A nurse cares for a pregnant client who has a family history of sickle cell disease. The client is unsure if she wants to participate in genetic testing. What action should the nurse take?
a. Provide information about the risks and benefits of genetic testing.
b. Empathize with the client and share a personal story about a hereditary disorder.
c. Teach the client that early detection can minimize transmission to the fetus.
d. Advocate for the client and her baby by encouraging genetic testing.
ANS: A
Genetic counseling is to be nondirective. The nurse should provide as much information as possible about the risks and benefits but should not influence the client's decision to test or not test. Once the client has made a decision, the nurse should support the client in that decision. Carrier testing will determine if a client without symptoms has an allele for a recessive disorder that could be transmitted to his or her child. Genetic testing will not minimize transmission of the disorder.
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