Nurses in cancer care
There are different kinds of nurses involved in cancer care:
Specialist nurses
There are a number of specialist nurses in cancer care, and many of these nurses are called oncology nurses, clinical nurse specialists (CNS) or Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP's). These nurses have done specialist training and have particular areas of expertise in cancer.
Some specialist nurses are called Macmillan Nurses because they have been funded by the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
Specialist nurses work mainly in hospitals, but some provide care in the patient’s home. They may specialise in a specific cancer for example breast, lung, head and neck cancer, or a particular treatment, for example chemotherapy. Some of these nurses are called Macmillan Nurses because they have been funded by the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
Ward nurses
Ward
nurses include different grades of nurses, the most senior of which is
the ward sister or ward manager. Some are specialist nurses, for
example, for patients who are recovering from an operation, and others
are general nurses providing general care. If you have to stay in
hospital overnight you will have a ‘named nurse’ to provide your
nursing care.
Community nurses
Community nurses
provide care and practical advice in the patient’s home. District
nurses, practice nurses and health visitors are all kinds of community
nurse,and they are usually based in local health clinics or general
practice surgeries. They provide a wide range of nursing care
including helping patients when they leave hospital, taking out
stitches, cleaning wounds and giving out some medication at home. They
also work closely with specialist cancer and palliative care nurses.
Palliative care nurses
Palliative care nurses have expertise in managing pain and other symptoms, and can provide support for people with cancer and their families. They can be based in the community, in hospital or in a hospice, and work as part of cancer care teams.
Palliative care nurses may become involved at any time from diagnosis onwards and can help with managing pain and other symptoms
They may become involved at any time from diagnosis onwards,and provide links to other professionals and between hospital and home. Some palliative care nurses are called Macmillan nurses because they have been funded by the charity Macmillan Cancer Support.
Marie Curie Cancer Care Nurses
Marie Curie nurses provide hands on care at home through the day or night, giving the carer a break. You can contact them through community nurses.
Page last edited: 25 November 2011
