Clinical Nurse Specialist (Uveitis)

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for committed and dedicated individuals to join our busy Eye Clinic at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.We are a progressive and ever developing department, which is continuously adapting to meet the needs and enhance the care provided to our patients. We are seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our team.Ophthalmic Outpatients is based on two sites, at the NNUH and in the Central Norwich Eye Clinic, based at Grove Road Clinic in Norwich City Centre.

Our modern hospital is set just outside of the vibrant city of Norwich, in the beautiful count of Norfolk – the land of big skies, stunning beaches and rolling countryside. Our busy and evolving hospital provides care to nearly a million patients each year and our passion for research and development is supported by our close links to the Norwich Research Park and University of East Anglia.

To support the delivery of a high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare service, all staff are expected to act as a role model to others in all aspects of their work and consistently de4monstrate NNUH’s ‘PRIDE’ values of People focused, Respect, Dedication, Integrity and Excellence.

Main duties of the job

Assessment and management of cases of acute anterior uveitis (an inflammatory eye condition) including clinical examination, diagnosis, management with topical steroid drops, documentation of investigation results including blood tests and x-rays, escalation of complex or non-responsive patients to the uveitis consultants. This will initially be through training under direct supervision within a uveitis consultant-led clinic and within the eye emergency service, with a view to the development of independent nurse clinics for management of straightforward cases.

A major role will be to develop a pathway for patients requiring immunosuppression for the treatment of their inflammatory eye disease. This will involve the education and counselling of patients starting on these medications, as well as pre-treatment screening investigations, initial post-treatment blood monitoring, and handover to general practice for ongoing shared care.

Develop and maintain an up-to-date record of all patients within the uveitis service who are on long-term immunosuppression with either systemic steroids or conventional DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs)

Acting as a point of contact for patient queries and providing joined up care by liaising with rheumatology specialist nurses, consultants, GPs, and uveitis consultants to facilitate comprehensive and coordinated management for these patients

Participating in clinical governance, audit and research.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please view the attached job description for full details of the role and use your supporting statement to confirm how you meet the essential and desirable criteria on the job specification.

Please note due to high volume of applications for some posts, this post may close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role asap.

Applicant requirements

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.