FYI
Lori
-----Original Message-----
From: [nsgc-list] Trish Brown [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, October 03, 2008 12:35 PM
To: Williamson, Lori L. (HSC)
Subject: FYI- Clemson launches Ph.D in Healthcare Genetics for Nurses
Genetics: The New Nursing Frontier
Clemson Offers First National Conference in Health Care Genetics
Clemson University School of Nursing and the Greenwood Genetic Center will
hold the first national conference in health care genetics on October 23 and
24, 2008. Speakers include Jean F. Jenkins, PhD, RN, senior clinical advisor
to the director of the National Human Genome Research Institute.
For more information visit: Clemson University School of NursingWeb site
By Debra Wood, RN, contributor
Scientists are continuing to find genetic connections to common illnesses
such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and asthma. Some treatments already
vary depending on a patient's genetic makeup and research is now underway to
further tailor care according to genetic profiles.
"Genetics and genomics, eventually, will streamline care and the options we
offer patients, and hopefully, offer more benefit," said Jean F. Jenkins
PhD, RN, FAAN, senior clinical advisor to the director of the National Human
Genome Research Institute, at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda,
Maryland.
Oncology researchers have already begun to alter plans of care based on a
person's genetic makeup. Jenkins personally underwent cancer therapy
determined by her genes when treated for lymphoma.
Jenkins expects identification of genetic risk factors for major diseases,
such as hypertension and diabetes, will come soon. Tailoring drugs to a
person's genetic code, called pharmacogenmics, is also becoming more
prevalent in the treatment of depression.
"Nurses should educate themselves about genetics and genomics to offer
better care for their patients," Jenkins said. "They can also refer their
patients to a genetics specialist who can help customize their care."
Jenkins, Kathleen Calzone, RN, MSN, APNG, FAAN, of the National Cancer
Institute, and a consensus panel drafted Essential Nursing Competencies and
Curricula Guidelines for Genetics and Genomics, published in 2005. They
included in the document information that nurses can use to become competent
in understanding and utilizing genetic and genomic information in their
practice.
The paper defines genetics as the study of individual genes and their impact
on relatively rare single gene disorders. Genomics is defined as the study
of all the genes in the human genome together, including their interactions
with each other, the environment and the influence of other psychosocial and
cultural factors.
The National Institute of Nursing Research offers a two-month Summer
Genetics Institute, providing nurses with opportunities to learn more about
molecular genetics in research and clinical practice.
Monica Polk, RN, BSN, clinical project manager genetic studies in dementia
and ophthalmology at the Miami Institute of Human Genomics at the University
of Miami School of Medicine, began working in genetic laboratory science
with a microbiology degree and later returned to school to obtain a nursing
degree in the university's accelerated BSN program, with a goal of
continuing her research career but with more patient interaction.
Currently, she obtains family histories and assesses participants taking
part in genetic studies, performing neurological testing, drawing blood for
laboratory studies and evaluating their medications' neurological and
systemic effects. Her dementia research aims to figure out what possible
genetic factors cause some patients with Alzheimer's disease to develop the
condition early or late and what might affect its progression.
"Eventually that should translate into the development of new drugs, new
exams and new treatments that can be done," Polk said.
Polk tells participants that results may not benefit them but rather future
generations. Although she does not see the direct effect of her actions, she
takes satisfaction in changing outcomes in the years ahead.
"This is something that will be the forefront of medicine in the next few
years," Polk said. "We are only starting to tap the beginning of what nurses
can do in research."
Recognizing the need to educate nurses and other health professionals about
genetics, Clemson University School of Nursing in Columbia, South Carolina,
has launched the country's first interdisciplinary Ph.D. in health care
genetics program. Students will have the opportunity to focus on one of
three specialty areas: interventional, working with patients with genetic
syndromes, bench science and policy and ethics.
Two nurses and a chemical engineer have already begun the program.
Julie Eggert, PhD, GNP-BC, AOCN, doctoral program coordinator for the
Clemson School of Nursing, said the university hopes the program also will
help to alleviate the nursing faculty shortage. It already has attracted
nurse faculty to Clemson.
"Nursing curriculum really needs to have the genetics component enhanced,"
Eggert said. "Our graduates will be able to incorporate it into curriculum
and into patient care."
Graduates will also be prepared to work in industry or hospitals.
"As we learn more about genetics, I think we will see departments of
genetics within hospitals, instead of just physicians and genetic
counselors," Eggert says. "There is so much about illness and wellness that
is affected by genetics."
Eggert highlighted the knowledge that people can react differently to
medication based on their genetic makeup. For instance, some patients may
have more or less toxicity to chemotherapy or may not metabolize codeine to
morphine. In the past, health professionals often labeled the latter group
as drug seekers, because they kept saying the medication they received had
not helped and asked for relief.
"People are seeing the revolution of genetics as an exciting opportunity,
from the perspective of contributing to the knowledge and taking that
knowledge and making a difference," Eggert said.
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