Are You Including Genomics in Nursing Practice?

Abstract

A national consensus panel representing 48 nursing organizations, including the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, identified and endorsed essential genetic and genomic competencies for all registered nurses regardless of academic preparation, role, or clinical specialty. The competencies were designed to guide academic curricula, continuing education, and specialty certification. A 5-year implementation plan for these competencies includes components applicable to practicing psychiatric nurses, regulatory and quality control issues, and academics. This article will describe the implementation strategies identified, some examples of genetics and genomics nursing activities in the psychiatric specialty, and recommendations that support the national implementation plan. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc, 2008; 14(1), 63-68. DOI: 10.1177/1078390307311974

Keywords

genetics genomics competencies curricula guidelines

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. ( 2007). Curriculum standards. Accessed October 19, 2007, at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/curriculum.htm

Bell, D.F. , Pestka, E.L. , & Forsyth, D.M. (2007). Outcome evaluation: Does continuing education make a difference? Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing , 38(4), 185-190.

Clark, W.G. (2007). Schizophrenia and genomics: Linking research to practice. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 45(6), 25-28.

Consensus Panel on Genetic/Genomic Nursing Competencies. (2006). Essential nursing competencies and curricula guidelines for genetics and genomics. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Association.

Hetteberg, C. , & Prows, C.A. (2004). A checklist to assist in the integration of genetics into nursing curricula. Nursing Outlook, 52, 85-88.

Jenkins, J. , & Calzone, K.A. (2007). Establishing the essential nursing competencies for genetics and genomics. Journal of Nursing Scholarship , 39(1), 10-16.

Jenkins, J. , Grady, P.A. , & Collins, F.S. (2005). Nurses and the genomic revolution. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 37(2), 98-101.

Keltner, N.L. (2005). Genomic influences on schizophrenia-related neurotransmitter systems. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 37(4), 322-328.

Kirk, M. , Tonkin, E. , Skirton, H. , & Carberry, A. (2006). Genetics in mental health nursing. Is it part of your role? Mental Health Practice, 10(1), 15-20.

10.

National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics. (2007a). Genetics and major psychiatric disorders: A program for genetic counselors. Accessed October 19, 2007 , at http://nchpeg.org/cdrom/index.html

11.

National Coalition for Health Professional Education in Genetics. (2007b). Preparing health professionals for the genomics revolution. Accessed October 19, 2007, at http://nchpeg.org

12.

Pestka, E.L. (2006). Genetic counseling for mental health disorders . Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association , 11(6), 338-343.

13.

Pestka, E.L. , & Brown, J.K. (2004). Genomics education for nurses in practice. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development, 20, 145-149.

14.

Pestka, E.L. , Forsyth, D.M. , Bell, D.F. , & O'Neil, M.L. (2004). A psychiatric nursing conference to increase knowledge related to genomics. Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 10(6), 290-295.

15.

Pestka, E.L. , Hale A. , Johnson, B.L. , Lee, J.L. , & Poppe, K. (2007). Cytochrome P450 testing for better psychiatric care. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services , 45(10), 15-18.

16.

Prows, C.A. , Hetteberg, C. , Hopkin, R.J. , Latta, K.K. , & Powers, S.M. (2004). Development of a Web-based genetics institute for a nursing audience. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 35(5), 223-227.