Association of Genetic Nurses & Counsellors

The AGNC (Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors) is an organisation representing Genetic Associates, Nurses, Counsellors and other non-medical staff working within Clinical Genetics. It is one of the four constituent groups of the BSHG.

Aims

The aims of the Association include:

	to provide support for professionals working in the field
	to provide forums for educational and scientific meetings
	to represent the views of the profession
	to prescribe good standards of clinical practice
	to liaise and collaborate with other clinical and scientific colleagues in the field
	to provide channels of communication within the profession

Membership

The membership is open to professionals whose work involves contact with families or individuals affected by or at risk of a genetic condition. Whilst in many cases members are working within a Regional Clinical Genetics Service, increasingly those working in allied areas such as oncology and fetal medicine have found membership of the Association beneficial.
Prospective members will usually have a qualification in nursing or genetic counselling and must be nominated by two members of the AGNC/BSHG.
Membership of the AGNC includes membership of the BSHG - Cost for both is thirty pounds per annum. For enquiries about membership, please email [email protected]

Scientific meetings

The AGNC contributes to the scientific programme at the BSHG three day conference in York, held annually in September.
A separate Spring conference meeting for AGNC members is usually held in May.
The bi-annual Psychosocial Meeting is to be held in Manchester in 2000

Counselling courses

The AGNC has initiated a regular series of Counselling Courses specifically aimed at our professional group. Contact [email protected] for more details.

Other links

The AGNC has links with the International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG)
The AGNC has a separate Education Working Party looking into the issue of education for future and practising genetic associates / nurses / counsellors. The Working Party has two publications concerning the role of Genetic Associates, Nurses and Counsellors in the UK, and the education and training of professionals for those roles. References for the full publications are:

Skirton H, Barnes C, Curtis G, Walford-Moore J (1997) The role and practice of the genetic nurse: report of the AGNC Working Party. J.Med.Genet 1997 34:141-147
Skirton H, Barnes C, Guilbert P, Kershaw A, Kerzin-Storrar L, Patch C, Curtis G, Walford-Moore J (1998) Recommendations for education and training of genetic nurses and counsellors in the United Kingdom. J.Med.Genet 1998 35:410-412

Details on the directory of relevant educational courses are available from Ruth Cole at [email protected]. If you wish to contribute to the directory, please contact Lauren Kerzin-Storrar.