A pedigree primer

Pedigree-taking skills can promote an understanding of how genetic information relates to a comprehensive family health assessment. The format of the pedigree is used to structure and organize data gathered in the assessment process. The pedigree can assist the nurse and genetics specialist to identify possible patterns of inheritance. This article outlines for the staff nurse the pertinent areas that need to be explored during the assessment process. It discusses common terms and symbols used in the pedigree. Information gathered from the health assessment of an adolescent with Usher's syndrome is used for an example of how the pedigree is constructed.