Whole Genome Sequencing and Nursing Science Among Minority Populations

Purpose: The development of increasingly powerful technology such as genome sequencing to understand and decode human genome sequence is now having a dramatic and expanding impact on the ability to deliver effective and precisely targeted healthcare. Nurses are uniquely poised to carry out a critical role in this healthcare revolution. . It is crucial that nurses are able to provide patients with a clear and understandable rationale for the therapeutic interventions dictated by genomic analysis and to counsel wisely as questions arise for patients and families in the course of treatment. The purpose of this presentation is to explicate how nurse scientists can improve understanding of DNA sequencing data and translational genomics.

Methods: An integrative literature review that examined research studies on both animals and humans that focused on exome and whole genome sequencing use in nursing science via PubMed/ MEDLINE and CINAHL with no date restriction to current. 

Results: No studies were found in the nursing literature that focus on the role of the nurse or advanced practice nurses in collecting, reviewing, and disclosing results from whole genome sequencing to patients.

Conclusion: The identification of consequential genetic variants for actionable health conditions is an important area for advancement in nursing research and practice. Nurses are uniquely positioned to provide the effective translation of powerful genomic technologies into positive health care outcomes for the American population, and other populations worldwide. As nurse scientists and genetic counselors consider genome sequencing use in the clinical and community settings, it is important for us to think about the usefulness of this technology as a screening tool and how it has been used in the past to identify heritable disorders in programs such as prenatal screening. Nurses in the United States from either the International Society of Nurses in Genetics nor the American Academy of Nursing Genetic Healthcare Expert Panel have currently published statements or policy briefs on this issue of genome sequencing as a screening tool, however, we are certain that these will be forthcoming.