Staff Nurse Ophthalmology

NHS; Kidderminster; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider is seeking a dedicated Staff Nurse in Ophthalmology based in Kidderminster. The role involves assessing and evaluating patient care, providing education, and maintaining high-quality service in clinics and theatres. Applicants must have current NMC registration and experience in a hospital setting. This position offers full-time hours and requires flexibility in working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a hospital setting.
• Experience working within an Ophthalmology Outpatient department.
• Experience in Operating Theatres or Outpatients.

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care.
• Coordinate patient’s discharge arrangements according to policy.
• Provide supervision and education to unqualified staff.

Skills

Good organisational/time management skills

Ability to communicate effectively both written and verbal

Ability to prioritise work

Flexibility to changes in service demands

Willingness to learn new skills

Education

Current NMC registration

Supervisor and Assessor qualification

ENB 346 or ophthalmic course

IV Therapy and Cannulation certification

Job description

Overview

Go back Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust

Staff Nurse Ophthalmology

The closing date is 30 September 2025

This is your opportunity to join the Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust Ophthalmic team as a Full time (37.5 hours) band 5 staff nurse. We are a friendly Countywide team and our new innovative ways of working ensures a truly patient centred approach throughout our units.

The ophthalmology units consist of an Outpatient Consulting Suite together with a day care unit and operating theatres.

The post holder would have a base at Kidderminster Hospital and be required to work in all areas of the Ophthalmology department to include our local anaesthetic theatre suite, clinic and day case unit. We also have Paediatric and adult ocular motility and corneal Surgery under General anaesthetic in the Main Operating Theatres. As a countywide service delivering ophthalmic care you will be required to travel between sites on occasions.

You will need to be committed, enthusiastic, reliable and completely flexible in working hours to cover all clinics and theatre and theatre sessions.

Main duties of the job

To have an understanding of a range of work procedures and practices, which requires expertise within ophthalmology, underpinned by theoretical knowledge or relevant experience.

General assessment of visual acuity, instillation of drops and appointments, application of eye pads, dressings to support the medical colleagues clinical commitments.

To be responsible for organising wide range of ophthalmic clinics in order to maintain a quality service.

To prepare patients for the Laser treatment and to practice the safety measures advised by the Radiation Physics and Protection Service (RRPPS).

To be competent to perform any of the following Theatre roles: Admission, Scrub

To work according to the NMC Code and relevant professional guidelines as a named nurse/key worker for a defined group of patients and take responsibility for:

The assessment of care and health education needs;

The development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care including discharge planning for each patient. To gain experience and skills in Clinical Practice, Facilitation and teaching and Management

To work in accordance with the WAH Nursing Strategy and contribute towards achieving its objectives.

To provide supervision, support and education to unqualified staff and students.

See jobdescription for full details

About us

Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.

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 nearly 6,800 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 to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.

Our objectives are simple:

• Best services for local people
• Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
• Best use of resources
• Best people

Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.

Job responsibilities

Post Title: Staff Nurse

Pay Band: Nursing & Midwifery Band 5

Hours: flexible, full and part time considered

Contract: Permanent

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Matron

REPORTS TO: Senior Sister / Charge Nurse

Key working relationships: All hospital personnel involved with patient care; Ward/departmental staff; Patients and their relatives/carers, significant others; Staff in other departments

The post involves manual handling activities and exposure to body fluids and chemicals. May involve some VDU work and individuals may be/are exposed to violence and aggression.

Job Purpose

• To work according to the NMC Code and relevant professional guidelines as a named nurse/key worker for a defined group of patients and take responsibility for: The assessment of care and health education needs; The development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care including discharge planning for each patient. To gain experience and skills in Clinical Practice, Facilitation and teaching, and Management

To work in accordance with the WAH Nursing Strategy and contribute towards achieving its objectives.

• To maintain effective communication.
• To participate in Clinical Supervision & Preceptorship as appropriate and act as a facilitator/mentor/preceptor/role model to less experienced staff.
• To provide supervision, support and education to unqualified staff and students.
• The particular duties to be undertaken by the post holder will be determined by the department manager. Objectives, performance and training needs will be regularly reviewed in accordance with the Trusts Performance review guidelines.

Patient Care Responsibilities

Acting as a Named Nurse, to maintain accountability for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating programmes of care within the framework of team nursing.

To coordinate the patient’s discharge arrangements in accordance with WAH discharge policy.

To promote a patient focused approach to care in collaboration with all relevant health professionals.

To educate patients and their carers as required where a need has been identified

To provide information which enables patients to make choices about adopting a healthier lifestyle

To complete patient documentation correctly.

To assist in establishing and monitoring protocols/care pathways

To participate in the promotion and maintenance of effective communication with patients, relatives and other staff.

To support people’s equality, diversity and rights at all times

To safeguard vulnerable adults in accordance with agreed policies and procedures

Please also see departmental variations for more details.

Professional Development and Education Responsibilities

To develop own teaching skills and participate in staff/student education programmes.

To help maintain a suitable learning environment for staff and act as a facilitator in the supervision and teaching of less experienced staff.

To attend Trust/local orientation programmes and mandatory training sessions.

To be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, clinical skills and professional awareness in accordance with PREP requirements and to maintain a professional portfolio with evidence of reflective practice.

To contribute to annual appraisal and be responsible for own Personal Development Programme.

To participate in the Trusts Preceptorship/Clinical Supervision Programmes.

To assist in the development and implementation of nursing practice guidelines, standards and policies.

To assist in the training and development of student nurses and health care assistants and complete assessors training as required.

Research and Development Responsibilities

To assist in promoting nursing practice in line with relevant research.

To maintain an awareness of evidence-based practice

To contribute to research and development programmes within the ward/department

Audit, Quality and Risk Management Responsibilities

To contribute to the setting and monitoring of measurable standards of care and be accountable for maintaining standards.

To maintain awareness of the national, professional and local quality issues relevant to the delivery of nursing services, e.g. Clinical Governance.

To uphold quality initiatives that improve customer care and enhance the

To participate in the audit process for monitoring and reviewing nursing quality.

To be aware of personal responsibilities in relation to the maintenance of a safe environment and identification of potential risks for all personnel, patients and visitors, taking action as and when required.

To be aware of the role of the nurse in handling complaints in accordance with WAH policy.

To participate in maintaining a clean environment.

The post holder will familiarise themselves with relevant Trust policies and procedures and comply with these at all times

To identify own training needs, to ensure individual competence in the use of all equipment provided for use.

To maintain a safe ward environment and ensure all appropriate general risk assessments are carried out within 24 hours of admission, document and plan care accordingly e.g., manual handling, pressure risks, slips trips and falls, nutrition, safeguarding.

Resource Management Responsibilities

To develop and maintain an awareness of budgeting, exercising care and economy in the ordering and use of equipment.

To assist in the assessment and monitoring of staffing requirements and report problems to the appropriate manager.

In the absence of a more senior member of staff and as part of the individual's development programme, the post holder, with support, will be able to undertake clinical/shift management within the department.

Local Ward/Department Variation to Core Job Description

To have an understanding of a range of work procedures and practices, which requires expertise within ophthalmology, underpinned by theoretical knowledge or relevant experience.

Guiding and communicating with the visually impaired person and referral to the social services to aid the continuity of care in the community.

General assessment of visual acuity, instillation of drops and appointments, application of eye pads, dressings / bandages and irrigation of the eye to support the medical colleagues clinical commitments.

To deliver a wide range of ophthalmic skills tests and treatments e.g., measurement of tear production, syringing of lacrimal ducts, epilation of eyelashes, inserting and removing and orbital prosthesis and contact lenses, macro examination of the anterior segment of the eye to work alongside and supporting the medical colleagues in the clinic.

To be responsible for organising pre-assessment clinics in order to maintain a quality service.

To practice in a pre-assessment clinic including biometry, measurement of intraocular pressure, Keratometry, focimetry, venepuncture and cannulation, history taking, and planning nursing care to ensure that each patient receives care appropriate to their needs.

To prepare patients for the Laser treatment and to practice the safety measures advised by the Radiation Physics and Protection Service (RRPPS).

To be competent to perform any of the following Theatre roles: Scrub, Recovery

To ensure the safekeeping of: patient records, patients belongings and valuables according to Trust policy.

To be responsible for the ordering of stock, pharmacy and specialised ophthalmic supplies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Must have current NMC registration
• or student studying nursing in UK
• Supervisor and Assessor qualification
• ENB 346 or ophthalmic course
• IV Therapy and Cannulation
• Biometry
• Pachemerty
• I Care

Experience

• Experience of working in a hospital setting
• Operating Theatres or Outpatients
• Experience working within a Day Surgery setting.
• Experience working within Ophthalmology Outpatient dept. and/or Ophthalmology Theatres

Knowledge and skills

• Good organisational/time management skills.
• Ability to record and deal with accurate facts, figures and information. Effective communicator both written and verbal.
• Ability to prioritise work.
• Flexible to change in demands of service.
• Willing to learn new skills.
• Ability to identify personal development needs.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust