The professional development framework for specialist prostate cancer nursing
Resources for prostate cancer nursing
September 2026: We’re pleased to announce our professional development framework for specialist prostate cancer nursing has been officially endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing.
Background
The value of nurses, and specialist nurses in particular, cannot be underestimated. This is affirmed in evidence such as the NICE Prostate Cancer Quality Standard, where it's stated that, in the first instance, people with prostate cancer should have a discussion with a named nurse specialist.
Nurse specialists are the key points of contact for people with prostate cancer, providing information, answering questions or concerns, and supporting patients to make decisions about their care. This allows them to feel informed about their treatment options and side effects, as well as supported to make decisions about their treatment.
Not only does access to a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) help patients feel informed and supported, but it also improves overall patient experience and outcomes, including survival.
Despite this, 18% of patients in the 2021 National Cancer Patient Experience Survey were unable to access a specialist professional to contact, which is usually a specialist nurse. This should not be the case - access to a CNS should be guaranteed for all men.
‘The co-ordination they do is necessary, it reduces uncertainty and anxiety and increases patient confidence’ – prostate cancer service user
The Nursing Framework
The Framework has been developed by prostate cancer nurses, researchers, and men with lived experience. The aim of this work is to help guide both existing and aspiring prostate cancer nurses, as well as line managers, employers, and policymakers on the core skills, knowledge and training that the prostate cancer nursing staff will need and gain as they progress through their role.
This guidance considers the capabilities of professional practice required to provide the complex care that prostate cancer patients need, the different levels of nursing practice evident in this care - and the career possibilities and routes that the nursing workforce can take from entry to advancement. Case studies from support workers to consultant nurses are included that illustrate this.
Case Studies
The Framework includes five case studies at each stage of the nursing profession:
Rebecca Heimann, Macmillan Cancer Support Worker, Urology Prostate Cancer Team, Guys Hospital, London, England
Josiane Kento, Specialist Nurse, London, England
Paula Brooks, Trainee Advanced Oncology Nurse Practitioner, Northern Ireland Cancer Centre, Belfast City Hospital, Northern Ireland
Tracey Blackmore, Macmillan Uro-Oncology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Jersey, Channel Islands
Kal Kaur, Consultant Nurse, Royal Free Hospital, London, England
References
NICE (2021) Quality Statement Prostate Cancer https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs91/chapter/quality-statement-1-discussion-with-a-named-nurse-specialist Accessed June 2023.
Alessy SA, Davies E, Rawlinson J, et al Clinical nurse specialists and survival in patients with cancer: The UK National Cancer Experience Survey BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care Published Online First: 21 April 2022. doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2021-003445
National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (2024) https://www.ncpes.co.uk/latest-results-national-cancer-patient-survey/
Department of Health (1995) A policy framework for commissioning cancer services: A report by the Expert Advisory Group on Cancer to the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales. Department of Health, London
Wall, David P. PhD; Kristjanson, Linda J. PhD; Fisher, Colleen PhD; Boldy, Duncan PhD; Kendall, Garth E. PhD. Responding to a Diagnosis of Localized Prostate Cancer: Men’s Experiences of Normal Distress During the First 3 Postdiagnostic Months. Cancer Nursing 36(6):p E44-E50, November/December 2013. | DOI: 10.1097/NCC.0b013e3182747bef
HEE (2022) Aspirant Cancer Career and Education Development (ACCEND) programme https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/cancer-diagnostics/aspirant-cancer-career-education-development-programme Accessed June 2023
Royal College of Nursing, NHS Job Evaluation, available at: https://www.rcn.org.uk/employment-and-pay/NHS-Employment/
NHS-Job-EvaluationAccessed June 2023
NHS England, The NHS Long Term Plan, August 2019, available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/the-nhs-longterm-
plan/Accessed June 2023
ICN (2020) Guidelines on Advanced Practice Nursing https://www.icn.ch/system/files/documents/2020-04/ICN_APN%20 Report_EN_WEB.pdf Accessed June 2023
Kerr H, Donovan M, McSorley O, Evaluation of the role of the clinical nurse specialist in cancer care: An integrative literature review, Eur J Cancer Care. 2021;30: e13415, available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ecc.13415
2020 Macmillan Addressing the Gap report: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/dfsmedia/1a6f23537f7f4519bb0cf14c45b2a629/9598-10061/addressing-the-gap-report
Macmillan Cancer Support (2021) A census of the cancer nursing and support workforce in Northern Ireland in 2021
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/dfsmedia/1a6f23537f7f4519bb0cf14c45b2a629/5837-10061/2021-census-of-the-cancerworkforce-Accessed July 2023
HEE (2020) Multi-professional consultant-level practice capability and impact framework https://www.hee.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/Sept%202020%20HEE%20Consultant%20Practice%20Capability%20and%20Impact%20Framework.pdf Accessed June 2023
Nursing and Midwifery Council, The Code: Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates, 2018, available at: https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/ Accessed June 2023
NHS Employers combined job profiles https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/national-job-profiles Accessed June 2023
HEE Enhanced Practice framework (2023) https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/enhanced-practice-0
Accessed July 2023
Benner P (1984) From Novice to Expert Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice Addison-Wesley Pub. Co.,Nursing Division New York
If you would prefer a hardcopy of the Framework, or if have any feedback, comments or things to discuss regarding this work please contact: [email protected]
Last updated: September 2026
To be reviewed: 2028
