Nurses and the genomic revolution

Abstract

Purpose: To increase nurses' genetics and genomics literacy through a series of articles focused on genomic research discoveries and their importance for nursing education, practice, policy, and research.

Organizing framework: "Genomics for Health " is one of three themes, along with genomes to biology and genomes to society, emanating from applications of the Human Genome Project (HGP).

Methods: In this series of articles, nurse scientists who are experts in genetics and genomics sciences explain terminology, provide background information about the HGP, discuss clinical examples, and recommend changes in nursing practice, education, and research.

Conclusions: The HGP has already led to major changes in clinical practice, research, education, and policy, and even more dramatic changes are predicted for people throughout the world. Mastering this information is necessary for nurses globally because genomic information will ultimately pervade all of health care.