A Cancer CNS is a senior nursing role which focuses on information and support needs of the patient and their families. They tend to work in a specific cancer site and build extensive knowledge of the clinical and broader needs of patients with that cancer. They typically first meet patients at the point they are diagnosed with cancer and become an essential contact and support as they progress through treatment and beyond.
As a CNS you are most likely to:
- Work in a hospital Trust seeing and speaking with patients who have been diagnosed with cancer as well as their family members;
- Attend and deliver clinics to support patients and to provide information, decision making support, specialist knowledge in relation to all treatment
- Visit patients who have to spend some time in hospital planning interventions to support all of their health and wider needs
- Take each individual patients holistic needs into consideration helping them to understand and make decisions about their care;
- Become a point of contact for patients with questions or worries;
- Help to guide a patient through their cancer journey providing support, information and specialist knowledge, symptom management, toxicity management, psychological care;
- Make referrals to other services that are needed by the patient.
- Develop the role in line with the National Cancer Education Programme ACCEND to achieve independent practice.
