Patient Navigator Jobs for OPT Students
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 JobsDescription: Job Summary: The LPN Patient Navigator is an outpatient position that focuses on overall health and population management of a cohort of patients. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, ordering and following labs, reviewing results, triaging phone calls, administrative and scheduling needs, medication access, and coordinating information between the care team and patients. The role assists physicians and registered nurses in the comfort, care, and treatment of patients by performing a variety of nursing responsibilities.
Responsibilities
Patient Care and Clinical Support:
- Assists physicians and registered nurses in the comfort, care, and treatment of patients by performing a variety of nursing responsibilities.
- Assists with diagnostic procedures.
- Observes and records patients' conditions and progress.
- Obtain and document patient vital signs, including but not limited to temperature, respirations, pulse, and blood pressure; obtain patient measurements, to include height, weight, and others in the electronic medical record.
- Ordering and following labs and reviewing results.
Care Coordination and Administration:
- Proactive patient outreach and care coordination for a panel of patients (implied by overall focus).
- Triaging phone calls.
- Coordinating administrative and scheduling needs.
- Facilitating medication access.
- Coordinating information between the care team and patients.
Quality, Professionalism, and Adaptability:
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives.
- May provide and or conduct ongoing in-services.
- May serve on a sectional, departmental, or organizational-wide committee.
- Applies advanced interpersonal and communication skills in all interactions with patients, clinical personnel, administrative personnel and care providers.
- Demonstrates attitudes and behaviors which contribute to the smooth coordination of care and enhances each patient's experience with Emory.
- Treats all individuals with dignity and respect and participates in activities to improve working relationships within the section.
- Actively participates in section activities such as staff meetings, supervisory meetings, patient satisfaction meetings etc.
- Manages workload and assignments effectively.
- Adapts well to changes and priority level of duties.
- Demonstrates flexibility with section and organizational need.
- Performs all other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum required:
Education: High School Diploma or GED required. Graduate of an accredited Licensed Practical Nursing Program.
Experience: Not specified as minimum requirement; preferred below.
Licensure: Currently licensed as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the state of Georgia.
Certification:
- BLS (CPR) certification before administering direct patient care.
- If completing virtual care activities that may include multi-state practice, an active compact/multistate license (eNLC) is required within 60 days of hire. Employees in role prior to 11/09/2025 will have until their next renewal date to achieve compact status.
Physical Requirements: (Medium-Heavy) 36-75 lbs, 0-33% of the work day (occasionally); 20-35 lbs, 34-66% of the workday; (frequently); 10-20 lbs, 67-100% of the workday (constantly); Lifting 75 lbs max; Carrying of objects up to 35 lbs; Occasional to frequent standing & walking; Occasional sitting; Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing); Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.
Environmental Factors: Factors affecting environment conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure; Bio-hazardous waste; Chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors; Communicable diseases; Electrical shock; Floor Surfaces; Hot/Cold Temperatures; Indoor/Outdoor conditions; Latex; Lighting; Patient care/handling injuries; Radiation; Shift work; Travel may be required; Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators; environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.
Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.
Emory Healthcare is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact Emory Healthcare’s Human Resources at careers@emoryhealthcare.org. Please note that one week's advance notice is preferred.
Description: Job Summary: The LPN Patient Navigator is an outpatient position that focuses on overall health and population management of a cohort of patients. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, ordering and following labs, reviewing results, triaging phone calls, administrative and scheduling needs, medication access, and coordinating information between the care team and patients. The role assists physicians and registered nurses in the comfort, care, and treatment of patients by performing a variety of nursing responsibilities.
Responsibilities
Patient Care and Clinical Support:
- Assists physicians and registered nurses in the comfort, care, and treatment of patients by performing a variety of nursing responsibilities.
- Assists with diagnostic procedures.
- Observes and records patients' conditions and progress.
- Obtain and document patient vital signs, including but not limited to temperature, respirations, pulse, and blood pressure; obtain patient measurements, to include height, weight, and others in the electronic medical record.
- Ordering and following labs and reviewing results.
Care Coordination and Administration:
- Proactive patient outreach and care coordination for a panel of patients (implied by overall focus).
- Triaging phone calls.
- Coordinating administrative and scheduling needs.
- Facilitating medication access.
- Coordinating information between the care team and patients.
Quality, Professionalism, and Adaptability:
- Participate in quality improvement initiatives.
- May provide and or conduct ongoing in-services.
- May serve on a sectional, departmental, or organizational-wide committee.
- Applies advanced interpersonal and communication skills in all interactions with patients, clinical personnel, administrative personnel and care providers.
- Demonstrates attitudes and behaviors which contribute to the smooth coordination of care and enhances each patient's experience with Emory.
- Treats all individuals with dignity and respect and participates in activities to improve working relationships within the section.
- Actively participates in section activities such as staff meetings, supervisory meetings, patient satisfaction meetings etc.
- Manages workload and assignments effectively.
- Adapts well to changes and priority level of duties.
- Demonstrates flexibility with section and organizational need.
- Performs all other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Minimum required:
Education: High School Diploma or GED required. Graduate of an accredited Licensed Practical Nursing Program.
Experience: Not specified as minimum requirement; preferred below.
Licensure: Currently licensed as a Licensed Practical Nurse in the state of Georgia.
Certification:
- BLS (CPR) certification before administering direct patient care.
- If completing virtual care activities that may include multi-state practice, an active compact/multistate license (eNLC) is required within 60 days of hire. Employees in role prior to 11/09/2025 will have until their next renewal date to achieve compact status.
Physical Requirements: (Medium-Heavy) 36-75 lbs, 0-33% of the work day (occasionally); 20-35 lbs, 34-66% of the workday; (frequently); 10-20 lbs, 67-100% of the workday (constantly); Lifting 75 lbs max; Carrying of objects up to 35 lbs; Occasional to frequent standing & walking; Occasional sitting; Close eye work (computers, typing, reading, writing); Physical demands may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.
Environmental Factors: Factors affecting environment conditions may vary depending on the assigned work area and tasks. Environmental exposures include, but are not limited to: Blood-borne pathogen exposure; Bio-hazardous waste; Chemicals/gases/fumes/vapors; Communicable diseases; Electrical shock; Floor Surfaces; Hot/Cold Temperatures; Indoor/Outdoor conditions; Latex; Lighting; Patient care/handling injuries; Radiation; Shift work; Travel may be required; Use of personal protective equipment, including respirators; environmental conditions may vary depending on assigned work area and work tasks.
Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law.
Emory Healthcare is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Please contact Emory Healthcare’s Human Resources at careers@emoryhealthcare.org. Please note that one week's advance notice is preferred.
How to Get Visa 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 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 jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently 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.
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