U.S. genetics nurses in advanced practice.
OBJECTIVE
To describe characteristics and professional roles of genetics nurses in advanced practice.


METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive survey administered in 2004 as one component of a comprehensive study of genetic services and the health workforce. The sample was 211 U.S. members of the International Society of Nurses in Genetics.


METHODS
The survey included demographic characteristics, education, credentials, professional roles, and attitudes about genetic healthcare issues.


RESULTS
The majority of respondents had master's degrees and many had earned doctorates in nursing (20%) or other fields (12%). Thirty-one percent were certified as nurse practitioners; 57% provided direct patient care, with the largest percentage working in genetics (26%) or oncology (22%) settings. Over one-third were educators and 19% conducted genome-related research.


CONCLUSIONS
Genetics nurses in advanced practice in the US focus on both genomic discoveries and clinical health care through the application of genomic knowledge into health care, research, and nursing education.
Lea
Dale Halsey
DH
Division of Genetics, Foundation for Blood Research, Scarborough, ME 04070-0190, USA. dlea@fbr.org
Williams
Janet K
JK
Cooksey
Judith A
JA
Flanagan
Patricia A
PA
Forte
Gaetano
G
Blitzer
Miriam G
MG
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002568:Certification / Q000458:organization & administration; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012106:Research / Q000458:organization & administration; D012956:Societies, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States