THE NURSING ROLE IN PREPARING FAMILIES FOR CHILDBEARING AND

CHILDREARING

The Nursing Role in Counseling

Importance of Genetic Counseling:

Provide concrete, accurate information about the process of inheritance and

inherited disorders

Reassure people who are concerned that their child may inherit a particular
disorder that the disorder will not occur

Allow people who are affected by inherited disorders to make informed choices
about future reproduction

Offer support to people who are affected by genetic disorders

Instances where Couples are apt to benefit from Counseling:
1. A couple who has a child with a congenital disorder or an inborn error of
metabolism.

2. A couple whose close relatives have a child with a genetic disorder such as a
translocation disorder or an inborn error of metabolism.

3. Any individual who is a known balanced translocation carrier.

4. Any individual who has an inborn error of metabolism or chromosomal disorder.

5. A consanguineous (closely related) couple.

6. Any woman older than 35 years and any man older than 55 years.

7. Couples of ethnic backgrounds in which specific illnesses are known to occur