| Wednesday, July 13, 2005: 10:00 AM-11:30 AM | |||
| Nursing as a Bridge Between Genetic Innovation and Clinical Practice | |||
| Learning Objective #1: Articulate the significance of genetic knowledge, research-based innovations, and use of family histories in nursing practice | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Identify resources and techniques to apply genetics content to practice and/or nursing school curricula | |||
| Genetics is a relatively new science that focuses on the transmission of biological properties from parents to offspring. Since many consider genetics a bench or pure science, nursing researchers rarely address this area. Therefore, genetics offers nursing a unique opportunity to use a research-based model to enhance practice. Implementation of evidenced-based practice in nursing offers specific benefits to the profession: 1) outcomes can be measured from the onset, 2) personalized nursing care can guide therapeutics, 3) patient profiles lead to more prevention-based care, and 4) education programs enhance patient’s access to information for making lifestyle modifications that prevent disease. Established genetics research has made great strides in mapping the human genome and developing techniques to better understand the biological principles of genetics. The glaring gap in the research process in genetics is multi-generational research and application of genetics in the prediction and prevention of disease, including educational processes to further patient knowledge base in these areas. Nursing is uniquely qualified to bridge this gap. Schools of nursing need to be in the forefront of developing basic knowledge and role modeling evidence-based practice in genetics nursing. Future nurses will build on the foundational knowledge presented in their initial educational preparation. If genetics is not incorporated within that initial preparation, it will be difficult for practicing nurses to develop the knowledge and abilities in the area of genetics. Nursing faculty members are ideally poised to develop these skills in our future nurses. In addition, nursing instructors have access to resources not found in other areas of nursing, such as access to extensive databases for literature review and access to cohorts of bench scientists. Collaborative efforts with medical schools could expose students to implementation of cutting edge treatment regimes. Faculty roles include active participation in organizational conferences to disseminate information. | |||
| Organizer: | Betty L. Elder, RN, MSN | ||
| Presenters: | Ruth M. Eckert, RN, MS, CS, OCN, CPHQ Loretta Forlaw, DNSc, RN | ||
| Application to Clinical Practice Loretta Forlaw, DNSc, RN | |||
| Education Betty L. Elder, RN, MSN | |||
| Science of Genetics Ruth M. Eckert, RN, MS, CS, OCN, CPHQ | |||