OPT Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs
Registered Nurse Med Surg jobs on OPT require NCLEX-RN licensure and active work authorization. Most hospital systems will sponsor H-1B visa after OPT, but your 12-month standard period is tight given licensing timelines. STEM extension does not apply to nursing, so planning ahead matters.
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Get Access To All JobsCategory
Nursing
Job Family
Registered Nurse
Department
Inpatient Neuro
Schedule
Full-time
Facility
Community Hospital East
1500 North Ritter Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46219
United States
Shift
Night Job
Hours
Employee will work 3, 12 hour shifts per week from 7pm through 7:30am. Weekend rotation is Friday night and Saturday night every third weekend.
Hiring Bonus Offered!
Join Community
Community Health Network was created by our neighbors, for our neighbors. Over 60 years later, “community” is still the heart of our organization. It means providing our neighbors with the best care possible, backed by state-of-the-art technology. It means getting involved in the communities we serve through volunteer opportunities and benefits initiatives. It means ensuring our dedicated caregivers can learn and grow to stay at the top of their fields and to better serve our patients. And above all, it means exceptional care, simply delivered — and we couldn’t do it without you.
Make a Difference
The Registered Nurse (RN) will be part of a professional neuro care team including Neurologists and nursing support staff who provide individualized, patient-focused care for patients who have suffered an acute stroke, are recovering from brain or spine surgeries or are neurologically unstable and require frequent assessment or monitoring.
This unit is equipped with advanced technology needed to treat patients with the most critical neurological conditions in a welcoming environment that promotes family visitation, which is crucial to the healing process. Our team combines critical care training with a patient-centered focus, so patients have the best care during their stay.
Exceptional Skills and Qualifications
Applicants for this position should be able to collaborate with others in a team setting, have excellent communication skills, and a positive attitude toward problem-solving.
- Graduate of National League for Nursing (NLN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) accredited school of nursing, or three years of related professional nursing experience.
- Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) with a valid license to practice in the state of Indiana as listed in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
- One year of nursing experience is preferred.
- Computer skills for documentation and work-related purposes are required.
- Demonstrates accountability for own actions with an openness to change and learning.
- Demonstrates customer service skills to provide exceptional patient and family experience.
- Takes initiative to help others.
- CPR certified.
Why Community?
At Community Health Network, we build teams that deliver exceptional care through empathy, communication and collaboration. We consider ALL an integral part of the exceptional patient experience. We PRIIDE ourselves on not having employees but Caregivers. Join our Community as we make a difference in your community.
Category
Nursing
Job Family
Registered Nurse
Department
Inpatient Neuro
Schedule
Full-time
Facility
Community Hospital East
1500 North Ritter Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46219
United States
Shift
Night Job
Hours
Employee will work 3, 12 hour shifts per week from 7pm through 7:30am. Weekend rotation is Friday night and Saturday night every third weekend.
Hiring Bonus Offered!
Join Community
Community Health Network was created by our neighbors, for our neighbors. Over 60 years later, “community” is still the heart of our organization. It means providing our neighbors with the best care possible, backed by state-of-the-art technology. It means getting involved in the communities we serve through volunteer opportunities and benefits initiatives. It means ensuring our dedicated caregivers can learn and grow to stay at the top of their fields and to better serve our patients. And above all, it means exceptional care, simply delivered — and we couldn’t do it without you.
Make a Difference
The Registered Nurse (RN) will be part of a professional neuro care team including Neurologists and nursing support staff who provide individualized, patient-focused care for patients who have suffered an acute stroke, are recovering from brain or spine surgeries or are neurologically unstable and require frequent assessment or monitoring.
This unit is equipped with advanced technology needed to treat patients with the most critical neurological conditions in a welcoming environment that promotes family visitation, which is crucial to the healing process. Our team combines critical care training with a patient-centered focus, so patients have the best care during their stay.
Exceptional Skills and Qualifications
Applicants for this position should be able to collaborate with others in a team setting, have excellent communication skills, and a positive attitude toward problem-solving.
- Graduate of National League for Nursing (NLN), Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), or National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA) accredited school of nursing, or three years of related professional nursing experience.
- Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN) with a valid license to practice in the state of Indiana as listed in the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC).
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing preferred.
- One year of nursing experience is preferred.
- Computer skills for documentation and work-related purposes are required.
- Demonstrates accountability for own actions with an openness to change and learning.
- Demonstrates customer service skills to provide exceptional patient and family experience.
- Takes initiative to help others.
- CPR certified.
Why Community?
At Community Health Network, we build teams that deliver exceptional care through empathy, communication and collaboration. We consider ALL an integral part of the exceptional patient experience. We PRIIDE ourselves on not having employees but Caregivers. Join our Community as we make a difference in your community.
See all 552+ OPT Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Registered Nurse Med Surg
Get your state license before OPT starts
NCLEX-RN results and state board processing can take six to ten weeks. Apply for licensure the moment your program ends so you're eligible to work from day one of your OPT authorization period.
Target hospital systems with H-1B track records
Large health systems like HCA, Ascension, and academic medical centers file H-1B visa petitions regularly for nurses. Smaller community hospitals often lack the legal infrastructure to sponsor, so prioritize employers with established immigration programs.
Ask about sponsorship timelines before accepting an offer
Med Surg nursing is cap-subject H-1B territory. You need an employer willing to file in April for an October start. Confirm sponsorship willingness and internal timelines during the offer stage, not after you've signed.
Document clinical hours from your nursing program
Immigration attorneys building your H-1B petition will need evidence that your degree qualifies as a specialty occupation. Organized transcripts, clinical rotation records, and degree documentation speed up the petition process significantly.
Understand that nursing is cap-subject with no STEM extension
Nursing degrees are not on the STEM OPT extension list, giving you 12 months total. Factor this into your job search timeline. If you miss the April H-1B filing window, your options narrow considerably before status expires.
Connect with hospital HR contacts directly, not just recruiters
Staffing agency recruiters rarely handle visa sponsorship and often cannot answer immigration questions accurately. Reach HR departments at target hospitals directly to confirm their sponsorship policies before investing time in an application.
Registered Nurse Med Surg OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Registered Nurse on OPT without a Social Security Number?
You need a Social Security Number to receive wages legally, but you can apply for your SSN after arriving and accepting a job offer. Most state nursing boards also require an SSN to issue your RN license. Apply as soon as you have an employment verification letter from your employer so there's no gap between your start date and your first paycheck.
Does Med Surg nursing qualify for the STEM OPT 24-month extension?
No. Registered Nursing is classified under CIP code 51.3801, which is not on the STEM designated degree program list. This means F-1 OPT students working in Med Surg nursing receive only the standard 12-month authorization period. Planning your H-1B filing timeline from the start of OPT is essential given this constraint.
How do I find Med Surg nursing employers who sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT students and filters jobs by sponsorship willingness, so you're not guessing which employers will support your visa status. Large hospital networks and academic medical centers are the most consistent H-1B sponsors in nursing. Filtering by employer size and system affiliation on Migrate Mate helps narrow your search to realistic sponsorship candidates.
What happens if my NCLEX results are delayed and I can't start work before my OPT authorization begins?
Your OPT period runs from the start date on your EAD card regardless of when you begin working. Days unemployed count against your 90-day unemployment limit. Apply for your NCLEX exam and state license as early as your program allows. Some states offer temporary permits that let you work under supervision while your full license is being processed, which can protect your OPT timeline.
Is Registered Nurse considered a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Registered Nursing can qualify as a specialty occupation, but it requires careful documentation because not all RN roles are treated identically by USCIS. Med Surg positions at acute care hospitals, where a BSN or higher is a standard employer requirement, have a stronger foundation for approval than roles where an associate degree is accepted. Having a BSN from your U.S. nursing program strengthens the petition significantly.