• Dale Halsey Lea, Janet K Williams, Judith A Cooksey, Patricia A Flanagan, Gaetano Forte, and Miriam G Blitzer.
• Division of Genetics, Foundation for Blood Research, Scarborough, ME 04070-0190, USA. dlea@fbr.org
• J Nurs Scholarsh. 2006 Jan 1; 38 (3): 213-8.

PurposeTo describe characteristics and professional roles of genetics nurses in advanced practice.DesignA 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.MethodsThe survey included demographic characteristics, education, credentials, professional roles, and attitudes about genetic healthcare issues.FindingsThe 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.ConclusionsGenetics 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.

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