You may thrive as a genetics nurse if you enjoy working closely with patients and researching various genetic disorders and potential treatment plans. These medical professionals work closely with patients to diagnose current or potential genetic disorders they could have and develop ways to treat or manage these conditions. Since this role requires advanced knowledge and expertise, there are certain academic and certification requirements to earn for this career. In this article, we review what a genetics nurse is, what they do, what their work environment is like and how to become a genetics nurse.
What is a Genetics Nurse?
A genetics nurse is a registered nurse who specializes in genetics, which involves caring for patients affected by diseases or illnesses inherited by family members. This can include conditions like heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's or diabetes. Genetics nurses work closely with patients to provide them with direct care and treatment plans to help them recover from these diseases.
They may also conduct risk assessments to better understand and research a patients' disease and its effects. Genetics nurses can then use this information to educate patients and their families on how to manage the potential symptoms of the illnesses they're at risk for or currently possess.
What does a Genetics Nurse do?
Genetics nurses are medical professionals who help patients cure or manage certain genetic disorders they currently have or are at risk of receiving. They typically conduct genetic screenings to learn what disease a patient may face and determine how to treat these diseases. Some genetic nurses may specialize even further in their field by focusing their work solely on fields like research or prenatal genetics, which involve performing fetal screenings for new parents to determine how at risk their child is of inheriting certain genetic conditions. Common job responsibilities of a genetics nurse include:
•Collecting patients' detailed medical histories for analysis and assessments
•Creating individuals care plans to help patients manage potential or current genetic disorders and their symptoms
•Administering medications or conducting treatment plans according to the diagnosis provided by physicians
•Searching for risk factors and potential signs of genetic conditions to report to physicians or other medical professionals
•Educating patients and family members on different genetic conditions and how to treat or manage them
•Conducting research on genetic disorders and innovative treatment plans and publishing these findings in scholarly journals
•Offering emotional support to patients and their families experiencing genetic diseases
Work environment for a genetics nurse
Many genetics nurses work in a wide variety of settings, like clinics, hospitals, cancer centers, long-term care facilities or specialty medical centers. The environment they typically serve in can depend on the specialty they choose to pursue. For instance, those who specialize in family genetic disorders may work in a pediatrician's office.
Some genetics nurses choose to work in the fast-paced environment of a hospital, where they're responsible for quickly assessing a patients' symptoms to determine a potential emergency treatment plan for their genetic condition. Others work in long-term medical centers, where they can take their time studying patients' symptoms to develop a careful, lasting treatment or management plan. There are also genetics nurses who work primarily in research centers or universities performing research and publishing findings on innovative solutions and treatment options for different genetic conditions.
Salary and Job outlook for a Genetics Nurse
The national average salary for a genetics nurse and other specialty registered nurses is $78,502 per year, according to Indeed Salaries. You typically have a stronger chance of earning more as a genetics nurse if you advance your education, experience or certifications. If you choose to work at specialty clinics or private practices, you may complete more complex or advanced tasks, allowing you to receive a higher wage.
The demand for genetics nurses and other specialty registered nurses may grow by 7% over the next decade, which is quicker than the average for all other occupations, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. As research and technology advances, more scientists can discover conditions that genetics nurses can assess and treat, leading to a significant increase in the need for genetics nurses at different medical facilities.
How to become a Genetics Nurse
Most healthcare facilities employ genetics nurses with advanced training, education and certification, which can take time, research and dedication to receive. Follow these steps to successfully become a genetics nurse:
1. Earn your bachelor's degree
The minimum educational requirement for genetics nurses is typically a bachelor's degree. You can earn your Bachelor of Science in nursing to help you better understand basic nursing fundamentals and medical terminologies. This program can offer courses like nursing informatics, family assessment and nursing research.
2. Become a registered nurse
One key requirement to becoming a genetics nurse is earning your registered nurse license. After graduating with your bachelor's degree, you can take the National Licensing Exam for Registered Nurses. This test typically consists of around 75 to 265 questions, depending on which state your exam is in. It can quiz you on a wide variety of subjects you've learned in your nursing program. Some subject areas include coordinated care, health promotion and maintenance, basic care and comfort and safety and infection control.
3. Participate in on-the-job training
Many employers require you to spend several years serving as a registered nurse. You can work in the medical care facility of your choice, learning more about how the healthcare environment works as you shadow different medical professionals. Consider working in a specialty clinic or in the genetics department of a medical facility to work directly under a genetic nurse. This helps you understand what it's like to work in this role before pursuing it full-time. Once you receive enough training, you can pursue a full-time genetics nurse position.
4. Receive your genetics nurse certification
Obtain your Advanced Genetics Nursing Certification offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This certification requires you to receive at least five years of experience as a clinical genetics nurse and 45 hours of continuing education in the genetics field. You can receive this by earning your Master of Science in nursing degree with an emphasis in genetics nursing. Receiving your genetics nursing certification tells employers you're an expert in the field and can complete complex tasks.
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