Upon the completion of genetic testing, a patient is happy to learn that she has a negative test result. The nurse realizes that this patient needs to understand that

Question

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A negative genetic test result means that the patient does not have the particular genetic mutation that was tested for at the time of the testing. However, this is not a guarantee that the patient will never develop a genetically-caused disease or that any children she has will be free from genetic diseases. There may be other genetic mutations that were not tested for, and genetic testing can also have limitations in terms of detecting all potential genetic issues. Therefore, it is important for the patient to understand that a negative genetic test result is not a guarantee.

Upon the Completion of Genetic Testing, a Patient Is Happy