Macmillan Nurses

One thing that I consistently hear from cancer sufferers and loved ones is that the Macmillan nurses are angels. These very special people spend their time dealing with people in a horrific situation but they do so with compassion, dignity and care. That takes a very special person and I wanted to shine a light on these amazing people today.

You need to be a registered nurse with at least five years of experience (with two years cancer or palliative care experience) in order to become a Macmillan nurse. They also undergo highly specialised training in managing pain and other symptoms as well as how to provide psychological support.

Macmillan nurse are usually employed within the NHS but funded by Macmillan, usually for three years. After those three years they are normally funded by the NHS or a partner organisation. The nurses work within the NHS and aren’t usually involved with private healthcare. The nurses don’t usually deal with routine nursing tasks.

Types of Macmillan Nurses:

Some of the Macmillan nurses have certain areas that they specialise in:

Macmillan Chemotherapy Nurse – These nurses administer chemotherapy to patients and help them deal with the side effects.

Macmillan Breast Cancer Nurse – These nurses provide support for breast cancer patients from the time of the screening and diagnosis right through their treatment and beyond. They provide help for the women in making informed decisions as well as providing practical and emotional support for women coming to terms with a mastectomy.

Macmillan Paediatric Nurse – These nurses provide help and support for children with cancer as well as their loved ones. They provide this support at home and in hospital. They also aim to keep the child at home with their loved ones as much as possible.

Macmillan Lead Nurse – These nurses are senior nurse managers and help shape the future of cancer and palliative care services in their area.

How to Get a Macmillan Nurse:

If you want or need a Macmillan nurse then please speak to your GP  as you will need them to refer you.  You can also be referred by your hospital consultant, district nurse or a hospital ward sister. Please don’t hesitate to ask someone about Macmillan nurses and their availability in your area. Macmillan nurses are based across the UK but there are alternative services available in the event that there aren’t nurses available in your area.

Funding for Macmillan Nurses:

Macmillan nurses are funded 100% by donations to Macmillan Cancer Support. They provide a hugely vital service that many rely on during the toughest period of their lives. Please do donate what you can to Macmillan to keep this amazing service available to as many people as possible.

Please contact Macmillan for further information on their nurses.