Case studies

".. it is rewarding when you see how much a patient’s treatment has changed their life."

My job entails many different tasks such as assessing visions, administering drops, taking a range of observations from blood pressure to intra ocular (eye) pressure, taking bloods and inserting cannulas in order to complete intravenous fluorescein angiograms.

There are so many different clinical areas to work in from neurology to medical retinal and plastics, and so many diagnostic tests are done on a day to day basis alongside other team members in order to give the patient the treatment they need.

I also work alongside Consultants in dry eye clinics where we carry out tear duct syringing and schirmers tests. I am currently in the process of learning new skills such as punctal plug insertion.

There is also opportunity to work some shifts in Eye Emergency Department where I would triage patients and, with the help of doctors and nurse practitioners, help treat various different eye problems. This is a great opportunity to try out the role of nurse practitioner and examine/diagnose different common eye diseases such as conjunctivitis.

What do you love about your job?

I love learning about new eye problems and there is so much to learn. I enjoy having a different skill mix on a day to day basis; not one day is similar to the other. We work with some very talented doctors and Consultants and it is rewarding when you see how much a patient’s treatment has changed their life. Many patients compliment the department on their treatment and say “they don’t know what they would do if the department was not available”, which makes me feel very proud to be a part of such a vast yet essential part of the team.

Proudest moment so far?

I have many, however the most recent would be that of a patient attending one of our plastics clinics with a very raw wound (in need of a graft) to which myself and another colleague were given the task of redressing three times per week in preparation for surgery. Each time the patient and her husband attended the clinic for dressings, we’d chat and you could really see the wound getting so much better and healing more than we imagined it would, two weeks later the lady was scheduled for her graft operation and it turned out a smaller graft was needed as the healing process excelled further than we’d expected.

We still see this lady in clinic and she always asks for us and mentions how much she appreciates the care she has received when she returns. It is very humbling to know, not only that a patient has had positive treatment and care, but that she and her husband take the time to enjoy a catch up with us and are interested in us as individuals.

Any tips for finding a job that you love?

Seek advice from mentors and more experienced nurses and assess strengths and weaknesses. Search for a job that encompasses traits that you have and helps you excel in these traits to become the best nurse you can be.

Tell us about any travel and/or unusual aspects

We often get the chance to travel to various outreach clinics so that patients can be treated closer to home. A mixture of skills are used here also and it means there is a chance to care for patients outside of the Outpatient Department.

What are your usual working hours?

I work 29.5 hours a week now since I had my son, which equates to three and a half days per week. The working hours suit my life and I normally do 8am-5pm shifts with late shifts every so often ranging from 9/9.30-6/6.30 depending on the needs of the department. I also work the odd Saturday shift in the Eye Emergency Department

What training is needed for your job?

I did my three years adult nursing course at University, which is generally needed to become a band five, however there is much more opportunity to learn whilst working at the Newcastle Eye Centre. I did a short course in Ophthalmology at Sunderland University and I am always learning new roles alongside doctors and nurse specialists during our clinics.