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

Open Jobs923+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type99% On-site
Top LocationColorado Springs, CO
Most JobsAscension

Showing 5 of 923+ Registered Nurse Med Surg jobs

Carle Health
RN - Med/Surg
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Carle Health
New 6h ago
RN - Med/Surg
Carle Health
Urbana, Illinois
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$35/hr - $60/hr
On-Site
1+ yr exp.
Associate's
10,000+

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OhioHealth
Staff RN Med Surg
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OhioHealth
New 9h ago
Staff RN Med Surg
OhioHealth
Cambridge, Ohio
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
On-Site
Associate's
10,000+

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Methodist Health System
Registered Nurse - Med Surg - Surgical Acute
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Methodist Health System
New 12h ago
Registered Nurse - Med Surg - Surgical Acute
Methodist Health System
Mansfield, Texas
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Not listed
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Thomas Jefferson University & Jefferson Health
RN - Med Surg
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Thomas Jefferson University & Jefferson Health
New 18h ago
RN - Med Surg
Thomas Jefferson University & Jefferson Health
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
On-Site
Bachelor's
5,001-10,000

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GSK Solutions
Registered Nurse (RN) – Med Surg
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GSK Solutions
New 19h ago
Registered Nurse (RN) – Med Surg
GSK Solutions
Lawton, Oklahoma
Nursing
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
$55/hr - $63/hr
On-Site
1+ yr exp.
None
201-500

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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.

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 jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.

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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.

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