Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• 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.
• With the support from the Matron, Nurse Consultant, Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP’s) and the Medical team, be responsible for a caseload of patients managing nurse led review clinics.
• Works in partnership with individuals, families and carers, using a range of assessment methods as appropriate (e.g. history-taking, holistic assessment, identifying risk factors, mental health assessments, requesting, undertaking and/or interpreting diagnostic tests and conducting health needs assessments).
• Collaborate with the multi-professional team to establish diagnosis and monitor disease progression in patients with ophthalmic conditions.
• Challenge practice so that the best and most appropriate treatment is given to the patient; maintaining and monitoring high standards of care, recognising and responding proactively to patients’ changing clinical needs.
• Under the supervision of the Matron, Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ACP), Nurse Consultant and medical team, work towards advanced ophthalmic practice competencies and non-medical prescribing as appropriate.
• Work autonomously, managing a group of patients to deliver high quality skilled, evidence based and patient centred care supported by departmental Standard Operating Procedures, policies and guidelines.
• Understand the workload and targets that has been set for clinical area and demonstrate commitment to their delivery. 
• Practice as a professional nurse demonstrating leadership, clinical expertise and competence in the field of Ophthalmic nursing. 
• Communicate and liaise effectively with internal departments and external agencies to arrange and confirm ongoing pathways of care, provide written communication and referral documentation as required.
• Receive patients in a calm, courteous and reassuring manner and ensure they are kept informed of progress and treatment, providing help and counselling when needed. 
• Provides health education and advice to patients and their carer’s, teaching where appropriate.
• Maintain professional competence, authority and credibility by undertaking regular clinical sessions in accordance with your job plan and being highly visible to patients, carers and staff, actively seeking feedback about the quality of services.
• Supervise and support junior members of staff in the delivery of patient care. 
• Provide and develop good nursing practice ensuring that practices are in accordance with trust policies.
• Be conversant with trust policies, procedure and systems for safeguarding including the assessment of Mental Capacity, the process for consideration requests for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) and the application of the principles of Prevent (counter terrorism awareness).
• Report and raise concerns about Safeguarding, accessing advice and support at the point of need. 
• Identify deteriorating patients and take the appropriate action to manage the situation, liaising with the multi-disciplinary team and external care providers as appropriate.
• Use professional judgement to intercede and act as advocate for patients to ensure a patient focused approach to the delivery of care. 
• Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decision relating to their treatment and management, escalate concerns within professional structures as required. 
• Have accountability for the correct administration and custody of medicines according to the trust policy to include the safe administration of medicines, controlled, intravenous and cytotoxic drugs.