Staff Nurse - Ophthalmology

ESHT; Bexhill-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS pension

Onsite nurseries

Staff restaurants

Staff accommodation

Job summary

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust in East Sussex is seeking a motivated Registered Nurse to join the Specialist Ophthalmology team in the Dowling Retinal Suite. You will contribute to high‑quality patient care in a highly specialised retina service, working with clinicians and technicians to deliver safe, efficient, patient‑centred care.

Key duties include clinical assessments (VA, OCT, IOP), supporting Fundus Fluorescein Angiography, coordinating clinic flow and preparing patients for

Qualifications

• Evidence of diploma level / degree level study.
• Registered General Nurse on the NMC register.
• Evidence of continual professional development (CPD).
• ENB 988 or Mentorship Level 3.
• Ophthalmic degree.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to smooth running of retinal clinics and maintain high standards of care.
• Clinical assessments: measure VA, capture OCT, check IOP.
• Support Fundus Fluorescein Angiography procedures and patient safety.
• Coordinate patient flow and provide clear patient communication.
• Prepare patients for intravitreal injections with infection control.

Education

Diploma/Degree level study

NMC registered nurse

CPD demonstrated

ENB 988 / Mentorship Level 3

Ophthalmic degree

Job description

We do not charge fees for job applications, recruitment processes, sponsorship arrangements or employment offers. All current vacancies can be found below, with the published contact details being the only authorised routes for recruitment communications, applications and verification of job offers.

We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.

We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.

Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.

Job overview

We are looking for a motivated and compassionate Registered Nurse to join our Specialist Ophthalmology team in the Dowling Retinal Suite. Our unit provides advanced retinal services, including Intravitreal Injection (IVT) therapy and Fundus Fluorescein Angiography (FFA), supporting patients with sight-threatening conditions.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop skills in a highly specialised area, working alongside experienced clinicians and technicians to deliver safe, efficient, and patient-centred care.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will contribute to the smooth running of our retinal clinics and ensure high standards of care. Key responsibilities include:

Clinical Assessments:

• Measuring and recording visual acuity (VA).
• Performing Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scans and capturing retinal images.
• Checking intraocular pressure (IOP) accurately and safely.

FFA Service Support:

• Assisting with Fundus Fluorescein Angiography procedures, including patient preparation and monitoring during the test.
• Ensuring patient safety and comfort throughout the procedure.

Clinic Support:

• Coordinating patient flow to maintain efficient clinic operations.
• Providing reassurance and clear communication to patients.

Clean Room Duties:

• Preparing patients for intravitreal injections in line with infection control and safety protocols.
• Maintaining a calm and professional environment to ensure patient comfort and safety.

Working for our organisation

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff.

• staff development
• enrolment in the NHS pension scheme
• auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service
• access to onsite nurseries
• staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Statement on the Use of AI

We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.

Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the job description attached.

If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact recruitment department.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Evidence of diploma level / degree level study
• Registered General Nurse on the NMC register
• Evidence of continual professional development
• ENB 988 or Mentorship Level 3
• Ophthalmic Degree

Experience

• Generic pre-registration experience in a care environment
• Previous experience of working in the NHS or similar organisation
• Able to undertake further training
• Knowledge of quality, audit and research
• Experience of Ophthalmology and/or theatre experience

Skills

Patients come first at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Our vision is to be:

• The healthcare provider of first choice for the people of East Sussex.

Our mission is to:

• Deliver better health outcomes and an excellent experience for everyone we provide with healthcare services.

Our strategic objectives are to:

• Improve quality and clinical outcomes by ensuring that safe patient care is our highest priority.
• Play a leading role in local partnerships to meet the needs of our local population and improve and enhance patients’ experiences.
• Use our resources efficiently and effectively for the benefit of our patients and their care to ensure our services are clinically, operationally and financially sustainable.

Our aims are that all services delivered by the Trust are:

• Safe
• Effective
• Caring
• Responsive and
• Well led

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early if it receives a high number of applications.