Staff Nurse Ophthalmology

The main duties within the role of a Ophthalmic Nurse at Kidderminster Treatment Centre are:

Post Title: Staff Nurse Ophthalmology

Pay Band: 5

Hours: 37.5

Contract: Permanent

Location / Department: Kidderminster Treatment Centre

Accountable to: Matron

Reports to: Department Manager

Key Working Relationships: Matron, Department Manager, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Lead, wider teams

Risk Assessment: The post involves manual handling activities and exposure to body fluids and chemicals. The post also involves VDU work and possible exposure to violence and aggression.

The post holder will be required to work shifts as necessary to maintain the service.

Job Purpose: To work as an Ophthalmic Nurse within clinics and theatre. To liaise with other agencies and departments both internal and external to the Trust, providing specialist ophthalmic nursing advice.

Key Duties: The post holder will provide a comprehensive service to patients and be responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating care for patients within the sub speciality such as: Intravitreal Injections, Age-related Macular Degeneration/Medical Retina, Glaucoma, Corneal and Cataract clinics and theatre.

The post holder will be clinically accountable for the assessment and management of patients within their care and especially in the upkeep of contemporaneous documentation involving care plans/notes and official letters to other health carers.

General Duties: The post holder will provide a comprehensive service to patients and be responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating care for patients within the sub speciality in Ophthalmology such as: Age-related Macular Degeneration/Medical Retina, Glaucoma, Corneal and Cataract.

To assist in providing a comprehensive service to ophthalmic patients.

To act as Nurse / Specialist Advisor for patients, relatives and other health professionals.

Undertake telephone assessments and post-operative or treatment reviews.

Provide support to ward teams and departments in relation to Ophthalmology Services.

To support the Trust in its future plans for Ophthalmology incorporating national guidelines e.g. NICE guidance.In collaboration with the Senior Nursing team develop ophthalmic policies, protocols and procedures necessary to support ophthalmic practice.

In collaboration with the Senior Nursing team take an active role in the management of issues and concerns raised with the clinical area by patients or their carers/relatives to reduce escalation to a more formal concern.

In collaboration with Senior Management team take an active role in the Risk Management in line with the Trusts policy, report risks appropriately and assist in ensuring controls are in place.

Towork as part of a team ensuring effective communication with all health care professionals within the clinical team and across all disciplines.

To be self-directed in maintaining own professional development.

Maintain accurate and effective record keeping.

To participate in Ophthalmology research and clinical audits actively seeking patients views and develop support groups as appropriate.

To promote and deliver health education within the clinical area and advise patients, relatives and others in health promotion issues where necessary.

To demonstrate and undertake evidence based practice playing an active part in the introduction of this evidence to improve patient centred care.

To act as patient advocate at all times.

To participate in the planning and implementation of new service developments within Ophthalmology.

Ensure any safeguarding issues are raised appropriately to enable investigation in relation to vulnerable adults and children.

To ensure that Trust policies and procedures are adhered to and clinical guidelines and care pathways are followed.

Report any accidents/untoward incidents to patients/self/visitors and any other staff and ensure completion of appropriate documentation.

Utilise resources effectively working with the Senior Nursing team to ensure that medical, central supplies and equipment orders are cost effectively.

Work with the Senior Nursing team to ensure infection control procedures are observed in the unit.

To participate in the Trusts appraisal system supporting the Senior Nursing management team.

To participate, in conjunction with the Senior Nursing team, the sickness absence management of the ophthalmic nursing team.

To undertake any other duties at the request of the Senior Nursing team which are commensurate with the role including project work, internal rotation and absence cover.

Ensure that own skills and knowledge are updated in line with the requirements of the post and profession.

To assist in increasing the level of knowledge and skill of Qualified Nursing Staff and Health Care Assistants through implementation, support and sharing of best practice, in order to develop professional abilities.

Offer development opportunities to staff e.g. mentorship, shadowing and leadership programmes.

Represent the speciality by attending appropriate seminars relating to the service.

Seek professional and clinical supervision whilst in the role.

Demonstrate clear understanding and awareness of national policy in relation to the post and to the developments in nursing.

Attend Mandatory Trust training sessions.

We are committed to delivering outstanding care and creating a culture where everyone feels respected, valued and supported. We seek individuals who share our purpose of helping people live healthier, more fulfilling lives, and who are motivated by our mission to be the best team we can be. You will be expected to uphold our values by communicating openly, acting with kindness, showing respect for others and taking responsibility for your actions. These values guide how we work together and continually improve the care we provide.

Our values are

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large

acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute

services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a

larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.

The Trust operates hospital-based services from

three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester

Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our

caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred

care. You could be one of them.

We are committed to recruiting the best people to

work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our

everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Being open and honest

Ensuring people feel cared for

Showing respect to everyone

We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.

We are proud to have achieved Timewise

accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working

within our organisation as a flex positive employer.

Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a

DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check

(at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting

Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.

Qualifications

Essential: - Experience of working within a nursing team

Desirable: - Ophthalmology experience Day surgery experience

Experience

Qualifications

Desirable: - Teaching and assessing qualification; - Ophthalmology Degree/Modules