Mission: To care for you both physically and emotionally while you are in hospital. The person in charge of the ward is called the charge nurse or ward sister.

Location: On the ward.

Skills: All nurses have had at least 3 years training and may have done extra training in cancer nursing and/or caring for young people.

Notes: On many teenage units and children’s wards the nurses don’t wear uniforms, but if you are treated on an adult ward, they usually do.

Specialist nurse: These nurses have had specific training in caring for people with cancer and have particular experience in this area. They often help you while you are in hospital as well as at home and can arrange for any help, support, information or advice that you and your family need. An example of a specialist nurse is a Macmillan nurse.