OPT Patient Navigator Jobs
Patient Navigator jobs are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with backgrounds in public health, social work, healthcare administration, or related fields. Most roles qualify as STEM-adjacent under health sciences designations, and many hospitals and community health organizations actively hire candidates on OPT work authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Your future role at a glance:
Location: Austin, TX
Facility: Medical Park Tower
Department/Specialty: Orthopedics
Schedule: Full time | Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Travel Required
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
How you'll make an impact in this role:
Facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration by acting as the central link between physicians, administration, and insurance partners to streamline the patient experience.
Elevate care standards through the design and implementation of educational initiatives and quality improvement projects that directly enhance clinical outcomes.
Empower vulnerable populations by identifying and securing essential medical resources and follow-up support for patients facing financial or insurance barriers.
Influence operational strategy by translating performance data into meaningful recommendations that improve departmental efficiency and service delivery.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What minimum qualifications you'll need:
Licensure / Certification / Registration:
Licensed Registered Nurse credentialed from the Texas Board of Nursing required.
BLS Provider preferred. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
Education:
* Diploma from an accredited school/college of nursing OR Required professional licensure at time of hire.
What additional requirements you'll need:
Experienced Navigator: Leverages over two years of specialized orthopedic expertise and direct clinical experience to coordinate patient care and streamline department workflows.
Effective Communicator: Combines a professional, personable demeanor with strong interpersonal skills to facilitate clear communication between patients and multidisciplinary medical teams.
LIFE AT ASCENSION
Where purpose meets opportunity:
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you’ll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
FRAUD PREVENTION NOTICE
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process. Our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-VERIFY STATEMENT
Employer does not participate in E-Verify and therefore cannot employ STEM OPT candidates.
BENEFITS
Paid time off (PTO)
Various health insurance options & wellness plans
Retirement benefits including employer match plans
Long-term & short-term disability
Employee assistance programs (EAP)
Parental leave & adoption assistance
Tuition reimbursement
Ways to give back to your community
Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance, location and salary range at the time of the offer.
INTRODUCTION
Your future role at a glance:
Location: Austin, TX
Facility: Medical Park Tower
Department/Specialty: Orthopedics
Schedule: Full time | Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Travel Required
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
How you'll make an impact in this role:
Facilitate multidisciplinary collaboration by acting as the central link between physicians, administration, and insurance partners to streamline the patient experience.
Elevate care standards through the design and implementation of educational initiatives and quality improvement projects that directly enhance clinical outcomes.
Empower vulnerable populations by identifying and securing essential medical resources and follow-up support for patients facing financial or insurance barriers.
Influence operational strategy by translating performance data into meaningful recommendations that improve departmental efficiency and service delivery.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
What minimum qualifications you'll need:
Licensure / Certification / Registration:
Licensed Registered Nurse credentialed from the Texas Board of Nursing required.
BLS Provider preferred. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
Education:
* Diploma from an accredited school/college of nursing OR Required professional licensure at time of hire.
What additional requirements you'll need:
Experienced Navigator: Leverages over two years of specialized orthopedic expertise and direct clinical experience to coordinate patient care and streamline department workflows.
Effective Communicator: Combines a professional, personable demeanor with strong interpersonal skills to facilitate clear communication between patients and multidisciplinary medical teams.
LIFE AT ASCENSION
Where purpose meets opportunity:
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you’ll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
FRAUD PREVENTION NOTICE
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process. Our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-VERIFY STATEMENT
Employer does not participate in E-Verify and therefore cannot employ STEM OPT candidates.
BENEFITS
Paid time off (PTO)
Various health insurance options & wellness plans
Retirement benefits including employer match plans
Long-term & short-term disability
Employee assistance programs (EAP)
Parental leave & adoption assistance
Tuition reimbursement
Ways to give back to your community
Benefit options and eligibility vary by position. Compensation varies based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, performance, location and salary range at the time of the offer.
See all 228+ OPT Patient Navigator Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Patient Navigator Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Patient Navigator
Target federally qualified health centers
Federally Qualified Health Centers and nonprofit hospital systems have established HR processes for work authorization. They hire Patient Navigators regularly and are more familiar with OPT employment eligibility than smaller private practices.
Verify your OPT end date before applying
Patient Navigator hiring timelines can run six to ten weeks. Confirm you have enough OPT time remaining to clear onboarding before applying, and factor in your 60-day grace period if your program ends soon.
Highlight patient-facing language skills
Many health systems prioritize Patient Navigators who speak languages other than English. If you're bilingual, lead with that skill in your resume and cover letter. It directly addresses a staffing gap employers care about.
Ask about H-1B sponsorship during the offer stage
Patient Navigator roles at large hospital networks frequently qualify for H-1B visa sponsorship. Ask about long-term sponsorship willingness during offer negotiations, not mid-process, so both sides can assess fit before commitment.
Frame your degree field clearly for compliance teams
OPT authorization requires your job to relate to your degree. Be ready to explain how public health, social work, or health administration coursework connects directly to care coordination and navigation responsibilities for employer HR teams.
Use Migrate Mate to filter OPT-friendly openings
Not every Patient Navigator posting flags visa sponsorship or OPT compatibility. Migrate Mate surfaces roles from employers with a history of hiring international students, saving you time on applications that won't move forward.
Patient Navigator OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Do Patient Navigator jobs qualify for F-1 OPT work authorization?
Yes, provided your degree is in a related field such as public health, social work, health sciences, or healthcare administration. OPT requires that your job be directly related to your major area of study. Patient Navigator roles involve care coordination, health education, and community outreach, which align clearly with those degree fields.
Can I work as a Patient Navigator on STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your degree classification. If your program carries a STEM-designated CIP code, such as public health (51.2201) or health services administration (51.0701), you may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before assuming STEM eligibility, as not all health-related degrees qualify.
What types of employers hire Patient Navigators on OPT?
Large hospital systems, federally qualified health centers, cancer centers, and nonprofit community health organizations are the most common employers. Academic medical centers affiliated with universities tend to have the most experience with OPT and F-1 work authorization. You can browse OPT-compatible Patient Navigator openings on Migrate Mate to identify employers who have hired international students before.
How do I explain my OPT status to a Patient Navigator employer?
Be straightforward. Explain that you hold F-1 student status with OPT authorization, which permits you to work full-time in a role related to your degree for up to 12 months, or longer with a STEM extension. Provide your EAD card details when requested. Most hospital HR teams have processed OPT hires before and have a standard onboarding path.
Will Patient Navigator employers sponsor an H-1B visa after OPT?
Some will, particularly large health systems and academic medical centers with established immigration support programs. Patient Navigator roles can qualify as specialty occupations if the position requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field such as social work or public health. It is worth asking directly during the offer stage, as sponsorship willingness varies significantly by employer size and HR infrastructure.