NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical and Patient Care

• To assist the service as an expert ophthalmic clinical practitioner and ensure staff have the appropriate skills necessary to care for the designated patient group.
• Demonstrate appropriate practice and specialist advice in the admission, planning, implementation and discharge of patients. This includes history taking and the requesting of agreed diagnostic procedures/clinical investigations.
• Assist in the provision of evidence based nursing practice in other ophthalmic services as required.
• To assist with the assessment of care needs, development, implementation and evaluation of high standards of nursing care.                                    

• Be conversant with Trust Policies and guidelines and ensure compliance.
• Assist in the investigation of complaints within the service. Report information and findings back to the Senior Nurse.

Quality

• Facilitate a high quality, cost effective specialist service through monitoring and audit and other quality initiatives agreed by the Trust.

• Participate in key developments relating to the ophthalmic speciality so that high quality patient focused services are promoted.

• Attend and participate in multi-professional team meetings.

Education and Leadership

• To help ensure that the learning environment and specialist training is provided for the benefit of all staff and that evidence based practice is incorporated and utilised in the teaching environment.
• To ensure mandatory training is kept up to date.
• To assist with the development of nurses and others during their allocation to the service.
• To act as an advisor to junior staff.
• Support and participate in education and training programmes and assist in developing training programmes as required.
• To assist the Nurse Manager, Matron and Sister/Charge Nurse in developing a culture that is challenging, stimulating, rewarding and supportive.
• To be responsible for developing and sustaining own knowledge, clinical skills and professional awareness in accordance with PREP requirements and to maintain a professional profile.
• To assist in undertaking annual appraisals for staff and ensure own appraisal and PDP is current.

Research and Development

• Promote and participate in nursing research updating own knowledge to promote excellence in clinical practice.
• To work with the Practice Development Team in the development and implementing of evidence-based practice.
• Utilise research findings in the delivery of specialist patient care, developing new ways of working and to disseminate relevant information to staff.
• To assist in the development and implementation of nursing practice guidelines, standards and policies.
• Participate and contribute to audit and research within the speciality in collaboration with colleagues.

Management and Leadership

• Be a role model and demonstrate specialist knowledge and high standards of clinical practice and provide support or advice when necessary.
• Develop the role according to patients changing needs and research findings, within the resources available.
• Contribute to the business planning process and budget management for the area.
• Assist in providing specialist education to members of the clinical team, which facilitates learning and individual personal development.
• Assist in the co-ordination of the day to day management of the service, delegate duties and care appropriately.
• Assist in ensuring the staffing and skill mix is maintained, at all times, to a level that does not compromise patient safety.
• To be involved in the development, assessment and implementation of guidelines, protocols and pathways.

Compliance and Governance

• Maintain clear and legible patient records in accordance with both Trust and professional standards for record keeping.
• Take an active role in risk assessment, supporting implementation of strategies to minimise risk. Ensuring incidents and near misses are reported, through promoting a no blame culture.
• Ensure staff act in accordance with local, hospital and statutory guidelines and policies including health & safety initiatives.
• Will work in accordance with corporate objectives and ensure that all staff are aware.
• Take all possible precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of staff, service users, visitors and the public, by implementing all policies related to health, safety, security and risk. 

Communication

• To create an environment that fosters good communication between patient and health care professionals, that meets individual’s needs.

Be an effective communicator and be a role model in liaising with other members of the health care team.

• Provide support mechanisms for sharing good practice within the department and Trust wide.