- In order for people to benefit from widespread genomic
discoveries, nursing must be incorporate to obtain comprehensive
family histories, identify family members at risk for developing a
genomic influenced condition and for genomic influenced drug
reactions, help people make informed decisions about and understand
the results of their genomic tests and therapies, and refer at-risk
people to appropriate health care professionals and agencies for
specialized care.
- The top leading causes of mortality all have a genetic and
genomic component with heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular
disease, and diabetes representing the vast majority of
mortalities.
- Due to the chronic nature of these conditions and the
management needed, nursing professional are intimately involved in
the ongoing treatment and management of these conditions.
- Nurses knowledgeable about genetics/genomics and skilled at
obtaining and assessing risk in a family history have the potential
to help people avert adult onset disorders and consequential
morbidity and mortality.
- In preconception and prenatal settings, nurses have an
opportunity to help families prepare for a child with a genetic
condition.
The nursing profession is a pivotal provider of quality
health care services and essential to closing the gap between
research discoveries that are efficacious to health care and their
successful adoption to optimize health.
The goal of nursing research in clinical genetics and
genomics is to improve the quality of health care for patients and
families.