Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Jobs for OPT Students
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner jobs on OPT require active APRN licensure in your state, which can take weeks to months to secure after graduation. Most roles are STEM-adjacent through healthcare system employers who routinely file H-1B petitions, giving OPT students a realistic path to long-term sponsorship.
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Opportunity Overview
Palliative Medicine APP Opportunity in Citrus Heights, CA
Mercy Medical Group (MMG), a large multi-specialty medical group in the Sacramento Region, is looking to add a collaborative, patient-centric Palliative Medicine Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA) to our expanding Supportive Care / Palliative Care Team in Citrus Heights, CA. This unique position offers the opportunity to bridge the gap between hospital-based acute symptom management and long-term outpatient palliative support. Join our established team of 5 Physicians and 2 APPs.
This opportunity offers a blend of Outpatient and/or Inpatient work.
Opportunity Highlights:
- Outpatient position
- Patient visits lead to true patient-centered care
- Robust onboarding and continuous learning opportunities
- Potential for hospital work at Mercy San Juan with an experienced team
- Be part of the team that makes a difference to patients that encounter serious illness
Benefits:
- Guaranteed salary range: $138,000 - $182,000 / year, DOE
- Sign-on bonus, relocation, productivity, and quality bonuses
- Comprehensive benefits for provider and dependents
- Mental health benefit
- Annual CME allowance
- 401(k) with employer match
Job Requirements
- A valid and unrestricted license to practice in the State of California
- Nationally recognized certification (as determined by Medicare)
- Completion of state mandated educational courses
- Experience in hospice, home health, geriatrics, or acute care a plus
Where You'll Work
Mercy Medical Group (MMG) is a dynamic, growing organization with a long-standing history of providing exceptional medical care in the Sacramento area. MMG is a large multi-specialty medical group of 500+ providers comprised of primary care physicians, specialists in more than 30 medical and surgical specialties, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. These professionals provide seamless primary and specialty care, working together to meet the unique needs of each individual patient.
MMG clinicians provide services to patients at Dignity Health Medical Foundation locations throughout Sacramento. Mercy Medical Group is aligned with Dignity Health, operating on a medical foundation model.
Dignity Health is a member of CommonSpirit Health®, one of the nation’s largest health systems dedicated to advancing health for all people. #HEC
Community Description:
Nestled in beautiful Northern California, Sacramento is one of the most ethnically diverse and livable cities in America. The capital city of California serves as the political nucleus of one of the nation's most influential states, the sixth-largest economy in the world. The area offers a wide variety of activities to enjoy, including fine dining, shopping, biking, boating, river rafting, skiing, or attending one of many different cultural events. Because of its central location, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, the vineyards of Napa Valley, and the historical Gold Rush towns of the foothills are all within easy driving distance.
Pay Range
$138,034 - $182,231 /year
Job Summary and Responsibilities
Opportunity Overview
Palliative Medicine APP Opportunity in Citrus Heights, CA
Mercy Medical Group (MMG), a large multi-specialty medical group in the Sacramento Region, is looking to add a collaborative, patient-centric Palliative Medicine Nurse Practitioner (NP) or Physician Assistant (PA) to our expanding Supportive Care / Palliative Care Team in Citrus Heights, CA. This unique position offers the opportunity to bridge the gap between hospital-based acute symptom management and long-term outpatient palliative support. Join our established team of 5 Physicians and 2 APPs.
This opportunity offers a blend of Outpatient and/or Inpatient work.
Opportunity Highlights:
- Outpatient position
- Patient visits lead to true patient-centered care
- Robust onboarding and continuous learning opportunities
- Potential for hospital work at Mercy San Juan with an experienced team
- Be part of the team that makes a difference to patients that encounter serious illness
Benefits:
- Guaranteed salary range: $138,000 - $182,000 / year, DOE
- Sign-on bonus, relocation, productivity, and quality bonuses
- Comprehensive benefits for provider and dependents
- Mental health benefit
- Annual CME allowance
- 401(k) with employer match
Job Requirements
- A valid and unrestricted license to practice in the State of California
- Nationally recognized certification (as determined by Medicare)
- Completion of state mandated educational courses
- Experience in hospice, home health, geriatrics, or acute care a plus
Where You'll Work
Mercy Medical Group (MMG) is a dynamic, growing organization with a long-standing history of providing exceptional medical care in the Sacramento area. MMG is a large multi-specialty medical group of 500+ providers comprised of primary care physicians, specialists in more than 30 medical and surgical specialties, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. These professionals provide seamless primary and specialty care, working together to meet the unique needs of each individual patient.
MMG clinicians provide services to patients at Dignity Health Medical Foundation locations throughout Sacramento. Mercy Medical Group is aligned with Dignity Health, operating on a medical foundation model.
Dignity Health is a member of CommonSpirit Health®, one of the nation’s largest health systems dedicated to advancing health for all people. #HEC
Community Description:
Nestled in beautiful Northern California, Sacramento is one of the most ethnically diverse and livable cities in America. The capital city of California serves as the political nucleus of one of the nation's most influential states, the sixth-largest economy in the world. The area offers a wide variety of activities to enjoy, including fine dining, shopping, biking, boating, river rafting, skiing, or attending one of many different cultural events. Because of its central location, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco, the vineyards of Napa Valley, and the historical Gold Rush towns of the foothills are all within easy driving distance.
Pay Range
$138,034 - $182,231 /year
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
Prioritize health systems over private practices
Large hospital networks and academic medical centers have dedicated HR and legal teams experienced with visa sponsorship. Smaller hospice or private palliative care practices rarely have the infrastructure to sponsor work visas, making them higher-risk placements for OPT students.
Secure your state APRN license before OPT begins
State nursing board licensing timelines range from four to twelve weeks. Applying before your OPT start date prevents gaps where you're authorized to work but legally unable to practice, which can jeopardize your employment offer and OPT validity.
Confirm DEA registration requirements with your employer
Many palliative care NP roles require a DEA registration to prescribe controlled substances for pain management. Confirm whether your employer sponsors or reimburses this registration, as the process and costs can affect your start timeline.
Document all clinical hours carefully for future visa petitions
Detailed records of your palliative care caseload, procedures, and specialty rotations strengthen future H-1B and O-1 petitions. Employers and immigration attorneys rely on this documentation to demonstrate specialty occupation status for advanced practice roles.
Ask explicitly about H-1B sponsorship during interviews
Raise sponsorship directly, not at the offer stage. Ask whether the organization has sponsored NPs on H-1B visas before and whether they work with an immigration attorney. Past sponsorship history is the strongest signal they'll do it again.
Pursue board certification in palliative care before OPT ends
The ACHPN credential from the Hospice and Palliative Credentialing Center distinguishes your application and reinforces specialty occupation arguments for H-1B eligibility. Employers also value it when assessing whether to invest in long-term sponsorship for an NP.
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner on OPT?
Yes, if you hold an active APRN license in the state where you'll practice. OPT authorizes you to work in a role directly related to your degree field, and palliative care NP positions qualify under nursing or advanced practice nursing programs. You must have your license in hand before your start date, not pending.
Do Palliative Care NP employers commonly sponsor H-1B visas?
Health systems and academic medical centers that employ NPs do sponsor H-1B visas, though it's not universal. Palliative care qualifies as a specialty occupation because the role requires a graduate-level nursing degree and clinical specialty training. Browsing OPT-friendly roles on Migrate Mate helps you identify which employers have an active sponsorship track record.
Is a Palliative Care NP role considered STEM OPT eligible?
No. Nursing and advanced practice nursing programs are not on the DHS STEM OPT designated degree list, so palliative care NP roles do not qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Your standard OPT period is 12 months. Planning for H-1B sponsorship or another visa category before that window closes is essential.
What happens to my OPT if I switch from inpatient to outpatient palliative care?
Changing practice settings is generally fine as long as the new role remains directly related to your degree and you report the employer change to your DSO within ten days. Both inpatient and outpatient palliative care fall within advanced practice nursing, so the field connection holds. Always update your SEVIS record promptly to stay in status.
Can I work per diem or part-time as a Palliative Care NP on OPT?
Yes, OPT allows part-time employment of at least 20 hours per week. Per diem arrangements that consistently meet that threshold are permissible. However, some employers will not sponsor visa petitions for part-time NPs, so if H-1B sponsorship is your goal, confirm the employer's policy on sponsoring less-than-full-time advanced practice staff before accepting.
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