Genetics nursing is a nursing specialty that focuses on providing genetic healthcare to patients.

The integration of genetics into nursing began in the 1980s and has been a slow but important process
in improving the quality of healthcare for patients receiving genetic and genomic based care from
nurses.

WHAT IS A GENETICS NURSE?

A genetics nurse is a licensed professional nurse with special education and training in genetics. Genetics
nurses help people at risk for or affected by diseases with a genetic component achieve and maintain
health. Many common diseases are now known to have a genetic component including cancer, heart
disease, diabetes, and Alzheimers.

Genetics nurses perform risk assessment, analyze the genetic contribution to disease risk, and discuss
the impact of risk on health care management for individuals and families. They also provide genetics
education, provide nursing care to patients and families and conduct research in genetics.

Click here for our Brochure WHAT IS A GENETICS NURSE? (PDF)

Nurses In Genetics Work With Patients And Their Families In Many Settings

specialty clinics where gene-based diagnoses and therapies are offered

prenatal and reproductive technology centers

cancer centers

primary health care settings

pediatric clinics

industrial health

school health

research centers

biotech and insurance industries

Who Could Benefit From Genetics Nursing?

individuals and families with known hereditary conditions or diseases thought to have a hereditary
component

Examples: Alzheimer's disease, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, Down syndrome, hemophilia,
Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Sickle Cell disease

anyone who is considering genetic testing

individuals and couples who are concerned with issues related to pregnancy, such as birth defects,
transmission of

genetic conditions, or effect of pregnancy on existing genetic risk

couples who have had multiple miscarriages

couples who are related, such as first cousins

healthcare providers who seek genetics consultations for their patients

What Can Genetics Nurses Do For You?

obtain a detailed family history and construct a pedigree (family history diagram)

assess and analyze hereditary and nonhereditary disease risk factors

identify potential genetic conditions or genetic predisposition to disease

provide genetic information and psychosocial support to individuals and families

provide nursing care for patients and families at risk for or affected by diseases with a genetic
component

provide genetic counseling

(Advanced Practice Nurses)

facilitate genetic testing and interpret genetic test results and laboratory reports

(Advanced Practice Nurses)

Essential Competencies

Nursing Assessment for the registered nurse includes:

Demonstrates an understanding of the relationship of genetics and genomics to health, prevention,
screening, diagnostics, prognostics, selection of treatment, and monitoring of treatment effectiveness.

Demonstrates ability to elicit a minimum of three-generation family health history.

Constructs a pedigree from collected family history information using standardized symbols and
terminology.

Collects personal, health, and developmental histories that consider genetic, environmental, and
genomic influences and risks.

Conducts comprehensive health and physical assessments which incorporate knowledge about genetic,
environmental, and genomic influences and risk factors.

Critically analyzes the history and physical assessment findings for genetic, environmental, and genomic
influences and risk factors.

Assesses clients’ knowledge, perceptions, and responses to genetic and genomic information.

Develops a plan of care that incorporates genetic and genomic assessment information.[5]

Identification for the registered nurse includes:

Identifies clients who may benefit from specific genetic and genomic information and/or services based
on assessment data.

Identifies credible, accurate, appropriate and current genetic and genomic information, resources,
services and/or technologies specific to given clients.

Identifies ethical, ethnic/ancestral, cultural, religious, legal, fiscal, and societal issues related to genetic
and genomic information and technologies.

Defines issues that undermine the rights of all clients for autonomous, informed genetic and genomic-
related decision-making and voluntary action.[5]

Referral Activities for the registered nurse includes:

Facilitates referrals for specialized genetic and genomic services for clients as needed.[5]

Provision of support, care, and education for the registered nurse includes:

Provides clients with interpretation of selective genetic and genomic information or services .
Provides clients with credible, accurate, appropriate and current genetic and genomic information,
resources, services, and/or technologies that facilitate decision-making.

Uses health promotion and disease prevention practices to:

Considers genetic and genomic influences on personal and environmental risk factors.

Incorporates knowledge of genetic and/or genomic risk factors (e.g., a client with a genetic
predisposition for high cholesterol who can benefit from a change in lifestyle that will decrease the
likelihood that the genetic risk will be expressed) .

Uses genetic and genomic-based interventions and information to improve clients’ outcomes.

Collaborates with healthcare providers in providing genetic and genomic healthcare.

Collaborates with insurance providers and payers to facilitate reimbursement for genetic and genomic
healthcare services.

Performs interventions and treatments appropriate to clients’ genetics and genomic healthcare needs.

Evaluates impact and effectiveness of genetic and genomic technology, information, interventions, and
treatments on clients’ outcome.[5]

Genetics Counseling

National Society of Genetic Counselors -- the leading voice, authority, and advocate for the genetic
counseling profession. Discover the genetic counseling profession and its guiding principles. For more
information, visit http://www.nsgc.org

Genetics & Nursing

National Genetics Education and Development Centre -- a site for learners and educators about what is
important to know and the activities to be undertaken in clinical practice. Includes factsheets, videos,
powerpoint presentations, telling stories and case scenarios. Visit
http://www.geneticseducation.nhs.uk/.

Essential Genetic and Genomic Competencies for Nurses With Graduate Degrees, co-published by the
American Nurses Association (ANA) and the International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG), is now
available on the American Nurses Association website here. For background information on this
document and how it was developed click here
If you would like the Steering Committee to provide you with a newsletter article or website
announcement to help your organization announce the competencies, please contact Karen Greco at
kgreco@nursing.arizona.edu

References

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978-1-55810-263-7.

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