Genetics, Largely the Result of the Completion

¶ … genetics, largely the result of the completion of the Human Genome Project, has helped change the face of modern medicine. Genetic testing of an individual can not only help identify current diseases and disorders, but also help suggest treatment modalities and identify potential future illnesses. For example, patients with a family history of breast cancer can be tested for the breast-cancer gene, and, if positive, decide whether to pursue preventative therapies, such as pre-cancerous mastectomies. However, it is critical for healthcare workers to understand all of the ramifications of genetic testing so that they can answer patient questions about those tests. For example, if a genetic test can identify a disorder, but there is no preventative care or treatment for that disorder, will that knowledge help or harm the individual?

Summaries

Lea, DH (2009). Basic genetics and genomics: A primer for nurses. The Online

Journal of Issues in Nursing, 14(2). doi: 10.3912/OJIN.Vol14No02PPT01.

Lea examines the implications of the completion of the Human Genome Project on the provision of personalized healthcare services to patients. The article provides a good overview of basic genetics, so that it can serve as an introduction to the subject for nurses who are unfamiliar with genetics. After reviewing the basic science, Lea concludes that genetics/genomics are a routine part of screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for many diseases, both rare and common. Nurses must have knowledge about these genetic tests in order to meet the needs of their patients. They need to be able to find reliable information for themselves and for patients.

Lea, DH, & Williams, J. (2002). Genetic testing and screening. American Journal of Nursing,

102(7), 36-43.

In this article, Lea and Williams discuss how genetics has transformed the face of healthcare in the United States. They discuss the fact that nurses, as the frontline healthcare workers, are having to field patient questions about genetics. Specifically, patients are asking nurses if genetic testing will help them understand their own health. Therefore, nurses have to have an understanding, not just of the process of genetic testing, but also on follow-up and results, so that they can help the patients through the entire process.