Registered Children's Nurse, Ophthalmology

Job overview

The post holder will work across Ophthalmology Outpatients and the Eye Emergency Referral Service (EERS), providing high-quality, patient-centred care to both children and adult patients.

The role requires the delivery of safe, effective and timely ophthalmic nursing care, supporting planned and unplanned attendances. The post holder will contribute to clinical assessment, patient triage, treatment delivery and clinic coordination, ensuring efficient patient flow and high standards of care.

The nurse will be expected to adapt their practice to meet the differing needs of children, young people, adults and their carers, working collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team.

Successful candidates must have post-preceptorship experience.

Please note this post is not suitable for applicants who are required to undertake the OSCE training programme. Applicants who do not have current valid UK NMC registration will not be considered for this post.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Main duties of the job

• Accountable for own actions in accordance with the Code of Professional Conduct, acting within local, Trust, and statutory guidelines and policies at all times while contributing to corporate objectives.
• Deliver high-quality, compassionate care across outpatient and emergency ophthalmology settings, undertaking holistic assessments of routine and urgent ophthalmic conditions and recognising/responding to deteriorating or sight-threatening conditions with appropriate escalation.
• Responsible for clinical assessment and management of a group of patients, ensuring care is planned, implemented, and evaluated in partnership with patients and carers.
• Demonstrate technical and practical skills to support optimal patient care, including:

• Visual acuity testing (children and adults)
• Instillation of eye drops and medications
• Assisting with slit lamp examinations and diagnostics
• Measurement of intraocular pressure (where trained)
• Patient observations and agreed invasive procedures
• Preparing patients for investigations and minor procedures

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Support urgent and rapid-access ophthalmology services by triaging referrals and walk-in patients within competence, prioritising according to clinical need, and managing patient flow for timely assessment and treatment.
• Assist in maintaining effective departmental flow, including managing waiting times, breach targets, and escalating delays appropriately to ensure safe and efficient patient throughput.
• Effectively communicate clinical decisions, care pathways, and sensitive information to patients, carers, and the multidisciplinary team, including overcoming barriers to understanding.
• Provide reassurance and psychological support during procedures and emergencies, delivering education on eye conditions, treatments (e.g. drops, patching), and follow-up care.
• Adhere to safeguarding policies, identify and escalate concerns appropriately, and maintain a safe environment in line with Health & Safety and Trust policies.
• Maintain accurate, timely patient records using EPR/IT systems, ensuring compliance with NMC standards and supporting accurate workforce and resource data collection.
• Participate in clinical governance processes including audit, Datix reporting, and quality improvement initiatives to enhance service delivery.
• Act as a competent practitioner by supporting, supervising, teaching, and mentoring junior staff and students, acting as a professional role model.
• Actively contribute to service and departmental meetings and initiatives to improve service delivery and patient outcomes.
• Work flexibly across departments, specialties (paediatric and adult), and sites to meet service demand.
• Manage expected and unexpected clinical situations requiring physical and clinical effort, escalating appropriately to senior staff when required.
• Provide support to patients, carers, and colleagues during difficult circumstances, including delivering or supporting the communication of distressing information.
• Maintain awareness of personal development needs and actively upskill to deliver specialised ophthalmic care within the clinical environment

For further details please see the attached job description.

Closing Date: Please be advised that this job advert will close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Please apply for this job as soon as you can, if interested.