Difficulty of Genomic Testing Conversations Highlights Need for Education

Genomic testing, while sometimes a difficult subject to navigate with patients, is an essential part of oncology in which nurses and advanced practice providers (APPs) should be well-versed, according to Danielle Fournier, DNP, APRN, AGPCNP-BC, AOCNP.

In an interview with Oncology Nursing News®, after presenting her research at the 50th Annual Oncology Nursing Society Congress, Fournier explained that the role of genomic testing is growing not just in oncology, but across health care.

She added that traditional nursing education often leaves out training on genomic testing, to the deficit of nurses entering the field of oncology; in addition to the practical aspects of understanding germline testing, it can be a tough decision through which nurses often must counsel patients.

Fournier emphasized that regardless of professional opinions on the necessity of germline testing, the decision remains in the hands of the patient, and that supporting patients, no matter their decision, is necessary.

Transcript

We know that genomic testing is playing a larger role, not only in cancer care, but across other specialties, too. This is very foundational information that all nurses need to be able to provide competent care; and unfortunately, it’s just not one of the core competencies that’s traditionally covered in nursing education.

There needs to be a push for nurses to get that foundational genomic education as part of their nursing training. As you know, in a Bachelor’s degree program, a Master’s degree program, and a Doctorate degree program, giving nurses that education to serve as a foundation so that they can, then, in turn, when they are in clinical practice, understand the importance of that and advocate to their patients for that. I think it all ties together.

That’s a difficult topic to broach for any patient. There are patients and families who are eager to get this information. There are patients and families who are not eager to get this information.

We, as advanced practice nurses, want to give patients the information that they can use to make an educated decision on whether they want to get tested. Ultimately, the testing boils down to an individual level.

If a patient wants to get tested and they’re eligible for testing, we can connect them with testing. If they find out that they have a positive germline variant, and cascade testing for eligible family members is recommended, we give them the information that they need to be able to relay that to their family.

But ultimately, it will boil down to whether that family member wants that information or not, so we can, again, connect them with that information, be supportive, let them know what their possibilities are as far as testing goes, and be there to answer questions and provide emotional support. But ultimately, it is an issue that patients will have to decide on their own if they want to pursue testing.

This transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

Reference:

Fournier D. Unlocking the code: Integrating genomics into advanced practice nursing. Presented at: 50th Annual ONS Congress; April 9-13, 2025; Denver, CO.