Bridging the Gap Between Genomics Discoveries and Clinical Care: Nurse Faculty are Key

Building Genetic Competence Through Partnerships and Interactive Models

“…Nurse leaders in genetics confirm that, “faculty are key to preparing future professional nurses to bridge the gaps for individuals, families, and communities as they traverse this complex personalized healthcare environment guided by knowledge of their genomic uniqueness” (Jenkins, Bednash, & Malone, 2010, p.1). However, recent evidence has revealed that nursing school faculty lack confidence in their ability to apply and disseminate genetic information.…”

Genomics Nursing Faculty Champion Initiative

“…4,5 Nursing faculty are a cornerstone of the overall effort to prepare the healthcare workforce in genomics. 6 …”

Genomics-Based Health Care: Implications For Nursing

“…11 Thus, it has been proposed a new care model, which includes the diagnosis, prevention and therapy based on the genetic makeup of each individual, called genomics-based health care. 12 This type of care is concerned with health and disease outcomes as a result of combinations of the human genome and the influences of the external and internal environment of an individual. 13 To understand the effects of changes in genes in the development of common and complex diseases, health professionals, especially nurses, need to incorporate knowledge of genetics and genomics to their professional practice.…”

“…9 It is believed that the integration of these sciences to the daily life of nurses has been restricted for the following reasons: the workforce is not genetic norgenomically qualified, not being able to include this approach in implementing nursing actions; educational resources in the area are limited; the records in the medical documentation/communication are inadequate and lacking sufficient support tools for clinical decisions, such as to interpretation of geneticand pharmacogenomics testing. 9,12 In Brazil, both students and teachers of undergraduate courses in nursing still have a very conservative view of genetics and genomics, probably due to the content of current programs are uninformative about the attributions of nurses in this scenario and the absence of a specific direction for professional practice. 29 Soon, a political-pedagogical and clinical transformation is needed, to ensurethat future nurses have genomic competencies to take care of their customers.…”

“…Only then, the ability to integrate these genomic discoveries with the practice will be achieved, in order to optimize health outcomes in an appropriate and responsible manner. 9,12 The need for nurses, in an informed and competent way, to become intimately involved with health care based on genetics and genomics results from the emerging need to optimize health outcomes in the light of powerful tools able to resolve the real health needs of population. 36 This need has in view not only the epidemiological transition model already known, but it also has in view the political changes in the health sector, such as the recent approval of the National Comprehensive Care Policy for People with Rare Diseases in the Unified Health System(called SUS) in Brazil.…”