The inpatient advanced practice nursing roles in a Canadian pediatric oncology unit.

The role of the nurse practitioner has been long established in the outpatient setting in pediatric oncology. The inpatient nurse practitioner role has been described to a lesser extent. This review of the role of the inpatient clinical nurse specialist/nurse practitioner on the 27-bed inpatient oncology unit at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, will describe the role and strategies for its implementation. This role of the clinical nurse specialist/nurse practitioner facilitates the provision of quality care to children and families admitted to the inpatient oncology unit.