Caring for children and young people with inherited cardiac conditions: the evolving role of specialist nurses

Nurs Child Young People. 2024 Dec 16. doi: 10.7748/ncyp.2024.e1532. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Inherited cardiac conditions (ICCs) encompass a range of rare genetic heart diseases and require the expert care of a skilled multidisciplinary team. Increased awareness of these conditions and advances in genetic testing have led to a rise in demand for specialist ICC services. The Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, England, is a tertiary centre for the diagnosis and management of ICCs in children and young people. Specialist nursing roles have developed at the centre in recent years in parallel with the growth of ICC nursing. There are also increasing opportunities for advanced and autonomous nursing practice to support the provision of high-quality care for children and young people affected by ICCs and their families.

Keywords: cardiology; cardiorespiratory; child health; clinical; genetic counselling; genetic disorders; genetic testing; genetics; heart diseases; management; service development.