Senior Paediatric Ophthalmic Nurse

Job overview

The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, planning and provision of specialist ophthalmic nursing advice and carries out specialist nursing procedures including daycase surgical patients (NHS and Private). The post holder will provide clinical and managerial leadership to junior staff, students and may undertake research, lead clinical audits in own specialist area. They will assist the Ward Manager in ensuring the effective running of the ward; carrying out outpatient activities and ophthalmic emergency care. Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of patients and always working in a manner that promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person centred care principles.

Main duties of the job

Independently manage a group of patients within the ophthalmic speciality whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised and personalised direct care.

Responsible for carrying out clinical ophthalmic practice within the designated clinical area, ensuring that high quality, current evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, implementation, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided from admission through to discharge.

Demonstrate appropriate practice and specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care.  This includes history taking, physical examination and the requesting of agreed diagnostic procedures/clinical investigations.

Assist the nurse-in-charge in the effective running of the ward, clinic and Paediatric  A&E in accordance with Trust and local policies and procedures.

Responsible for the correct administration of prescribed medication for in-patients and out-patients.

Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in the speciality. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Independently manage a group of patients within the ophthalmic speciality whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised and personalised direct care. •    Responsible for carrying out clinical ophthalmic practice within the designated clinical area, ensuring that high quality, current evidence-based nursing assessment, care planning, implementation, interventions and evaluations for patients is provided from admission through to discharge. •    Demonstrate appropriate practice and specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care.  This includes history taking, physical examination and the requesting of agreed diagnostic procedures/clinical investigations. •    Assist the ward manager in the effective running of the ward in accordance with Trust and local policies and procedures. •    Responsible for the correct administration of prescribed medication for in-patients. •    Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in the speciality.  To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same. •    Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines. •    Ensure staffs take precautions to minimise the risk of cross infection in relation to the safe disposal of body fluids (including blood). •    Ensure safe and effective care for complex patients requiring advance clinical skills and responsible for carrying out specialist nursing procedures to area. •    Promote high quality clinical care, and assist in the development of the specialist service, through the use of evidence-based practice and clinical standards. •    Provide a seamless, high quality service from referral through to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and review.