Question

Discuss the benefits and risks of genetic testing. What is the nurse’s role in the health care setting?

Answer 1

Genetic testing includes procedure done to analyze chromosomes, genes, or any gene product which can determine a mutation or a predisposition to a condition.

Benefits

• It helps in confirming findings when a patients signs and symptoms suggest a genetic disorder.
• It can provide assessment of the risk for a presymptomatic diagnosis and assist in assessing the risk of genetic adverse outcomes of a child by testing both members of a couple for mutations.
• It also allow families to avoid having children with devastating diseases or identify people at high risk for conditions that may be prevented by monitoring or having surgery.

Risks

• Genetic testing of individuals opens the door for ethical and social issues.
• People making decisions about genetic testing should be aware that, when test results are placed in their medical records, the results might not be kept private.

Nurses must be knowledgeable about the fundamental of genetics. The nurse can assist the patient and family in making critical decisions related yo genetic issues, such as genetic testing. The nurse also needs to collaborate with the team or physician to involve a genetic counselor. The nurse should be able to give patients and their families accurate information pertaining to genetic, genetic diseases, and probabilities of genetic disorder. Inheritance patterns can be assessed by the nurse and explained to the patient and family through the use of Punnet squares.