+1 862 207 3288 Genetics has been a large part of medical care for many years, a concern for mainly geneticists and doctors, and an area that concerned itself mainly with a few rare conditions (Skirton, Patch and Williams, 2005) However in the 1990s it became evident that genetics is not only concerned with rare genetic conditions such as Tay Sachs Disease, Huntingtons Disease or Alports, it concerns itself with various cancers and heart disease. Therefore to ensure good practice for all patients, there is a need for all Healthcare Professionals to have at least a basic knowledge of genetics (Olsen, Dudley-Brown & McMullen, 2004). It needs to be part of nursing assessment and consequent holistic care. Skirton et al (2004) define genetic healthcare as:
any intervention by a health professional that is aimed at addressing the physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, or social needs of…(short extract)
