Genetics and oncology nursing

Abstract

Objectives: To review oncology nursing practice in the genetic era, how genetic information is used across the cancer care continuum, practice guidelines, and opportunities for genetic nursing education.

Data sources: Published articles.

Conclusion: Genetic information in oncology health care is used not only to predict risk but to elucidate disease biology, explain individual variation in vulnerability to environmental carcinogens, diagnose and characterize malignancies, design treatment regimens specific to a cancer's genetic fingerprint, develop new, therapeutic modalities, and clarify modulators of drug metabolism, efficacy, and interactions.

Implications for nursing practice: With current and emerging genetic discoveries, all oncology nurses will use genetic information in their practice.