61^st World Nursing Conference

Genetic Nursing

Patients who are afflicted with or at risk for a genetic disease or condition are cared for by a genetics nurse. They carry out and evaluate genetic risk assessments, give direct patient care, and inform patients and their families about their risk profiles for different genetic disorders and how this risk may affect their further medical management. A genetic nurse can operate in a range of settings, such as hospitals, cancer centers, prenatal and reproductive specialty centers, specialty medical offices, and specialty genetics clinics that offer gene-based diagnostics and therapies. Many genetics nurses practice in subspecialties of medicine like oncology, pediatrics, obstetrics and reproduction, and mental health, where genetics play a significant role.