Abstract: Explores nurses' experiences of caring for patients who have had surgery for oral cavity cancer in one NZ hospital, involving wound care, tracheostomy management, oral care, ongoing patient education and the provision of emotional support to patients and families. Interviews three registered nurses about the challenges involved in caring for this patient group; their moral conflict over the effects of surgery on the patients; their professional uncertainty, and the emotional effort involved in nursing oral cavity cancer patients. Suggests the need for informal debriefing, grief counselling, clinical supervision, stress management training, and continuing education in this specialised role.