Staff nurse - Ophthalmology

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust; Southampton, Pennington; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Part time

Job summary

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust is seeking a Band 5 Staff Nurse to join the Ophthalmology Eye Outpatients team. This 30-hour-per-week fixed-term maternity cover role is based at Southampton with potential involvement at Lymington, and includes in-house training to develop ophthalmic knowledge and skills.

The successful candidate will assess patients, support junior staff, manage eye medications, assist with procedures, and contribute to service improvements in a dynamic,

Qualifications

• Qualified Nurse (Degree/Diploma).
• Registered nurse on appropriate part of the register.
• Knowledge of current issues within acute Health Service.
• Understanding of personal accountability.
• Knowledge of own role within the team.
• Provide evidence of teaching and supporting learners in practice in the role of practice supervisor.
• Awareness of evidence-based practice.
• Awareness of responsibilities for management of infection control.
• Evidence of ongoing personal development.
• Able to use initiative.
• Evidence of recent study.
• Previous experience/qualification in relevant specialty.
• Teaching experience.

Responsibilities

• Assess patients' visual acuity and determine next steps in their journey.
• Support the unregistered Nurses with medicines management and eye drops as per SOP.
• Preparing patients for invasive procedures including cannulation.
• Administration of intra-venous drugs.
• Venesection.
• Leading and guiding small teams/co-ordinating the department with support from Nurse in charge.
• Develop own knowledge and skills, and provide information to theirs to help their development.
• Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others.
• Contribute to the improvement of services.
• Maintain quality in own work and encourage others to do the same.
• Support equality and value diversity, identifying when own or others behaviour undermines equality and diversity.
• Health and well-being: plan, develop and implement approaches to promote health and well-being, preventing adverse effects to health and well-being contribute to assessing and undertaking health and well-being needs.
• Input, store and provide data and information.
• Demonstrate clinical expertise acting as a role model within the clinical specialty.
• Facilitate a good learning environment for staff and learners.
• Establish and maintain communication with a range of people on a range of matters in a form that is appropriate to them and the situation.

Skills

Nursing registration

Practice supervision

Infection control

Evidence-based practice

Initiative

Education

Nurse degree/diploma

Teaching experience

Job description

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Staff nurse - Ophthalmology

The closing date is 24 November 2026

niversity Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Staff nurse - OphthalmologyContract Type: Fixed term contractFixed Term Contract End Date: 31 October 2027Purpose for Fixed Term: Maternity Cover

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications.

Main duties of the job

This is an exciting opportunity to join our busy, fast paced Eye Outpatients department for a band 5 registered nurse position.We are looking for a highly motivated, trustworthy, professional & reliable band 5 Nurses with an interest in Ophthalmology. Previous Ophthalmic experience is not an essential requirement; however a devotion to develop & learn is paramount. There will be specific in house training to develop specialised Ophthalmic knowledge & skillsThe right candidate will be integral to the growth of the team and the service.This is a part time position, 30hrs/ week for 9 months (maternity cover).Eye outpatients provides a positive work life balance with clinics currently running from Monday to Saturday.Eye Outpatients is a dynamic department that continues to change & develop, this requires the successful applicant to be flexible, forward thinking and have the skills to motivate peers. As a large team with over 50 staff members, we stretch over 2 locations: Southampton and Lymington hospital and we see up to 200 patients per session.The successful candidate will need to be highly motivated, professional, flexible, trustworthy and positive role model. The ability to teach, empower and coach staff it's essential for this role.If you think you are suitable for this role, we would highly recommend an informal visit to the department.

About us

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Job responsibilities

A detailed job description and person specification is attached.

• -Assessing patients visual acuity and using knowledge and skills developed to determine next stage of the patients journey
• -Support the unregistered Nurses with medicines management, observing and guiding the instillation of eye drops as per SOP
• -Preparing patients for invasive procedures including cannulation
• -Administration of intra-venous drugs
• -Venesection
• -Leading and guiding small teams/co-ordinating the department with support from Nurse in charge
• - Develop own knowledge and skills, and provide information to theirs to help their development.
• - Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others.
• - Contribute to the improvement of services.
• - Maintain quality in own work and encourage others to do the same.
• - Support equality and value diversity, identifying when own or others behaviour undermines equality and diversity
• - Health and well-being: plan, develop and implement approaches to promote health and well-being, preventing adverse affects to health and well-being contribute to assessing and undertaking health and well-being needs.
• - Input, store and provide data and information.
• - Demonstrate clinical expertise acting as a role model within the clinical specialty.
• - Facilitate a good learning environment for staff and learners.
• - Establish and maintain communication with a range of people on a range of matters in a form that is appropriate to them and the situation.

Person Specification

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

• Qualified Nurse (Degree/Diploma)
• Registered nurse on appropriate part of the register
• Knowledge of current issues within acute Health Service
• Understanding of personal accountability
• Knowledge of own role within the team
• Provide evidence of teaching and supporting learners in practice in the role of practice supervisor
• Awareness of evidence-based practice
• Awareness of responsibilities for management of infection control
• Evidence of on-going personal development
• Able to use initiative
• Evidence of recent study
• Previous experience/qualification in relevant specialty
• Teaching experience

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust