Public Health Nurse Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Public health nurse jobs in the U.S. qualify as specialty occupations under the H-1B visa, and many county health departments and nonprofit health systems sponsor visas directly. NCLEX licensure, a BSN or higher, and an active state RN license are your three non-negotiable credentials before any employer will file.
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Position Description
Continuous
Exam # 26/52E01/11JH
SUMMARY OF POSITION
The County of Monterey Health Department’s Behavioral Health Bureau (MCBH) has openings for multiple full-time Public Health Licensed Vocational Nurses (PH LVNs). The Public Health Licensed Vocational Nurse supports patients in a multi-disciplinary treatment team service model in the Adult or Children and Youth System of Care. The PH LVN functions under the supervision of the medical director in Behavioral Health and clinical operations supervisor, working as an essential part of a multi-disciplinary treatment team that is comprised of psychiatrists, medical assistants, licensed/license eligible master’s level clinicians, bachelor level social workers, behavioral health aides and peer support staff. The program provides an array of mental health services to individuals of all ages with serious mental illness / serious emotional disturbance and co-occurring conditions. Services include assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, psycho-educational groups, group therapy, rehabilitation services, case management, psychiatric services, and wrap around services. MCBH places an emphasis on a recovery model that promotes increasing independence and community integration matching treatment interventions to the patient’s need and clinical complexity. The PH LVN primary duties include administering medications according to physicians’ orders, medication education and reconciliation, connecting the patients to health resources, providing educational support to manage chronic illness, and health care case management.
As of 10/11/2023, the Health Department offers up to a $10,000 signing bonus to candidates hired into regular full-time positions for this classification from this recruitment.
The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To learn more about the eligibility requirements and the process, be sure to read the Hiring Preference for Veterans and Eligible Military Spouses section located towards the end of this job flier.
The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise.
Examples of Duties
- Performs venipuncture for the purpose of drawing blood samples; may give immunizations or administer medication under physician or mid-level practitioner orders, collects and transports various specimens for laboratory testing; performs other nursing duties required to obtain information in support of counseling/education activities.
- Provide and facilitate group and/or individual health education of a general or specific nature.
- Provide one-to-one para-professional level counseling of a specific nature, as directed, for clients requiring lifestyle or nutrition modifications.
- As part of a “team” approach, assess and evaluate client medical histories, risk behaviors and/or test results to determine educational/counseling needs.
- Monitors clients’ medical and psychological status and behavior and keeps case managers informed as to their status.
- Keeps records and statistical data, and inputs information into electronic health record for services provided as required.
THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
Working Knowledge of:
- The principles, methods and techniques used in clinical vocational nursing.
- Medical terminology.
- Basic computer usage.
Some Knowledge of:
- The principles, methods and techniques used in public health education.
- The principles, methods and techniques used in counseling designed to bring about lifestyle or nutritional adjustments.
- The available sources and methods of obtaining public health/counseling/medical treatment services.
- The principles of treatment used in a specified medical specialty depending upon the position being filled.
Skill and Ability to:
- Collect, tabulate and analyze data and draw logical conclusions.
- Keep accurate written records in English.
- Communicate effectively with persons from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds for the purpose of gaining confidential medical and personal histories, and educating and counseling them concerning health practices or nutrition.
- Perform venipuncture and apply other vocational nursing skills.
- Develop and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
- Work under limited daily supervision and function as part of a “team” approach to client management.
- Exhibit professionalism and deal tactfully with clients known to have, or who may be carrying a variety of diseases including the HIV virus.
- Speak before groups.
- Operate standard office equipment, including a computer, specialized software for case management, and Electronic Health Record.
Desirable Qualifications:
- Ability to speak, read, and write effectively in English and Spanish.
- Pursuant to Section 4211 of the California Business and Professions Code, incumbents in these positions must be licensed to perform venipuncture in California without a licensed physician in attendance and perform immunizations and/or medical tests under client specific orders from a physician or practitioner. This would require, at a minimum, licensure as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.
Physical and Sensory Requirements:
- May be exposed to infectious respiratory secretions and bodily fluids.
Examples of Experience/Education/Training
Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:
EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION
- Possession of a valid California license as a Vocational or Registered Nurse, and one year of experience as a community worker or related position, which included outreach education within a public health or voluntary non-profit health, related agency preferably dealing with ‘at risk’ populations.
Additional Information
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
- Successfully complete a background check to include fingerprinting.
- Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
- Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency.
- May be required to work occasional evenings and weekends. May be exposed to infectious respiratory secretions and bodily fluids.
BENEFITS: The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Bargaining Unit H Benefit Summary Sheet. This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.
NOTES:
- As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions.
- Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.
- If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCEDURES
Apply on-line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty
or
Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours,
Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting:
Monterey County Health Department
Attn: Human Resources Division
1270 Natividad Road
Salinas, CA 93906.
Phone: (831) 755-4519 Fax: (831) 796-8682
The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:
- A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
- Responses to the Supplemental Questions
All application materials must be received by the priority screen date for a guaranteed review. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.
HIRING PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE MILITARY SPOUSES:
The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses (i.e., surviving spouses of veterans, spouses of totally disabled veterans, and spouses of active-duty service members) and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. To obtain a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application, please visit the Human Resources website.
To apply for veterans’ preference points, veterans or eligible military spouses must complete and email a Veterans and Eligible Military Spouse Preference Application with supporting documentation of their eligibility within 5 business days of submitting your job application to VeteransPreferencePoints@countyofmonterey.gov.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Jeremy Hathaway, Human Resources Analyst I, at (831) 755 – 4749 or hathawayj@countyofmonterey.gov.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Public Health Nurse
Get your CGFNS certification before applying
Most U.S. public health employers require CGFNS certification for internationally trained nurses before they'll start the sponsorship process. Without it, your application stalls at the credentialing stage regardless of how strong your clinical experience is.
Target county health departments specifically
County and city health departments are cap-exempt H-1B employers if affiliated with a government entity, meaning your petition avoids the annual lottery entirely. This path is underused by internationally trained public health nurses and significantly shortens your timeline to status.
Search verified sponsoring employers on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate lists U.S. employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for nursing roles, searchable by location and role type. Use it to identify which health systems and public agencies have actually filed for public health nurses, not just advertised openings.
Align your state RN license to the job posting location
Your employer files the LCA in the state where you'll work, and DOL requires the prevailing wage to reflect that specific location. If your license is from a Nurse Licensure Compact state, confirm it's recognized where the role is based before the offer stage.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
Your employer's LCA must certify wages at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your role and location. Run the OFLC Wage Search for the public health nurse occupation code before you receive a written offer so you know the floor DOL will require.
Request premium processing if your start date is firm
If your employer has a hard start date tied to a contract or grant cycle, ask them to file with USCIS premium processing when submitting the I-129 petition. Standard H-1B adjudication timelines can run several months and miss grant-funded program launch windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a public health nurse role qualify as a specialty occupation for the H-1B?
Yes. Public health nursing requires at least a BSN and an active RN license, which satisfies the USCIS specialty occupation standard of a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. Roles that require only an associate degree or accept any bachelor's degree would not qualify, so the job description must specify a BSN or higher as a requirement, not a preference.
Which visa types are available to internationally trained public health nurses?
The H-1B is the most common nonimmigrant path, subject to the annual cap and lottery unless the employer is cap-exempt. EB-3 skilled worker green cards are widely used in nursing and allow PERM labor certification without an advanced degree requirement. J-1 visa exchange visitor programs exist for some public health roles but carry a two-year home residency requirement that complicates long-term U.S. plans.
How do I find employers who sponsor visas for public health nurses?
Migrate Mate shows employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for nursing roles, so you can see which health systems and public agencies have actually filed, not just posted openings. Focus your search on county health departments, federally qualified health centers, and nonprofit hospital networks, as these employers file most consistently for public health nursing positions.
Does CGFNS certification affect my sponsorship timeline?
It does, often significantly. Most U.S. employers won't initiate the LCA or I-129 filing process until your CGFNS VisaScreen certificate is in hand, because state boards require it for foreign-educated nurses to obtain licensure. CGFNS processing can take several months, so starting that application well before you begin your employer search shortens the overall timeline to your start date.
Can a public health nurse use the H-1B cap exemption?
Only if the employer qualifies. County health departments operated as government entities, federally qualified health centers, and nonprofit organizations affiliated with higher education institutions are often cap-exempt. This means your employer can file the I-129 petition with USCIS at any time of year, bypassing the annual lottery. Confirm your specific employer's cap-exempt status before accepting an offer if timeline certainty matters to you.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Public Health Nurse jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.