Staff Nurse Ophthalmology

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Nhs Trust; Larkhill; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust is seeking an experienced Staff Nurse Ophthalmology to join our countywide ophthalmic service at Kidderminster Treatment Centre. The role involves working across clinics, theatres and day cases with a 37.5 hour week and permanent contract.

You will assist with intravitreal injections and lead patient care across multiple ophthalmic settings. The post includes comprehensive training, DBS checks and working within a friendly team dedicated to high-quality

Responsibilities

• Support Ophthalmic clinics and assist the doctors leading the clinics.
• Carry out diagnostic scans - Optical coherence tomography (OCT), Visual Field scans.
• Act as a Triage Nurse on the triage phones - taking calls from patients, Optometrist, GP's and using clinical knowledge to offer advice and guidance.
• Admit and discharge patients in and out of the Ophthalmic Theatre.
• Act as member of the Theatre team - Scrub nurse, Theatre Runner, Patient Escort.
• Assist with the running of the Intravitreal Injection (IVT) Theatre where sight saving eye injections are administered.

Job description

Job summary

This is your opportunity to join the Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust Ophthalmic team. We are a friendly county wide team, and with following our Trust Values of being open and honest, ensure people feel cared for and showing respect for everyone we aim to deliver a patient centred approach throughout our units.

Worcestershire Acute Ophthalmic units consist of outpatient consulting suites, day care units and operating theatres.

The post holder would have a base at the Kidderminster Treatment Centre, and be required to work in all areas of the Ophthalmology department to include theatre, clinic and day case.

As a countywide service delivering ophthalmic care you may be required to travel between sites on occasions.

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

A comprehensive competency training package is used across the ophthalmology departments, allowing new members of staff to gain skills in a 4 week supernumerary period as they progress through the department .

For further information, please contact Department Manager Ian Johnstone on 01562 512383 or by email: [e-mail]

Interview date - TBC

Main duties of the job

• Supporting Ophthalmic clinics and assist the doctors leading the clinics.
• Carry out diagnostic scans - Optical coherence tomography (OCT), Visual Field scans.
• Act as a Triage Nurse on the triage phones - Taking calls from patient's, Optometrist, GP's and using your clinical knowledge to offer advice and guidance. Pass information on to the doctors for them to triage the patients. Book patients in to Acute Clinic (Eye A&E) appointment slots.
• Admit and discharge patients in and out of the Ophthalmic Theatre.
• Act as member of the Theatre team - Scrub nurse, Theatre Runner, Patient Escort.
• Assist with the running of the Intravitreal Injection (IVT) Theatre where sight saving eye injections are administered.

About us

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.

DBS Checks and Costs

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.

Job responsibilities

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.

General Duties
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.

Professional Responsibilities

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.

Our Shared Values and Behaviours

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