For nurse to be competent in the di

For nurse to be competent in the dissemination of genomic information, it is imperative that school of nursing incorporate genomics throughout the undergraduate and graduate curriculum. It is also the responsibility of the treating institution to ensure that the members of the nursing staff receive ongoing genomic instruction regarding the clinical implications of treatment and prognosis. To assist in the development of nursing curriculum and nursing orientation, a consensus panel of nurse has written the Essential Nursing Competencies and curriculum guidelines for genetics and genomics, which is published by the American nurse association. Suggestions for continuing education that have been implemented within our institution include incorporation of genomic content into a 2-weeks classroom orientation for newly employed nursing staff, on site pediatric nursing oncology courses, a web-based genomic course, and on=site genomic nursing conference open to the nursing community. Sequentially, nurses develop competence in dissemination of this new technology to others within the health care team and, more importantly, to the individual patient and his or her family. Staff nurse and APNs are the health care professionals who must be able to answer questions from and families about molecular monitoring methods, the significance of the results, and clinical implications. Questions from families may include explanation of chromosomal translocation, chromosomal number, individual genetic variation and impact on therapy, and methods used to determine MRD. As illustrated in the case study, each of these has a prognosis impact on the child’s outcome. Families need time to absorb the information being presented, and it is the nurse who is most available at the times when they need further information or clarification. Understanding the purpose of the molecular monitoring and implications, such as a change in therapy, is part of the continuous process of informed decision making. Nurse must be able to understand this technology and its use and implications, educate patients and families in an effort to provide the best possible patient care. Therefore development of an educational plan for staff and families that includes the emerging technology if genomics is important not only for oncology but for all disciplines as we move into an era of individual therapy.