Registered Nurse Med Surg Jobs for OPT Students
Registered Nurse Med Surg jobs on OPT require NCLEX-RN licensure and active work authorization. Most hospital systems will sponsor H-1B 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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Overview:
***Sign On Bonus $10,000 RN> 1yr 3yr commitment External Applicants Only***
Position Highlights: 9A Medical-Surgical
Number of beds on unit: 24 private beds
Patient population (age, diagnosis, specifics about unit): Medical-surgical, unit that serves patients admitted for illness, surgery, testing for various diagnoses. The unit serves patients typically above 17 years of age.
Nurse to Patient ratio: 1:5 (occasionally 1:6)
Department culture and resources: 9A is a fast-paced unit with medically complex patients. The nurses and HCTs on the unit work collaboratively with the providers, patient families, therapists, and pharmacists to provide safe and quality care. The success of patient care is strongly rooted in teamwork and communication. The unit leadership focuses on reinforcing teamwork and individual growth through employee engagement and various opportunities within the organization.
Frequent nursing skills/equipment used: Nursing assessments, medication administration, collaboration with multiple disciplines, and the ability to communicate patient care needs with the care team. Hands-on skills such as IV insertion, foley insertion, tracheostomy care, using plum pump for fluid and medication administration, administering tube feeding, wound care and wound vacs, and ostomy bag care. BLS (within 30 days of hire).
Responsibilities:
Performs all responsibilities and duties required by unit as specific to the scope of service. Implements procedures and theories related to the specific area of practice. Maintains up-to-date and accurate documentation of nursing care provided to assure the integration of information for use by the healthcare team. Completes initial assessment upon patient admission and develops appropriate plan of care in accordance with unit standards and that is based on patient and family needs. Implements plan of care, nursing interventions, and patient care procedures. Modifies plan of care based upon continuous evaluation. Takes responsibility for patient and employee safety by reporting and/or correcting safety hazards and incidents. Communicates with others directly and in private when necessary to resolve issues. Offers constructive feedback to assist in the professional development of peers, and confers with colleagues to expand knowledge base. Identifies own learning needs and takes initiative to begin appropriate solution. Fulfills all requirements of departmental competencies. Receives patient Bedside Shift Report from an RN at the beginning of each shift, ensuring the inclusion of the patient input, visual validation of a safe patient room environment at the time of shift change and updating of the patient communication board found in each patient room. Delegates patient care tasks/responsibilities to assigned HCTs and validates completion of delegated tasks throughout the shift. Completes and documents basic RN patient care activities such as assessments, interpretation of vital signs, ensure physician order completion, admission/discharge of patients, hourly rounding completion on each assigned patient, care plan documentation and patient education. Meets Carle Med/Surg RN documentation standards for each assigned patient. RN will provide patient medications utilizing the patient 5 Rights: Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Route, Right Dose and Right Time. Maintains patient safety as the highest priority level: ensuring safety measure compliance such as fall precautions, pressure ulcer prevention, isolation precautions and patient ambulation safety. Maintains a positive attitude at all times on unit that promotes a healthy work environment and a healing patient environment. Keeps a diligent focus on prompt answering of patient call lights to ensure effective triage and completion of patient requests/medical needs. Uses critical thinking to evaluate the overall patient condition and uses nursing judgement to identify and act on changes in patient status. Effectively communicates within the healthcare team to promote interdisciplinary collaboration, effective patient care coordination and patient safety.
Qualifications:
Certifications:
- Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days - American Heart Association (AHA)
- Licensed Registered Professional Nurse (RN) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Education:
- Nursing; Associate's Degree
Work Experience:
- RN >1yr
Carle Health Company Overview:
Find it here.
Discover the job, the career, the purpose you were meant for. At Carle Health, we're committed to fostering a workplace where every team member feels valued, respected and empowered, where passion and purpose come together to positively impact the lives of our patients and our communities. Find it all at Carle Health.
Our nearly 17,000 team members and providers work together to support patient care across central and southeastern Illinois. We’ve grown to include eight, award-winning hospitals and a multispecialty provider group with more than 1,500 doctors and advanced practice providers. We’re developing the next generation of providers and healthcare professionals through Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the world’s first engineering-based medical school, and Methodist College. Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Health Methodist Hospital, Carle Health Proctor Hospital, Carle Health Pekin Hospital, and Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center hold Magnet® designations, the nation’s highest honor for nursing care. We offer opportunities in several communities throughout central Illinois with potential for growth and life-long careers at Carle Health.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Carle Health participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Salary Range:
The compensation range for this position is $35.22 per hour - $60.58 per hour. This represents a good faith minimum and maximum range for the role at the time of posting by Carle Health. The actual compensation offered a candidate will be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, location, training, licenses, shifts worked and compensation model. Carle Health offers a comprehensive benefits package for team members and providers. To learn more visit careers.carlehealth.org/benefits.

Overview:
***Sign On Bonus $10,000 RN> 1yr 3yr commitment External Applicants Only***
Position Highlights: 9A Medical-Surgical
Number of beds on unit: 24 private beds
Patient population (age, diagnosis, specifics about unit): Medical-surgical, unit that serves patients admitted for illness, surgery, testing for various diagnoses. The unit serves patients typically above 17 years of age.
Nurse to Patient ratio: 1:5 (occasionally 1:6)
Department culture and resources: 9A is a fast-paced unit with medically complex patients. The nurses and HCTs on the unit work collaboratively with the providers, patient families, therapists, and pharmacists to provide safe and quality care. The success of patient care is strongly rooted in teamwork and communication. The unit leadership focuses on reinforcing teamwork and individual growth through employee engagement and various opportunities within the organization.
Frequent nursing skills/equipment used: Nursing assessments, medication administration, collaboration with multiple disciplines, and the ability to communicate patient care needs with the care team. Hands-on skills such as IV insertion, foley insertion, tracheostomy care, using plum pump for fluid and medication administration, administering tube feeding, wound care and wound vacs, and ostomy bag care. BLS (within 30 days of hire).
Responsibilities:
Performs all responsibilities and duties required by unit as specific to the scope of service. Implements procedures and theories related to the specific area of practice. Maintains up-to-date and accurate documentation of nursing care provided to assure the integration of information for use by the healthcare team. Completes initial assessment upon patient admission and develops appropriate plan of care in accordance with unit standards and that is based on patient and family needs. Implements plan of care, nursing interventions, and patient care procedures. Modifies plan of care based upon continuous evaluation. Takes responsibility for patient and employee safety by reporting and/or correcting safety hazards and incidents. Communicates with others directly and in private when necessary to resolve issues. Offers constructive feedback to assist in the professional development of peers, and confers with colleagues to expand knowledge base. Identifies own learning needs and takes initiative to begin appropriate solution. Fulfills all requirements of departmental competencies. Receives patient Bedside Shift Report from an RN at the beginning of each shift, ensuring the inclusion of the patient input, visual validation of a safe patient room environment at the time of shift change and updating of the patient communication board found in each patient room. Delegates patient care tasks/responsibilities to assigned HCTs and validates completion of delegated tasks throughout the shift. Completes and documents basic RN patient care activities such as assessments, interpretation of vital signs, ensure physician order completion, admission/discharge of patients, hourly rounding completion on each assigned patient, care plan documentation and patient education. Meets Carle Med/Surg RN documentation standards for each assigned patient. RN will provide patient medications utilizing the patient 5 Rights: Right Patient, Right Medication, Right Route, Right Dose and Right Time. Maintains patient safety as the highest priority level: ensuring safety measure compliance such as fall precautions, pressure ulcer prevention, isolation precautions and patient ambulation safety. Maintains a positive attitude at all times on unit that promotes a healthy work environment and a healing patient environment. Keeps a diligent focus on prompt answering of patient call lights to ensure effective triage and completion of patient requests/medical needs. Uses critical thinking to evaluate the overall patient condition and uses nursing judgement to identify and act on changes in patient status. Effectively communicates within the healthcare team to promote interdisciplinary collaboration, effective patient care coordination and patient safety.
Qualifications:
Certifications:
- Basic Life Support (BLS) within 30 days - American Heart Association (AHA)
- Licensed Registered Professional Nurse (RN) - Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
Education:
- Nursing; Associate's Degree
Work Experience:
- RN >1yr
Carle Health Company Overview:
Find it here.
Discover the job, the career, the purpose you were meant for. At Carle Health, we're committed to fostering a workplace where every team member feels valued, respected and empowered, where passion and purpose come together to positively impact the lives of our patients and our communities. Find it all at Carle Health.
Our nearly 17,000 team members and providers work together to support patient care across central and southeastern Illinois. We’ve grown to include eight, award-winning hospitals and a multispecialty provider group with more than 1,500 doctors and advanced practice providers. We’re developing the next generation of providers and healthcare professionals through Carle Illinois College of Medicine, the world’s first engineering-based medical school, and Methodist College. Carle BroMenn Medical Center, Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Health Methodist Hospital, Carle Health Proctor Hospital, Carle Health Pekin Hospital, and Carle Hoopeston Regional Health Center hold Magnet® designations, the nation’s highest honor for nursing care. We offer opportunities in several communities throughout central Illinois with potential for growth and life-long careers at Carle Health.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. Carle Health participates in E-Verify and may provide the Social Security Administration and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.
Salary Range:
The compensation range for this position is $35.22 per hour - $60.58 per hour. This represents a good faith minimum and maximum range for the role at the time of posting by Carle Health. The actual compensation offered a candidate will be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, qualifications, location, training, licenses, shifts worked and compensation model. Carle Health offers a comprehensive benefits package for team members and providers. To learn more visit careers.carlehealth.org/benefits.
How to Get Visa 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 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.
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 jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently 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.
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