Integrating genetics into advanced practice nursing curriculum: strategies for success

Keeping up with the volume of new genetic information emerging from the human genome project is a challenge for almost all healthcare providers, but nurses who received little or no formal genetic training often find it particularly intimidating. Nursing faculty may be reluctant to add genetic content to existing courses, much less tackle the work of teaching an entire course in genetics. This article provides nursing faculty with some strategies and straightforward curriculum modifications to assist them in integrating genetic content into graduate-level nursing curriculum. Advanced Practice Nurses in particular should understand genetics well enough to be aware of and appreciate the wide variety of genetic conditions that might be encountered in a clinical setting. The authors offer practical suggestions for incorporating genetics into Advanced Practice Nursing curricula.