Oncology Nurses

Nurses working in cancer services play a vital role in the care of patients at diagnosis, during and following treatment ensuring patients benefit from the best possible interventions, treatment, care and support.

As skills have developed, specialist roles have emerged. Cancer nurses now work as core members of multidisciplinary teams and are playing a coordinating role in the development of seamless pathways of care between primary and secondary healthcare teams.

The Cancer Institute NSW has funded 50 Cancer Nurse Coordinator positions to enhance the care coordination of cancer patients in NSW, improving cancer services available to people with cancer, their family and carers. In addition, the Cancer Institute NSW has established the Clinical Trials Program with the placement of 28 additional Cancer Institute NSW Clinical Trials Nurses.

Cancer Nurse Coordinators (CNCs)

Cancer can be incredibly complex for a patient to understand and access the relevant treatment and support services. Patients are often treated by more than one specialist, sometimes in different healthcare settings, over extended periods of time. It is understandable that patients may feel overwhelmed, unsupported and responsible for their own care coordination. To address these patient concerns, the Cancer Institute NSW has established the Cancer Nurse Coordinator program for metropolitan and rural areas.

The role of the CNC is to coordinate the care of patients diagnosed with cancer, to ensure continuity of care and timeliness of treatment and access to appropriate services based on the patient's individual needs, as well as those of the patient's family and carers. The role will vary according to the area in which they are employed, the tumour type (or types) and the complexity of care required based on the assessment of the patients' needs. The Cancer Nurse Coordinator will also support multidisciplinary care and facilitate communication between team members and other health professionals including the GPs involved in the patient's care. CNCs will act as a contact point for patients and carers by providing them with information and addressing their concerns.

Clinical Trials Nurses

A major initiative in the Clinical Trials Program by the Cancer Institute NSW is the placement of Clinical Trials Nurses. This Grants scheme places trials nurses in hospital-based cancer clinical trials units to provide the infrastructure necessary to support cancer clinical trial related activity within NSW.

The Cancer Institute NSW is supporting the placement of trials nurses within cancer clinical trial units enabling a dedicated hospital based resource, supporting patients, their families and cancer specialists participating in clinical trials.

For a person diagnosed with cancer, the possibility of entering into a clinical trial can be overwhelming. The discussion around clinical trials and what is involved requires time and information to be delivered by the Clinical Trials Nurse in order to allow the individual to make an informed decision about entering or not, into a clinical trial.

Clinical Trials Nurses act as a point of contact and coordinate the various aspects of the trial for patients and carers by providing them with information, support and addressing their concerns.

The role of the Clinical Trials Nurse is to facilitate the continuity and quality of care for patients enrolled in a clinical trial and to deal sympathetically with patient's individual needs, as well as those of the patient's family and carers.

Professional Development Opportunities

Professional development is considered crucial to maintaining a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. As part of our commitment to the ongoing professional development of nurses working in cancer, a number of programs are offered.