January OJIN Topic

02/01/08
The 6 new articles in the January 31, 2008 OJIN topic, First Genetics, Now Genomics: What Do Nurses Need to Know? provide valuable information about your responsibilities to help your patients access health care that meets their needs by integrating the most up-to-date discoveries.

Badzek, Turner, and Jenkins discuss the American Nurses Association’s efforts to partner with others to prepare the practicing nurse to offer clinical care that integrates emerging genetic and genomic information and technology.

The Prows article emphasizes the value of the nurse’s perspective in designing service delivery models that promote the safe, efficient, and effective utilization of genetic/genomic information in care decisions, such as pharmacogenomic genotype testing.

Bailey describes enzyme replacement therapy, a therapeutic intervention available today for patients with a Lysosomal Storage Disease. This example of individualized care illustrates the importance of knowing more about the burden and benefits of requiring a lifetime of treatment.

An understanding of the ethical challenges encountered by those receiving genetic and genomic-based health care is an essential competency for all nurses and the article by Lea discusses current and emerging ethical issues encountered throughout the life continuum and around the world.

Paniagua and Taylor consider ethno-cultural beliefs and practices for utilization of genomic-based care within diverse populations.

Maradiegue reviews resources available to arm nurses with crucial information to learn about and teach genetics.

The journal editors invite you to share your response to this OJIN topic. We welcome submission of manuscripts and letters to the editor for additional discussion about the growing importance of nurses’ awareness of genetics and genomics!

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