Detailed job description and main responsibilities

•    To work as an expert ophthalmic clinical practitioner, ensuring that staffs have the appropriate skill necessary to care for the designated patient group. 
•    To practice autonomously with a high level of accountability at an advanced clinical level in the direct delivery of high-quality care, making critical clinical decisions based on advanced clinical skills assessment 
•    Work autonomously, be responsible for a caseload of patients, including managing cataract     referrals to deliver high quality skilled, evidence based, and patient centered care supported by departmental Standard Operating Procedures, policies and guidelines    
•    To participate and be involved in nurse led innovations such as carrying out nursing extended roles, such as nurse led high volume low complexity cataract clinic, counselling, and consenting patients for investigative procedures 
•    To obtain informed consent for specific procedures in line with the relevant Trust policies and protocols ensuring that a full explanation is given. 
•    Collaborate with the multi-professional team to establish diagnosis and to act as the patient’s advocate during treatment choices 
•    Be responsible for the assessment of care needs, development, implementation and evaluation of high standards of nursing care.  
•    Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decision relating to their treatment and management, escalate concerns within professional structures as required. 
•    To respond to telephone and e mail enquiries to coordinate changes in appointment dates as warranted by the patient’s clinical condition. 
•    Investigate and respond to complaints both written and verbal.  Report information and findings back to the Senior Charge Nurse.
•    Be conversant with Trust Policies and guidelines and ensure compliance
•    Participate in key developments relating to the ophthalmic specialty so that high quality patient focused services are promoted. 
•    To ensure that patients are seen within the recommended timescales and targets where these are in place.
•    Promote relevant and clear information, education and advice for patients careers and families according to their needs which is evidence based. 
•    Lead on the provision of evidence-based nursing practice.
•    To supply and /or administer medications according to Patient Group Directions or in accordance with the Trust’s prescribing policy for non-medical prescribers 
•    To make judgements for the management of each individual patient through analysis and available information and initiate appropriate referrals to multidisciplinary specialists.
•    To give advice to patients regarding what to expect before, during and after procedures providing the relevant written information  
•    To maintain accurate contemporaneous records of all interventions, care and advice given, inputting on the relevant software in line with the Trust’s policies and procedures on data collection and confidentiality