A multiplicity of roles for genetic nursing: building toward holistic practice

Nursing's unique contribution to human genetics is holism. There are many roles for basic and advanced practice nurses involved in genetics. Describing these roles makes it easy for nurses to learn more about genetic nursing and helps promote collaboration among professionals. Education for nurses about genetics helps foster greater nursing participation in human genetics. The goal is for nurses to be informed about genetics so that they can better understand people as whole persons whose growth and development, human response patterns, and biopsychosocial processes are affected by and have an effect on human DNA.