Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.0  Expert Clinical Practice

1.1   Deliver direct patient care within the intravitreal injection service using aseptic surgical techniques to perform intravitreal (within the cavity of the eye) injections for retina treatments utilising specialist skills to reduce risk of intraocular infections. 

1.2   Support, educate and counsel patients, families &/or carers in all aspects of vision and vision loss linked to activities of daily living.

1.3   Provide immediate care for those with irreversible sight loss and signpost these patients to appropriate on-going support services such as low vision services both within the hospital and the community.

1.4   Coordinate with others delivering intravitreal injections for planned absence within the injection service to provide a streamlined experience for patients

1.5   Maintain professional expertise through regular independent clinical practice.

1.6   Assist in developing new ways of working with the multidisciplinary team to enhance the patient journey supporting future developments of the service.

1.7   Promote a professional image at all times and be accountable for own clinical practice and development.

1.8   Support and educate patients, families &/or carers in complying with treatment regimes for their ophthalmic condition if appropriate, using every opportunity to advocate health promotion to ensure that the patient is treated from a holistic perspective.

1.9   Provide specific patient education to ensure realistic patient expectations are achieved.

1.10                Ensure confidentiality of all patient and staff information at all times.

1.11                Ensure that all clinical and legal nursing documents are completed accurately and legibly through regular audit.

2.0    Leadership

2.1          Contribute to debates internally with the multi professional team about the development of services within the medical retinal service

2.2          Support other members of the nursing team to develop new skills, always acting as a professional role model.

2.3          Act as a source of advice on ophthalmic nursing issues utilising problem solving skills and experience at any time.

2.4          Take an active role alongside the advanced nurse specialist in developing low vision awareness across the organisation to ensure patients with ophthalmic problems receive appropriate standards of care

3.0   Education and Training

3.1          Maintain own professional and personal competence & development as agreed in PDR, including mandatory training requirements and maintenance of professional records of developments in order to meet appraisal and revalidation requirements.

3.2          Use a reflective approach to own development and learning needs to support personal competence.

3.3          Flexible and adaptable approach to own professional development proactively seeking opportunities to enhance personal nursing and academic skill base.

3.4          Act as a mentor and assessor for staff in all areas of development as required.

3.5          Provide informal and formal training opportunities for junior staff to improve standards of ophthalmic nursing care.

3.6          Assist in delivery of in house ophthalmic nurse training to support professional and personal development.

3.7          Participate in student nurse education and assessment as required

4.0   Evaluation of Care and Research

4.1          Promote evidence-based practice, taking every opportunity to use current research to enhance nursing practice.

4.2          Participate in clinical audit and evaluate nursing practice across the service area.

4.3          Work and adhere to the needs of the service continuously striving to improve the quality of service provision.

5.0   Human Resources

5.1          Be aware of and adhere to all of the relevant Trust Policies and Guidelines e.g. sickness reporting, absence management and the uniform policy.

5.2          Be aware of issues relating to Data Protection, Human Rights and Clinical Governance, Health & Safety and welfare of patients & colleagues.

6.0   Specific skills, knowledge and expertise for ophthalmology.

6.1          Basic ophthalmic nursing skills such as visual acuity including distant (all types), near vision testing and relative afferent papillary defect procedure (RAPD) including A&P.

6.2          Basic ophthalmic nursing procedures such as ocular hygiene, lid hygiene & postoperative first dressings.

6.3          Patient education specific to area of practice

6.4          Assessment of ophthalmic patients within area of expertise. 

6.5          Autorefraction, Focimetry, Biometry and Keratometry and other diagnostic investigative procedures.

6.6          Use of slit lamp, anterior & posterior segment examination using the appropriate examination lens and applanation tonometry.

6.7          Venepuncture, intravenous cannulation and intermediate life support.

6.8          Knowledge and competence necessary for independent practice in defined areas of ophthalmic specialty as service needs require including teaching & assessing others in retinal services.

6.9          Knowledge and competence in use of patient group directives and independent non medical prescribing.