Models of Best Practice: Nurse Integration Into the BRCA1/BRCA2 Testing Pathway.

Abstract

Background: Genetic testing for heritable germline variants in BRCA1/BRCA2 genes informs risk assessment and treatment decisions and often involves a non-nursing oncology multidisciplinary team, which offers pretest counseling, obtains patient consent, and arranges genetic testing.

Objectives: This review, initiated by a collaboration of international nurses, summarizes the potential roles of oncology nurses in the genetic testing pathway, including germline BRCA testing.

Methods: Literature discussing nurses' roles in germline BRCA testing and genomic testing in general was screened, which resulted in 33 studies being selected for further analysis.

Findings: The literature demonstrates the value of nurses obtaining patient consent and samples and providing pre- and post-test counseling and follow-up care, which can help to improve wait times and educate patients about their cancer risks to make informed healthcare decisions. Nurses mostly felt that genetic testing did not negatively affect their workloads. Concerns over nonspecialists delivering pretest counseling exist, and specialized training is required, although patients were satisfied with the information nurses provided.