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.
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Get Access To All JobsClinical Nurse - Pre-Op PACU
Job Description
Overview
Are you an upcoming nurse graduate or recent nurse graduate? Please apply through our pipeline requisition here: https://iuhealth.org/ApplyRN. This pipeline requisition allows the IU Health Talent Acquisition team to pair upcoming & recent nurse graduates with the best opportunities available to them based on their unique skillset and interests. Thanks for your interest in joining the team!
Indiana University Health is looking for passionate, experienced nurses to join our team and collaborate with top medical professionals.
At IU Health, you will learn and develop your career in significant ways, advancing healthcare and delivering the highest level of patient care. Being an IU Health nurse means building a professional nursing career designed by a culture that accepts your outstanding strengths and supports your personal and professional goals. If you are seeking an organization where you can develop clinical expertise, explore diverse career opportunities, embrace learning, cultivate new relationships, and fuel your spirit of inquiry, apply today.
Shift - Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays. 6:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Qualifications
- Requires 1 year RN experience.
- Requires an Associates of Nursing (ASN); Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) preferred.
- Requires an active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Indiana or an active Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) RN license.
- Requires that the RN has graduated from a nationally accredited nursing program.
- Requires Basic Life Support certification through the AHA.
- Other advanced Life Support certifications may be required per unit/department specialty according to patient care policies.
Why Join IU Health?
As Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare system, and the number 1 ranked healthcare system in Indiana, we offer:
- A supportive and collaborative work environment that is patient centered.
- Competitive benefits.
- 401(K) retirement savings with employer match.
- Employer paid medical leave.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Student loan forgiveness – IU Health qualifies under the public service loan forgiveness program.
- Employee Assistance Program – Counseling at no cost to you.
- Healthy Results - Participation in our team member wellness programs award points that contribute toward a biweekly financial incentive in your paycheck. The more you participate, the more you earn.
Our culture of compassion allows for a holistic delivery of care that is individualized based on our patients’ and their families’ needs. At IU Health, every team member is a caregiver. This care does not stop with our patients, it also extends to one another and our community through service projects, health initiatives and wellness education.
We are an equal opportunity employer. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Indiana University Health is Indiana’s most comprehensive health system, with 15 hospitals and nearly 40,000 team members serving Hoosiers across the state. Our partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine gives our team members access to the very latest science and the very best training, advancing care for all. We’re looking for team members who share the things that matter most to us. People who are inspired by challenging and meaningful work for the good of every patient. People who are compassionate and serve with a purpose. People who aspire to excellence every day. People who are always ready to apply themselves.
Clinical Nurse - Pre-Op PACU
Job Description
Overview
Are you an upcoming nurse graduate or recent nurse graduate? Please apply through our pipeline requisition here: https://iuhealth.org/ApplyRN. This pipeline requisition allows the IU Health Talent Acquisition team to pair upcoming & recent nurse graduates with the best opportunities available to them based on their unique skillset and interests. Thanks for your interest in joining the team!
Indiana University Health is looking for passionate, experienced nurses to join our team and collaborate with top medical professionals.
At IU Health, you will learn and develop your career in significant ways, advancing healthcare and delivering the highest level of patient care. Being an IU Health nurse means building a professional nursing career designed by a culture that accepts your outstanding strengths and supports your personal and professional goals. If you are seeking an organization where you can develop clinical expertise, explore diverse career opportunities, embrace learning, cultivate new relationships, and fuel your spirit of inquiry, apply today.
Shift - Tuesday, Wednesday and Fridays. 6:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Qualifications
- Requires 1 year RN experience.
- Requires an Associates of Nursing (ASN); Bachelor of Nursing (BSN) preferred.
- Requires an active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Indiana or an active Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) RN license.
- Requires that the RN has graduated from a nationally accredited nursing program.
- Requires Basic Life Support certification through the AHA.
- Other advanced Life Support certifications may be required per unit/department specialty according to patient care policies.
Why Join IU Health?
As Indiana’s largest and most comprehensive healthcare system, and the number 1 ranked healthcare system in Indiana, we offer:
- A supportive and collaborative work environment that is patient centered.
- Competitive benefits.
- 401(K) retirement savings with employer match.
- Employer paid medical leave.
- Tuition reimbursement.
- Student loan forgiveness – IU Health qualifies under the public service loan forgiveness program.
- Employee Assistance Program – Counseling at no cost to you.
- Healthy Results - Participation in our team member wellness programs award points that contribute toward a biweekly financial incentive in your paycheck. The more you participate, the more you earn.
Our culture of compassion allows for a holistic delivery of care that is individualized based on our patients’ and their families’ needs. At IU Health, every team member is a caregiver. This care does not stop with our patients, it also extends to one another and our community through service projects, health initiatives and wellness education.
We are an equal opportunity employer. IU Health does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, national origin, gender identity and/or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Indiana University Health is Indiana’s most comprehensive health system, with 15 hospitals and nearly 40,000 team members serving Hoosiers across the state. Our partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine gives our team members access to the very latest science and the very best training, advancing care for all. We’re looking for team members who share the things that matter most to us. People who are inspired by challenging and meaningful work for the good of every patient. People who are compassionate and serve with a purpose. People who aspire to excellence every day. People who are always ready to apply themselves.
See all 97+ OPT PACU Nurse Jobs
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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.