Public Health Nursing Practice Exam

What process is a nurse utilizing by considering the impact of genetic testing on clients' future life decisions?

1. Assessment

2. Identification

3. Referral

4. Provision of education, care, and support

The correct answer is: Identification

The process described in the question involves the nurse considering the implications of genetic testing on a client’s future life decisions, which primarily relates to the act of identifying those implications and their potential consequences. This critical analysis is part of a larger framework where nurses understand how genetic information can influence various facets of a client's life, including medical, emotional, ethical, and social dimensions. While assessment also plays a role in gathering pertinent information about the client and their genetic history, the act of considering the broader impacts and aiding clients in making informed future choices stems from identification. This means recognizing and clarifying how genetic testing results can shape the client’s options and actions in life. Provision of education, care, and support is a fundamental role of nurses, especially when discussing sensitive topics such as genetic testing. However, this response focuses more specifically on the identification of issues at hand, rather than the support or educational messages that might follow. In this case, identification captures the nuance of understanding and acknowledging how genetic testing could affect the client's life decisions moving forward.