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What is the hardest part of being a Genetics Counselor?

I've been doing some research into the career of a Genetics Counselor, and I've become quite interested in what the job has to offer. However, in an ordinary day, with any amount of patients, I can't imagine what obstacles may come up. With all that goes on in a day, what is the hardest part of being a Genetics Counselor?
#genetics #chemistry #psychology #career

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Amber’s Answer

For me, hardest part of being a genetic counselor was compartmentalizing. We often give bad news to patients/families and it can be hard to not bring that home with you, which can lead to “burn out”. The healthcare system can also be frustrating and you often have to fight to get your patients’ testing covered by insurance, get doctors/nurses to trust your expertise, or to make changes within the clinic/hospital you are working in. It can be (but is not always) quite stressful. You have to remember to take care of yourself as well as your patients. It’s all worth it in the end when a patient hugs you or sends you a thank you note with their appreciation for holding their hand through complex decision making, a devastating diagnosis, or just helping them to get the care that they need. At the end of the day, it is a very rewarding career.

Amber recommends the following next steps:

If you want to learn more about a career as a genetic counselor, reach out to a local genetic counselor (if available) and see of they are willing to accept a student job shadow, even if only for one day.
Thank you comment icon That's a very apt answer! anvita chaudhary
Thank you comment icon Excellent answer Amber. William Matthesen
Thank you comment icon Hi Amber! Great answer! Super happy to see genetic counselors on CareerVillage. I used to be interested in this career when I was younger. I had wanted to job shadow in middle school but was generally told that confidentiality concerns were a barrier. Is this still the case? Or are there ways to shadow genetic counselors that don't present liabilities like that? Alexandra Carpenter, Admin
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Michael’s Answer

Amber's answer is terrific but I thought of answering this a little bit differently. A considerable challenge in being a genetics counselor will be keeping up with the changes going on in the law, ethics, and science. Each of these areas is constantly moving forward and impacts the work a genetics counselor does. While these constant changes are exciting and keep the field fascinating to work in, to become and remain an excellent genetics counselor will require a commitment to staying up to date in multiple areas for your entire career. While staying up to date is advisable for most careers, for a genetics counselor, it's required.

Michael recommends the following next steps:

Find out what certifications or licensing requirements exist with regard to continuing education or re-certification.
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