Surgical Nurse Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Surgical nurse jobs in the U.S. draw consistent H-1B visa and EB-3 sponsorship from hospitals and surgical centers, particularly for perioperative specialists. You'll need a U.S. nursing license, NCLEX clearance, and an employer willing to file, and many already have established pathways for internationally trained scrub and circulating nurses.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation: Indianapolis, IN
Facility: Ascension St. Vincent Hospital
Department/Specialty: Surgical Observation
Schedule: Part-time, 2x12 hours day shift, 7:00AM-7:30PM. Monday-Friday, plus every third Saturday coverage. Self scheduling. No Sundays, No on-call
COMPENSATION
- Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
- Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
- Time to recharge: paid time off (PTO) and holidays
- Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
- Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
- Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
- Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Implement and adapt individualized care strategies to meet the specific recovery needs of surgical patients, ensuring all clinical actions align with safety protocols and organizational standards.
- Continuously evaluate patient stability and recovery progress, proactively communicating changes in condition to the medical team to prevent complications and ensure rapid intervention.
- Serve as the central point of contact for the entire healthcare team, coordinating various specialists and services to ensure the patient receives cohesive, well-timed treatment.
- Accurately interpret and carry out physician and nursing directives to maintain the momentum of the patient’s treatment plan and recovery schedule.
- Assess and manage discharge requirements from the moment of admission, collaborating with the team to ensure patients have the resources and education needed for a safe return home.
Licensure / Certification / Registration
- Required Credential(s):
- Registered Nurse credentialed from the Indiana Board of Nursing obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
- One or more of the following:
- BLS Provider obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- Instructor specializing in Basic Life Support obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
Education
- Diploma from an accredited school/college of nursing required. OR Required professional licensure at time of hire.
Additional Preferences
- Hospital experience.
- Medsurg, Critical Care, PACU or ED experience.
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
Equal employment opportunity employer
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
Fraud prevention notice
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-Verify statement
Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Facility: Ascension St. Vincent Hospital
Department/Specialty: Surgical Observation
Schedule: Part-time, 2x12 hours day shift, 7:00AM-7:30PM. Monday-Friday, plus every third Saturday coverage. Self scheduling. No Sundays, No on-call
COMPENSATION
- Comprehensive health coverage: medical, dental, vision, prescription coverage and HSA/FSA options
- Financial security & retirement: employer-matched 403(b), planning and hardship resources, disability and life insurance
- Time to recharge: paid time off (PTO) and holidays
- Career growth: Ascension-paid tuition (Vocare), reimbursement, ongoing professional development and online learning
- Emotional well-being: Employee Assistance Program, counseling and peer support, spiritual care and stress management resources
- Family support: parental leave, adoption assistance and family benefits
- Other benefits: optional legal and pet insurance, transportation savings and more
YOUR ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Implement and adapt individualized care strategies to meet the specific recovery needs of surgical patients, ensuring all clinical actions align with safety protocols and organizational standards.
- Continuously evaluate patient stability and recovery progress, proactively communicating changes in condition to the medical team to prevent complications and ensure rapid intervention.
- Serve as the central point of contact for the entire healthcare team, coordinating various specialists and services to ensure the patient receives cohesive, well-timed treatment.
- Accurately interpret and carry out physician and nursing directives to maintain the momentum of the patient’s treatment plan and recovery schedule.
- Assess and manage discharge requirements from the moment of admission, collaborating with the team to ensure patients have the resources and education needed for a safe return home.
Licensure / Certification / Registration
- Required Credential(s):
- Registered Nurse credentialed from the Indiana Board of Nursing obtained prior to hire date or job transfer date.
- One or more of the following:
- BLS Provider obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
- Instructor specializing in Basic Life Support obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.
Education
- Diploma from an accredited school/college of nursing required. OR Required professional licensure at time of hire.
Additional Preferences
- Hospital experience.
- Medsurg, Critical Care, PACU or ED experience.
Ascension is a leading nonprofit Catholic health system with a culture and associate experience grounded in service, growth, care and connection. We empower our 99,000+ associates to bring their skills and expertise every day to reimagining healthcare, together. Recognized as one of the Best 150+ Places to Work in Healthcare and a Military-Friendly Gold Employer, you'll find an inclusive and supportive environment where your contributions truly matter.
Equal employment opportunity employer
Ascension provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all associates and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, lactation, breastfeeding, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, all as defined by applicable law, and any other legally protected status or characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. For further information, view the EEO Know Your Rights (English) poster or EEO Know Your Rights (Spanish) poster.
Fraud prevention notice
Prospective applicants should be vigilant against fraudulent job offers and interview requests. Scammers may use sophisticated tactics to impersonate Ascension employees. To ensure your safety, please remember: Ascension will never ask for payment or to provide banking or financial information as part of the job application or hiring process, our legitimate email communications will always come from an @ascension.org email address; do not trust other domains, and an official offer will only be extended to candidates who have completed a job application through our authorized applicant tracking system.
E-Verify statement
Employer participates in the Electronic Employment Verification Program. Please click here for more information.
See all 156+ Surgical Nurse Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Surgical Nurse
Verify your CGFNS credentials before applying
Most sponsoring hospitals require CGFNS certification or a Credentials Evaluation Service report before they'll initiate any visa filing. Get this process started early, it typically runs three to six months and directly gates your NCLEX eligibility.
Target hospitals with active perioperative departments
Large academic medical centers and Level I trauma centers run high OR volumes and sponsor surgical nurses more consistently than outpatient surgical centers. Use Migrate Mate to identify employers with verified sponsorship history for nursing roles in your target metro.
Align your specialty to the LCA job title exactly
When your employer files the Labor Condition Application with DOL, the job title must match your actual OR function, scrub nurse, circulating nurse, or perioperative RN. A mismatch between your credentials and the LCA title is a common source of USCIS scrutiny.
Check prevailing wage before you accept an offer
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your role and location. Run the OFLC Wage Search for your job title and metropolitan area before signing an offer, accepting below prevailing wage creates compliance problems that can delay or invalidate the LCA.
Understand EB-3 PERM timelines for surgical roles
Many hospitals sponsor surgical nurses through EB-3 green cards using the PERM labor certification process, which requires DOL to certify no qualified U.S. workers are available. PERM audits are common for nursing, so expect 12 to 24 months before an I-140 can be filed.
Get your state nursing license before the H-1B petition
USCIS requires proof of a valid, state-issued RN license for any H-1B petition for a surgical nurse role. Applying for licensure by endorsement in your target state before your employer files the petition removes a significant adjudication risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What visa types cover surgical nurse sponsorship in the U.S.?
Surgical nurses most commonly come to the U.S. on H-1B visas or through EB-3 green card sponsorship. H-1B requires a specialty occupation, a bachelor's degree in nursing directly related to the role. EB-3 covers skilled workers and is frequently used by hospitals running PERM labor certifications for perioperative and OR nursing positions.
Does a surgical nurse role qualify as a specialty occupation for the H-1B?
Yes, registered nurse roles in surgical and perioperative settings generally qualify as specialty occupations under USCIS standards because they require at minimum a bachelor's degree in nursing. Hospitals filing H-1B petitions for surgical nurses typically document the BSN requirement in the LCA and I-129 petition. USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence if the employer's job description is vague about the degree requirement.
How do I find hospitals actively sponsoring surgical nurses?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship history for nursing roles, searchable by city and specialty. This lets you focus your applications on hospitals that have already demonstrated a willingness to file, rather than approaching employers who may have no established sponsorship process for OR staff.
Will my international nursing degree satisfy USCIS for a surgical nurse H-1B?
USCIS evaluates foreign nursing degrees through credential evaluation services, most commonly CGFNS. A three-year nursing degree from many countries is typically found equivalent to a U.S. BSN, but this determination must be documented in the petition. You'll also need a valid state RN license before USCIS will approve the H-1B, regardless of your degree outcome.
Can a surgical nurse switch employers after H-1B approval?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules, once your new employer files a new H-1B petition on your behalf, you can begin working for them without waiting for USCIS to complete adjudication. The new employer must file a fresh LCA with DOL and an I-129 petition with USCIS. Your prior approval doesn't transfer, the new petition covers only the new role and employer.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Surgical 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.