Role of Nurses in Transdisciplinary Collaboration in Genetic/Genomic Medicine in Japan: A Qualitative Study

Purpose: Collaboration is considered one of the most effective means of maximizing nursing practice capabilities. However, the role of genetic nursing in genetic/genomic medicine remains unclear, as it is undergoing major changes and expansion alongside advances in genetic analysis technology. We analyzed the experiences of nurses involved in genetic/genomic medicine who exercised their expertise through collaboration, thereby clarifying the role of genetic nursing and exploring professional identity. Patients and Methods: In this qualitative study, nine highly experienced nurses belonging to the Japan Society of Genetic Nursing—predominantly those with over 20 years of nursing experience and advanced qualifications, such as Master’s degrees or Certified Nurse Specialist status—were recruited. Individual online interviews were conducted from August to October 2024. The collected data were transcribed verbatim and integrated using thematic analysis. Results: Nine participants expressed their willingness to participate in this study, and 147 experiences were extracted and categorized into 15 codes and 3 subthemes. The roles of genetic nursing included leveraging the scale and technical expertise of the nursing profession to "identify potential patients”, providing "seamless management” regardless of hospital or community setting, and advocating for ideals within the evolving field of genetic/genomic medicine to "promote healthcare reform”. The overarching main theme was "extracellular fluid-like genetic nursing”, emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration by likening the roles of each profession to "cells” and positioning nursing as the "extracellular fluid” filling the spaces between them. Conclusion: The findings suggest that nurses in this growth phase of genetic/genomic medicine may demonstrate an attitude of guiding potential clients to seek care, coordinating evolving team collaborations, and working with multiple professions while upholding professional ideals. In this context, transdisciplinarity, accompanied by leadership, is suggested as a potential professional identity.