Genomic Competencies for Nurses: A Free, Online Course

Nurses are increasingly called upon to record family histories, advocate ethically, research genetic variants, and communicate results of genomic tests to patients and families. Improve your foundational understanding of genomics understand genome science, clinical genetics and their social and ethical impacts. Advance your research, clinical practice and teaching as well as your patient/population health care outcomes, particularly in underrepresented communities.

The Duquesne School of Nursing's Genomic Competencies for Nurses from Theory to Application course is funded by National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health (Award Number R25HG011228) and based on and offers:

  • Tailored training for doctoral-level nursing faculty, clinicians and students (No previous genetic or genomic training needed)
  • Free professional development (Funded by NIH grant)

  • Fully online coursework

  • Flexible and self-paced coursework to fit your schedule

  • Fall or Spring courses available

Program Information

The Genomic Competencies course for doctorally-prepared nurses will improve your genetic and genomic science literacy to benefit patient/population health care outcomes, particularly those from underrepresented groups.

Duration

Recommended 6-12 weeks to complete

Contact Us

We can help you reach your goals to become more genomic literate.

Elizabeth Flanagan, MA

Coordinator of Professional Development & Consulting Education Events

School of Nursing

Â鶹ֱ²¥ the Course

The Purpose of the Course

This course is intended improve nurses' genetic literacy and genomic science literacy to benefit patient/population health care outcomes. The goal of this course is to increase opportunities for doctoral level (Ex. DNP, PhD, EdD) students, clinicians, or faculty to participate in genomic training that has the potential to offer benefits for both the nursing workforce and the patients they serve.

As nurses continue to be called upon to communicate results of genomic tests — from direct-to-consumer to far more inclusive Whole Genome Sequencing/Whole Exome Sequencing — to patients and families, they must possess a foundational understanding of genomics. Nurses must also be prepared to examine potential biases that can affect the translation of information from theory to practice. One potential source of bias is the persistent underrepresentation of minority groups in population-level and clinical research. This course will help you gain better understanding of the many facets of precision healthcare. 

 

Expanded Knowledge and Network

You will have the opportunity to gain new knowledge applicable to the science of nursing, as well as the nursing workforce, and ultimately, benefit patient outcomes. After completion of the course, you will have the opportunity to join a group of alumni from diverse fields who are also interested in improving their genomic understanding.

Contact Hours

Participants will be able to earn nursing contact hours upon completion of the course, as well as completion of the course evaluation survey and post-course assessments.

Â鶹ֱ²¥ School of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

Course Length

  • Move at your own pace; recommended 6-12 weeks to complete
  • Recommended pace: 4 hours/week

Instruction Type

  • 6 required asynchronous modules
  • 1 optional genomic primer

Cost

  • Free (no hidden fees or costs)
  • Upon completion, a small monetary sum is awarded

Contact Hours

  • Earn up to 24 contact hours for completing all 7 modules
  • Available at no cost

Course Aims

Specific aims of the course are to:

  1. Increase literacy in genomics among doctoral-level nurses and faculty to improve the delivery of health care in the era of genomic medicine;
  2. Provide a foundational introduction to the genetic basis of disease, health risk assessment, epigenetics and personalized health care with an emphasis on the associated ethical implications of genetic and genomic advancements;
  3. Identify opportunities for doctoral-level nurses and faculty to apply genomic medicine into research, teaching and clinical practice; and
  4. Prepare doctoral-level nurses and faculty to assimilate state-of-the-science genetics and related ethical issues into their research, teaching and clinical practice, with a focus on patients from underrepresented communities.

Course Modules

Module 0: Genetic Primer (optional)
Module 1: Risk Assessment and Interpretation
Module 2: Genetic Education, Counseling, Testing and Results Interpretation
Module 3: Clinical Management
Module 4: Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI)
Module 5: Research - Translation to Practice
Module 6: Professional Role and Leadership

Primer & Course Modules

Lead by a team of experts, this self-paced, online course begins with an optional primer module on the basics of genetics and genomics, followed by six topic-specific learning modules based on the Essential Competencies:

Module 0: Genetic Primer (optional)
Module 1: Risk Assessment and Interpretation
Module 2: Genetic Education, Counseling, Testing and Results Interpretation
Module 3: Clinical Management
Module 4: Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI)
Module 5: Research - Translation to Practice
Module 6: Professional Role and Leadership

Interest from Nursing Organizations

The following nursing organizations have offered to support and have expressed interest in participating with this course:

  • Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc.
  • International Society of Nurses in Genetics (ISONG)
  • National Association of Hispanic Nurses
  • National Organization of Nurses with Disabilities
  • Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc.
  • Transcultural Nursing Society

National Institutes of Health Disclaimer

This professional development opportunity is offered through Â鶹ֱ²¥ School of Nursing and funded by National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health. This material is based upon work supported by the National Institutes of Health Award Number (R25HG011228). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Institutes of Health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Doctoral-level nursing faculty, clinicians and students. No previous genetic experience required.
The 2024 course offering will be every Fall and Spring.
The course is self-paced; however, we recommend completion within 6-12 weeks. There is a deadline communicated within each cohort.
To provide more individualized attention, enrollment is limited to around 75 participants per cohort.
The course will be offered twice per year, each spring (January) and fall (September).
Learners will need access to a computer, tablet or smartphone, as well as an internet connection and Web browser to complete the course.
There is no cost or hidden fees.
Contact hours will be offered upon completion.

By completing all six modules (including an optional genetic primer), you will receive 24 contact hours; without the primer, 21 contact hours will be awarded. You will receive a certificate verifying contact hours after completing course evaluation survey and post-course assessments.

Â鶹ֱ²¥ School of Nursing is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.