New genomics toolkit for nurses

A new online toolkit that can help nurses and other health professionals in their effort to integrate genomics into patient care has been launched by the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI).

Developed with input from clinical educators and administrators, the toolkit has more than 100 resources catering to the needs of nursing leaders at all levels of genomics competency, ranging from basic knowledge about genomics to its practical impact on healthcare systems and policies. All these resources are accessible via the "The Method for Introducing a New Competency in Genomics (MINC)" website.

Through the MINC website, healthcare professionals will be able to stay abreast with the rapidly changing healthcare environment. Practising nurses can use the online resources to do the following: care for patients undergoing genomic testing and treatments; build awareness in their communities; and understand how to prepare their workforce for emerging clinical applications.   

"The MINC toolkit is a starting point for healthcare providers who want to promote genomic integration into practice to benefit their patients," said Laura Lyman Rodriguez, PhD, director of the Division of Policy, Communication and Education at NHGRI. "It was designed based on the efforts of Magnet® hospital nurses whose experiences were used in the design and foundation for the toolkit."

The online toolkit is structured in a question and answer format, allowing users to tailor their interventions based on the resources that will work best for them in their unique clinical setting. A key feature of the toolkit is "Champion Stories". These video testimonials from health administrators and educators describe how they overcame barriers as they developed the necessary genomics knowledge to offer personalised care to their patients.

Source: National Human Genome Research Institute
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