A Barnstaple-based research nurse is highlighting the important role of nurses in delivering genomic testing and what this means for the future of nursing.

Nathan Vernon, Senior Clinical Research Nurse at the Royal Devon, recently published his findings in the British Journal of Nursing (BJN), a leading nursing journal. His study explored the work of specialist nurses delivering genomic testing in cancer services, with a focus on Lynch syndrome. This is a relatively common inherited condition that increases the risk of colorectal and other cancers, often at a younger age.

Genomic testing is helping us better understand genetic changes that can increase the risk of developing conditions such as certain cancers. Making this type of testing part of routine care can reduce waiting times, lower costs and improve the patient experience, particularly when discussions and consent are led by the team directly caring for the patient rather than an external service. This approach is known as 'mainstreaming'. 

Nathan carried out a series of interviews with specialist nurses and genetic counsellors to explore their experiences of delivering genomic testing, analysing the data to identify key themes. He found strong enthusiasm and commitment among both specialist nurses and genetic counsellors to making mainstream genomic testing work. 

A key finding was that clinical nurse specialists, for whom genomics is an addition to their wider work, reported challenges in both capacity and capability when delivering testing. Many participants also felt that specialist genomic nurses should play a role in service delivery. 

He concludes that further, larger-scale research is needed to fully understand how effectively clinical nurse specialists can deliver genomic testing, and the contribution of specialist genomic nurses, as cancer services expand. In the meantime, he suggests that when planning services, organisations should consider the capacity and capability of clinical nurse specialists alongside the potential role of specialist genomic nurses.

Nathan completed the work as part of the Genomics Masters and PGCert programme at the University of West of England (UWE), which is supported by the South West Genomic Medicine Service (SWGMS).

Nathan said:

“It was a pleasure and a privilege to interview such a committed and enthusiastic group of nurses and genetic counsellors from across the country, as part of this research.  Their dedication to improving cancer services for patients by establishing localised genomic testing was so clearly evident.”  

Tracie Miles, Associate Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the SWGMS and UWE course lead, said:

“I am delighted to see Nathan's publication, superb output from his PGCert project at the University West of England as part of the CATE award winning Masters programme. With grateful thanks to Professor Aniko Varadi course lead, Rachel Palmer Genomic Medicine Service Pharmacist, Genomic Counsellor Colleagues and the cross-sectional regional collaboration of nurses working in genomics in supporting Nathan's project.

This work superbly illustrates the continued energy and enthusiasm of nurses and midwives across the country keen to upskill in genomics to fulfil the aspirations of the workforce in the 10-year plan, described further in the Nursing and Midwifery Genomics Framework."

Congratulations Nathan! Read more about his research here, and discover more about genomic testing in the South West here.