Health Minister Tony Ryall this week issued a statement saying Southern would get $960,000 over four years to pay for the staff, two full-time and one part-time.
"These specialist nurses will act as a single point of contact so patients and their families no longer have to contact multiple people from different parts of the health service to find out about their care," Mr Ryall said.
"Cancer patients can come into contact with up to 28 doctors and even more nurses during their treatment, sometimes from more than one district health board. This can be extremely stressful and confusing."
Announced in this year's Budget, the $16 million initiative will ensure every DHB had at least one dedicated nurse, with some large DHBs employing up to four.
Otago Southland Cancer Society chief executive Mike Kernaghan was pleased funding for the nurses had been allocated.
At present, cancer sufferers faced a "whirlpool" of clinicians as they attempted to navigate the system.
Southern District Health Board deputy chief executive Lexie O'Shea said the DHB was determining the structure in which the nurses would work, and would then recruit them.