Genetic Nurse Career Overview
What Is a Genetic Nurse?
A genetic nurse, also referred to as a genetics nurse or genomics nurse, is “a licensed professional nurse with special education and training in genetics,” according to the International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG). ISONG says genetics nurses help individuals who “are at risk for or affected by diseases with a genetic component achieve and maintain health.”
The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) differentiates between the terms “genetics” and “genomics,” noting that:
- “Genetics is a term that refers to the study of genes and their roles in inheritance – in other words, the way that certain traits or conditions are passed down from one generation to another. Genetics involves scientific studies of genes and their effects. …”
- “Genomics is a more recent term that describes the study of all of a person’s genes (the genome), including interactions of those genes with each other and with the person’s environment. …”
How Long to Become?
4-6 Years
Job Outlook
6% increase from 2022 to 2032
Average Salary
$94,480
What Does a Genetic Nurse Do?
Genetic nurses can be registered nurses (RNs) or nurse practitioners (NPs)—who may also be referred to as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).
The genetic nurse’s credentials and state practice laws determine the scope of practice permitted. The setting in which care is provided also influences a genetic nurse’s duties.
According to ISONG, the duties of a genetics nurse include:
- Performing risk assessments
- Analyzing the “genetic contribution to disease risk”
- Discussing the “impact of risk on health care management for individuals and families”
- Educating individuals and families about genetics
- Providing nursing care to patients and families
- Conducting genetics research
- Obtaining a “detailed family history” and constructing a “pedigree (family history diagram)”
- Assessing and analyzing “hereditary and nonhereditary disease risk factors”
- Identifying “potential genetic conditions or genetic predisposition to disease”
- Providing “genetic information and psychosocial support to individuals and families”
- Providing nursing care for patients and families “at risk for or affected by diseases with a genetic component”
In addition to these duties, ISONG says that genetics nurses who are advanced practice nurses are able to provide genetic counseling and “facilitate genetic testing and interpret genetic test results and laboratory reports.”
Where Do Genetic Nurses Work?
ISONG also describes the various settings in which genetics nurses work, which include:
- Specialty clinics “where gene-based diagnoses and therapies are offered”
- Prenatal and reproductive technology centers
- Cancer centers
- Primary healthcare settings
- Pediatric clinics
- Industrial health settings
- School health settings
- Research centers
- Biotech companies
- Insurance companies
How Much Does a Genetic Nurse Make Per Year?
According to salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual wage for registered nurses is $94,480, with half of nurses earning more than that amount and half earning less. Wages of nurses in the lowest 10 percent average $63,720. Wages of nurses in the highest 10 percent average $132,680.
The BLS does not provide a pay breakdown according to specialty but does provide median annual wages for registered nurses according to general categories of work location. Since most genetic nurses care for patients in the settings previously described, the following median annual salaries may apply:
- Offices of Physicians: $83,110
- Outpatient Care Centers: $102,640
- Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals: $98,220
The salary of a genetic nurse is also influenced by factors such as education, experience, and geographical region of the country.
Annual Mean Wage of Registered Nurses, by State
- $69,030 - $80,760
- $81,390 - $86,210
- $87,220 - $94,670
- $94,830 - $137,690
Blank areas indicate data not available
How Do I Become a Genetic Nurse?
The path to becoming a genetic nurse depends upon the credentials involved. Genetic nurses are registered nurses and must attend an accredited nursing program that leads to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN).
RNs must also be licensed in the state in which they work. Licensure can be obtained by passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) and meeting any additional requirements of the state’s board of nursing. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) offers a resource to determine state-based nursing licensure requirements.
Genetic nurses who are advanced practice nurses, such as nurse practitioners, are licensed registered nurses who obtain at least a master’s degree in their specialty role, pass a national certification exam, and hold an APRN license in their state.
A genetic nurse can also obtain specialty certification by meeting eligibility requirements from credentialing organizations.
ISONG notes that the Nurse Portfolio Credentialing Commission (NPCC), “the credentialing body for genetics nurses,” is currently accepting applications for the Clinical Genomics Nurse (CGN) and Advanced Clinical Genomics Nurse (ACGN) credentials.
“These nurses provide services to patients with or at risk for inherited disease in a variety of specialty patient care areas such as Oncology, Cardiology, Neurology, and Pediatrics,” ISONG says. “This prestigious credential requires stringent criteria in continuing education, practice hours, professional development, and knowledge of genomic nursing.”
According to the NPCC:
- “The Clinical Genomics Nurse credential (CGN) is offered to nurses with a baccalaureate degree (BSN) or higher in nursing who practice in any healthcare setting where genomic concerns arise.”
- “The Advanced Clinical Genomics Nurse credential (ACGN) is offered to nurses with a Masters degree or higher in nursing who are advanced practice nurses with a clinical focus in genetics/genomics care.”
Additionally, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers a renewal-only option for the Advanced Genetics Nursing Certification (AGN-BC) credential.
What Are the Benefits of Being a Genetic Nurse?
There are many benefits to being a genetic nurse, such as the ability to work in a variety of settings doing interesting work within a rapidly evolving field of healthcare.
However, perhaps some of the most important benefits are realized by helping those who can benefit from a genetic nurse’s efforts. According to ISONG, they include:
- Individuals and families with “known hereditary conditions or diseases thought to have a hereditary component,” such as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, Down syndrome, hemophilia, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Sickle Cell disease
- Anyone who is “considering genetic testing”
- Individuals and couples who “are concerned with issues related to pregnancy, such as birth defects, transmission of genetic conditions, or effect of pregnancy on existing genetic risk”
- Couples who have had “multiple miscarriages”
- Couples who are “related, such as first cousins”
- Healthcare providers who “seek genetics consultations for their patients”
In a section titled, Genetics and Personalized Medicine, the American Nurses Association (ANA) describes how the healthcare landscape has evolved over the years when it comes to genetics.
“One of the most exciting fields of modern health care development, advances in genetics and genomics offer significant potential to benefit both patients and those providing health care services,” the ANA says. “New techniques are improving options around screening, diagnosis, treatment, pharmacogenomics, and general lifestyle advice; and have the potential to affect the work of every practicing nurse in the U.S. Patients now expect nurses to have an understanding of the care issues around genetics; while the ethical dimension is of paramount concern for nurses, who now have to take into account the ethical challenges around offering these new treatments.”
Additional Resources About Becoming a Genetic Nurse
To learn more about becoming a genetic nurse, these additional resources may help:
