Course Task 1

Download a research article on the topic ‘Genetic Assessment and Counselling’

from ScienceDirect. Make a Reflection Paper guided by the following questions:
1. What is the importance of doing Genetic Assessment to high risk pregnant
clients?
Genetic counseling is the process of delivering information on the genetic contribution of
a disease to patients or their family members in order to uncover alterations (mutations) in your
DNA that may cause illness or disease. Counselees should be assisted in properly interpreting and
acting on genetic information according on their particular values and views. Greiner claims that
most women get prenatal genetic testing to identify their risk before having a child. They would
rather know the facts during pregnancy than after the kid is born, so they can make plans and
decisions ahead of time. The importance of genetic testing for a high-risk pregnant woman is to be
informed that she may have a child with a genetic condition. If the woman is properly diagnosed,
appropriate therapy can be offered to increase her chances of receiving aid.

The importance of performing a genetic screening on a high-risk pregnant woman is to be

informed that she may have a child with a genetic condition or disorder. If the woman is properly
diagnosed, appropriate therapy can be offered to increase her chances of receiving aid.
Recognizing or being aware that women are more likely to have a child with a genetic disease may
assist them in being more mentally and practically prepared. As a result, throughout the first and
second trimesters of pregnancy, women, particularly high-risk pregnant clients, are commonly
offered a variety of genetic tests to determine the risk of these potential illnesses in their unborn
child. On the other hand, in order to increase the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy and infant, a
woman's risk factors for a variety of health conditions (diet, drugs, and exposures) are routinely
assessed, allowing for necessary changes during preconception care.

2. What are the categories to require Genetic testing on women?

The following categories to require Genetic testing on women are:
à Risk factors include older age in the woman, a family history of genetic abnormalities, or
a previous baby with a birth defect or miscarriage.
 à A woman from an ethnic group where particular illnesses are known.
à A woman older than 35 years. This is directly related to the association between advance
parental age and the occurrence of Down Syndrome.
à A woman who is a known balanced translocation carrier.

3. How are you going to counsel a woman who have found to have genetic
abnormalities?
As a future nurse, I would counsel a woman who has been found to have genetic
abnormalities through background checking first, as this will serve as my foundation, and it is
important to have knowledge about our client’s health history and other medical conditions or
medications that the client had. Secondly, I would increase the client's and her family’s
understanding of the genetic disorder, the risks and benefits of genetic testing and disorder
management, and what options they have. Third, identifying the client's and the family’s
psychosocial tools required to adjust to the potential outcomes and reduce the family’s anxiety.
Lastly, I would collaborate with her to help the client make decisions about her current condition
and would refer her to medical specialists, educational resources, and other resources that would
help her and are relevant to her condition. A support group would also be a big help for the client
in order for her to share the same experiences she is having and gather ideas that will help one
another.