Alison Twycross started her nursing career in 1981, volunteering at a local hospice while doing her A levels. A registered adult, mental health and children's nurse, she has worked in nurse education for 21 years and is professor and head of children's nursing at London South Bank University. Ms Twycross has edited three books on research related to managing pain in children, and is the editor of the RCNi journal Evidence-Based Nursing.