The UK has the world’s highest national per capita rate of cancer trial participation, according to a recent report from the National Institute for Health Research. Clinical research nurse Jan Hunter explains why she enjoys juggling her medical and interpersonal skills

The perennial search for better cancer drugs has driven an increasing global demand for clinical trials. Consequently, there has been a substantial rise over the past two decades in the number of clinical research nurses. The NHS Cancer Plan (DH 2000) described cancer research as a vital component of its plans for improving and driving cancer care forward – movement that would be impossible without the research nurse. Yet this role is often misunderstood and sometimes maligned.