Reflections on sight loss - RNIB

Career focus
➜
In practice, many nurses enter higher
education on the basis of their own and their
managers’ interest in CPD. They don’t need
academic qualifications to embark on a
master’s degree, but they do need bags of
determination and colleague support to last
the course.
Swann says the master’s course did not
necessarily broaden her knowledge, but
greatly increased its depth, giving her the
ability and confidence to challenge individual
patient care plans and procedures. She moved
on from simply doing tasks to thinking about
best care routes and delivering improved
patient care. Gaining a master’s degree was a
prerequisite to becoming a nurse practitioner
in Gloucestershire, but the effort has paid off
for Swann in terms of career development,
increased respect from medical colleagues and
the feeling that her opinions count.
Continuity of care
For hospital eye clinics, the benefits of
employing highly educated, specialist
ophthalmic nurses are also significant. Patients
receive better continuity of care and education
as extended skills mean nurses can do more for
them. In turn, this improves the patient’s
experience, leading to fewer cancelled
appointments and improved efficiency.
As Shaw concludes: “While this is not
evidenced, continuous patient care usually
means better care and patients who feel they
are getting a better service. Nurses who
engage in CPD see the benefits for themselves
and their patients, and this can encourage
them to evaluate their role in the hospital on
an ongoing basis and consider further
training.”
“For hospital eye clinics, the
benefits of employing highly
educated, specialist ophthalmic
nurses are also significant.
Patients receive better
continuity of care and education
as extended skills mean nurses
can do more for them”
Taking it to the next level
Where to study ophthalmic nursing at
master’s level or as flexible distance
learning
1. City University/Moorfields
Modules at masters level
Carol.Cox@moorfields.nhs.uk.
2. University of Hull
Flexible distance learning: Ophthalmic Care
(E-Learning)
Contacts: 01482 463342 or
fhsc.admiss@hull.ac.uk
Yvonne Needham, Senior Lecturer,
Y.Needham@hull.ac.uk
3. The University of Manchester
Master’s modules in glaucoma
Contacts: 0161 306 0270 or
graduate.nursing@manchester.ac.uk
Mary Shaw, Senior Lecturer, 0161 306 7655
or Mary.Shaw@manchester.ac.uk
4. Manchester Metropolitan University
Full master’s: MSc Practice Development
(Ophthalmic Route)
Contact: 0161 306 0270 or
graduate.nursing@manchester.ac.uk
Janet Marsden, Professor of Ophthalmology
and Emergency Care, 0161 247 2508 or
j.marsden@mmu.ac.uk
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