant professional experience, though less than a (1) one year would suffice.
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Basic Life Support (BLS) or obtain within (30) thirty days of hire or transfer.
Facility: Baylor Scott and White Hospital - College Station, TX
Department: Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
Shift/Status: Full Time, 40 hrs./wk.
Schedule: Day Shift (10 hr. shifts), self-scheduling
Department Specifics:
Patient Population: Post-surgical patients (6 months and up). ENT or small ortho pediatric cases.
# of beds: 13 PACU bays
Patient Ratios: 1:2
Baylor Scott & White Health College Station is a private, non-profit, 143-bed, multi-specialty hospital. The Medical Center is a certified advanced primary stroke center, a certified chest pain center as well as a Level III Trauma Center. Additionally, we have achieved the American Nurse Credentialing Center Magnet Designation. This is a hospital that works for you and exceeds all expectations! Don’t just take our word for it, let us show you a career that’s worth bragging about.
We welcome applicants who will serve faithfully, act honestly, never settle, and recognize that we are in it together to deliver world-class healthcare.
Why Baylor Scott & White Health
At Baylor Scott & White Health, we empower each other to create healthier communities and deliver safe and high-quality care across the state of Texas. With more than 52 hospitals, 800 access points, a quality health plan and an award-winning research institute, you’ll enjoy endless opportunities to make your mark on the future of healthcare. At Baylor Scott and White Health, you’ll be joining a team that’s committed to better. Because better never settles. And neither should you.
As the largest not-for-profit healthcare system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States, Baylor Scott & White Health has the resources to offer a variety of career opportunities to meet your personal and professional goals.
The Baylor Scott & White Health nursing team challenges each other to innovate, to constantly raise the bar and to never settle. Every day, our diverse group of team members bring unique talents, a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to those we serve.
Baylor Scott & White Health Registered Nurses Enjoy
- Competitive pay including an RN Bonus Program rewarding nurses for providing exceptional care and improving patient outcomes.
- Attractive Relocation Assistance for full-time candidates.
- Excellent benefits including a generous 401(k) program with company match, vacation and paid time off (PTO), tuition assistance, immediate eligibility for health and welfare benefits and wellness programs to keep you and your family healthy. (Note: benefits may vary based on position type and/or level).
- A strong shared governance model featuring unit-based councils that empower nurses and improve patient outcomes.
- Access to more than 4,000 hours of online continuing education for professional development.
- A strong system Nurse Practice Council that uses autonomy, authority and accountability in collaboration with transformational nursing leadership to drive nursing practice throughout Baylor Scott & White Health.
- A spirit of inquiry and innovation that promotes evidence-based practice, research and innovations in nursing practice.
- A healthy work environment and culture of safety using inter-professional collaboration and professional competencies to meet the needs of patients to provide safe passage and quality outcomes at every encounter.
Qualifications
- Accredited program or (2) two years minimum, required for this position.
- A major focus or specialization in Nursing.
- Ideally, some relevant professional experience, though less than a (1) one year would suffice.
- Registered Nurse (RN)
- Basic Life Support (BLS) or obtain within (30) thirty days of hire or transfer.
See all 133+ OPT PACU Nurse Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT PACU Nurse Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a PACU Nurse
Secure your RN license before applying
State nursing boards require NCLEX-RN passage and credential verification for internationally trained nurses. Start the licensing process early. Many PACU roles won't consider applications without an active, unrestricted RN license in the state where you'll work.
Target hospitals with dedicated PACU units
Large academic medical centers and regional hospitals with surgical programs hire PACU nurses regularly and are more experienced with OPT work authorization. Smaller outpatient surgery centers may lack HR infrastructure to process international candidates efficiently.
Highlight critical care or ICU clinical experience
PACU roles demand strong assessment skills and comfort managing post-anesthesia complications. Emphasizing ICU, step-down, or OR clinical rotations on your resume signals readiness and helps overcome any hesitation recruiters may have about OPT candidates.
Ask explicitly about H-1B sponsorship during screening
Nursing qualifies as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes. During phone screens, ask whether the hospital has previously sponsored H-1B petitions for nurses. Hospitals with a sponsorship track record are your best conversion path after OPT expires.
Apply to health systems, not just individual hospitals
Large health systems like Kaiser, HCA, and Ascension have centralized immigration support and hire at scale. Applying at the system level increases your chances of finding a PACU opening paired with an employer experienced in OPT and visa sponsorship.
PACU Nurse OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as PACU nurses in the United States?
Yes, but you must hold an active, unrestricted RN license in the state where you'll practice before starting work. OPT authorizes employment in your field of study, and nursing graduates working as registered nurses meet that requirement. Your EAD card is sufficient documentation for the employer's Form I-9.
Is PACU nursing eligible for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
No. Nursing programs are not designated as STEM fields under the DHS STEM OPT extension list, so PACU nurses on F-1 OPT are limited to the standard 12-month authorization period. Planning your H-1B or EB-3 sponsorship timeline before OPT expires is important. Start those conversations with your employer at least six months before your EAD end date.
Do hospitals typically sponsor PACU nurses for H-1B visas after OPT?
Many do. Nursing shortages have made hospitals more willing to sponsor H-1B petitions for qualified RNs, including PACU nurses. Health systems with large surgical programs and dedicated immigration HR teams are the most reliable sponsors. You can browse PACU nursing roles from OPT-friendly employers on Migrate Mate to identify which health systems have a sponsorship track record.
What happens if my OPT expires before my H-1B petition is approved?
If your employer files an H-1B cap-subject petition before your OPT expires and you have a valid STEM OPT extension or timely filed EAD renewal, you may be able to continue working under cap-gap protection. Since nursing does not qualify for STEM OPT, timing is tight. Work with your DSO and an immigration attorney at least eight months before your EAD expires to assess your options.
Does PACU nursing experience count toward the EB-3 green card pathway?
Yes. PACU nurses are strong EB-3 candidates because RN roles consistently qualify as skilled worker positions. Employers can sponsor you for permanent residence through the PERM labor certification process. Some hospital systems begin PERM concurrently with H-1B sponsorship, which can significantly shorten your path to a green card given current priority date backlogs for certain nationalities.