Genetics and Genomics Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice

• Published in: Nursing & health sciences Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 125 - 126
• Main Author: Greco, Karen E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01-06-2006
• ISSN: 1441-0745; 1442-2018
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2006.00272_4.x

Genetics and genomics nursing is a new and expanding specialty practice. The International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG) is the leader in defining genetics nursing and establishing scope and standards of practice for genetics nurses. Through ISONGs efforts, in 1997 The American Nurses Association (ANA) established genetics nursing as an official nursing specialty. This was followed by publication of The Scope And Standards Of Clinical Genetics Nursing Practice by ISONG and ANA in 1998. The roles of nurses in genetics and genomics have evolved and expanded since publication of this landmark document. A committee within ISONG representing genetics nurses in diverse specialties and practice settings has drafted a new scope and standards document in collaboration with ANA entitled Genetics Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice, which is expected to be published by American Nurses Publishing in 2006. The purpose of the new scope and standards document is to define the parameters of genetics and genomics nursing practice at the basic and advanced practice level, include‐non‐clinical roles such as education, research, and administration, address the broader focus of genomics, and be applicable to genetics nurses within and outside of the United States since ISONG as an international organization.