This paper aims to discuss notions of supportive care, nursing care and the impact of providing that care for oncology nurses. Role-related stress and burnout in oncology nurses are challenges that require effective management strategies at both organisational and personal levels. Oncology nurses, as do others, strive to provide exemplary nursing care for people affected by cancer which demands the provision of a total package of care that comprises physical, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual needs. These needs change over time from diagnosis through to end of life1,2,3. One source of stress for many oncology nurses is the attempt to manage tensions that arise from trying to provide a person-centred approach to care in a biomedically driven and physically focused health care delivery system4. The three key strategies of self-awareness, self-care and resilience development for managing work-related stress for cancer nurses will be discussed.