Ethics and Genetics: Examining a Crossroads in Nursing Through a Case Study

Precision Health and Nursing: Seeing the Familiar in the Foreign

Precision health is the integration of personal genomic data with biological, environmental, behavioral, and other information relevant to the care of a patient. Genetics and genomics are essential components of precision health. Genetics is the study of the effects of individual genes, and genomics is the study of all the components of the genome and interactions between genes, environmental factors, and other psychosocial and cultural factors. Knowledge about the role of genetics and genomics on health outcomes has increased substantially since the completion of the human genome project in 2003. Insights about genetics and genomics obtained from bench science are now having positive clinical implications on patient health outcomes. Nurses have the potential to make distinct contributions to precision health due to their unique role in the health care system. In this article, we discuss gaps in the development of precision health in nursing and how nursing can expand the definition of precision health to actualize its potential. Precision health plays a role in nursing practice. Understanding this connection positions nurses to incorporate genetic and genomic knowledge into their nursing practice.

Human Subjects Protection and Federal Regulations of Clinical Trials

OBJECTIVES

To explore the federal regulations governing clinical trials and human subject protection, the importance of research participant's informed consent, and the role the oncology clinical research nurse has within the clinical trial setting.

DATA SOURCES

Peer-reviewed journal articles, internet, book chapters, white papers.

CONCLUSION

Federal regulations mandate the conduct of a clinical research trial, human research participant protection, and the informed consent process.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The oncology nurse supports the autonomy and safe conduct of the human research participant during a clinical research trial and provides education and support through the informed consent process.