Tuesday 15 March has been designated National Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist Day.  It’s the opportunity to thank the highly-skilled nurses who deliver cancer care, and to also ask the question: “Could YOU be a Cancer CNS?”.

As a patient’s key worker, the Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNSs) provide patients with detailed information about their care and treatment.  They improve the quality and experience of care for patients, reinforce patient safety, and work with other healthcare professionals and organisations to improve patients’ care.

Often one or two pay bands higher than a regular staff nurse, the Cancer CNS may use their expertise to assess, diagnose, and treat patients. But their role often extends into other areas, like healthcare management, leadership, and research.

Patient appreciation

Cancer CNSs have a major impact on any patient’s cancer journey – whatever the outcome.

Colorectal cancer patient William Butler from Milton Keynes said: “I’ve found that in challenging situations where there’s so much information to take in, Cancer CNSs have consistently shown enormous empathy and had brilliant communication skills which have supported me through demanding times.

“So for me, it is the cancer clinical nurse specialists who make a real difference between simply having treatment and being given great care.”

Louise Porter from Bracknell said: “The Breast Cancer Nurse team were amazing. Although most of my treatment was during the pandemic, they were always on hand at the end of the phone to listen and give advice when needed.

“Two years on from diagnosis, although in remission, I have an open pathway if I need to speak to anyone, and it is amazing to still have that support.”

Recruitment to meet demand

But our Cancer CNS workforce is facing a crisis. With the demand for cancer services increasing, we need more CNSs than ever before.

Also, many of the current workforce are extremely experienced, which is vital for the expertise of each cancer team.  But many of these nurses will retire in the next few years – and we need to ensure the next generation is in place to deliver the same amazing care.

So could YOU be a Cancer CNS? Are you considering a career in nursing, or are you already a nurse looking for your next professional challenge?

“Across the Thames Valley region, we have some of the finest Cancer CNSs in England,” says Lyndel Moore, Lead Cancer Nurse for Thames Valley Cancer Alliance (TVCA).

“They deliver world-class personalised treatment to every patient supporting them and their families at the time of diagnosis and through their cancer treatment. Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialists work within the NHS and are frequently supported by our partner, Macmillan.

“Cancer CNSs are highly regarded due to their specialist training and education and for choosing to work in the extremely demanding and complex field of cancer care.

“But we need to increase the number of Cancer CNSs by 100% in the next eight years to ensure we can cover the increased demand for cancer treatment, and ensure we maintain expertise when members of the current workforce retire.”

Professional satisfaction

At a TVCA nurses’ event Cancer CNSs commented:

“I enjoy my job and it gives me the satisfaction. Each patient has unique needs and expectations and the variety of cancer and treatment-related complications make the role challenging.”

“I love supporting people at diagnosis and throughout treatment. I also know that my actions can make a huge difference to someone’s cancer experience and I feel strongly about advocating for people and ensuring they get treated promptly and appropriately. I very much enjoy the strategic and autonomous aspects of the post. It doesn’t get boring!”

If you would like more information on becoming a Cancer Clinical Nurse Specialist, email Claire Poke, the TVCA Workforce Manager.

ends Issued: 10/3/2022