rdering information available on FBR Order Form (154K PDF).

PRACTICE-BASED
GENETICS CURRICULUM
FOR NURSE EDUCATORS

A sample chapter is available for viewing.

The Curriculum Packet contains presentation materials in PC Power Point format. An overhead template packet is available, at additional cost, for those who cannot utilize the Power Point Materials. For pricing see our order form (154K PDF).

For further information about the materials, contact Dale Halsey Lea, RN, MPH, CGC, Assistant Director, Southern Maine Genetics Service and Principal Investigator at .

This project was funded by the National Institutes of Health, National Human Genome Research Institute, Grant #42USC 241 CFR 52, Science Education Partnership Award 1997 - 2000.

What is the Practice-Based Genetics Curriculum for Nurse Educators?

This field-tested and evaluated Genetics curriculum consists of 4 teacher-assisted modules aimed at providing nurse educators and nursing students practical and relevant genetics teaching materials. It is effective in providing genetics education together with information resources to assist nursing students incorporate the necessary clinical genetic focus into family, medical and physical assessments. In addition, it provides guidelines for all planning and nursing interventions. This curriculum includes specific materials from 2 other FBR genetics education programs: Chances' Choices, originally a high school teaching unit, and ProgramME, an office manual for Maine prenatal care providers.

Target Audience:

Nurse educators teaching in undergraduate and graduate level nursing programs. This is also a reliable resource for nurses involved in continuing education and other health professionals.

What specific genetics topics are included in the curriculum?

Introduction - Genetics Clinical Nursing Practice

• Scope and Standards of Genetics Clinical Nursing Practice
• Nursing Participation in Genetic Evaluation, Counseling and Testing
• Ethical Issues for Nursing Consideration ( e.g. informed consent, confidentiality)
• Indications for Recommending Further Genetic Evaluation and Counseling

Module 1
Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Genetic Testing.

• The Human Genome Project: Implications for Patients and Providers
• Informed Consent, Confidentiality, Privacy and Advocacy Issues for Nurses
• Huntington's Disease and Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Current Considerations for Presymptomatic Testing - Impact on the Individual and Family
• Genetic Testing of Children: Impact of Potential Benefits and Harms

Module 2
High Risk Pregnancy and Prenatal Diagnostic Procedures

• Prenatal Screening and Diagnosis - Indications and Applications
• Advanced Maternal Age and Chromosomal Abnormalities (e.g. Down Syndrome)
• Prenatal Diagnostic Procedures (e.g. amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling, FISH)
• Cleft Lip/Palate: Inheritance, Testing and Treatment Interventions
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Prenatal and Diagnostic Considerations

Module 3
Periconceptional Prevention and Prenatal Screening

• Common Teratogens and Prenatal Effects (e.g. anti-seizure medications)
• Cigarette, Marijuana and Cocaine Use in Pregnancy: Implications
• Folic Acid and Prevention of Neural Tube and Other Birth Defects
• Multiple Marker Maternal Serum Screening (testing and interpretation)
• Cystic Fibrosis - Inheritance, Prenatal Testing and Treatment Interventions

Module 4
Late Diagnosis and Presymptomatic Testing of Genetic Conditions

• Inherited Causes of Mental Retardation: Diagnosis and Impact on Families
• Fragile X syndrome - Inheritance, Testing and Treatment Interventions
• Hereditary Breast/Ovarian Cancer Predisposition - Risk Assessment, Counseling, Testing and Management

What are the Key Features of the Practice-Based Curriculum?

Each of the modules contains the following components:

1. Didactic Materials
• undergraduate and graduate level learning objectives
• case presentation(s) designed to facilitate discussion regarding genetic nursing assessments and interventions
• factual genetic information on the concepts and conditions being presented
• suggested guidelines for presenting information


2. Data collection materials
• genetic family and medical history screening questionnaires


3. Resources and supplemental educational materials
• Masters for Overheads
• Handouts
• Fact Sheets
• Power Point Presentation


4. References
• nursing
• medical
• general

5. Web Sites
• relevant to specific topics in each module


6. Additional patient and family resource listings
• local
• regional
• national services


7. Glossary of Terms


8. Evaluation Methods
• Questions for Discussion/Critical Thinking
• Nursing Activities for assessment and enrichment (clinical and non-clinical)
• Test questions for both undergraduate and graduate levels
• Additional Case Studies for assessment and discussion
• Topics for library research and writing (graduate level)
• Suggested Clinical Activities

How have nurse educators responded to the practice-based curriculum materials?

These materials have been field tested and evaluated by independent educators nation wide. Here's what some of them have to say:

" The information in the modules has improved my teaching of genetics. The references, case studies, handouts, etc. are all great resources to have!" - nurse educator, baccalaureate program, St. Joseph's College, Standish, Maine

"Using the modules confirmed for me that the things I thought were important to include were the things that the experts also thought were important." - nurse educator, teaching course in genetics in nursing practice, University of Texas at Austin, Texas

"The module materials helped me to organize my teaching and thoughts on unfamiliar topics." - nurse educator, nurse practitioner program, University of New England, Portland, Maine

"The handouts... saved time and the students like them to have to review key points." - nurse educator, masters and doctoral programs, Columbia University, New York

"The module strategies and materials added much to my teaching portfolio and validated some of the strategies I have incorporated." - nurse educator, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia

"Student response was all positive. They spontaneously offered comments about the modules, organization, handouts, current material, references, and so on." - nurse educator, masters program Columbia University, New York