Educational Interventions to Improve Nurses' Competency in Genetics and Genomics: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Regardless of profession and area of practice, every health care provider must possess basic knowledge and skills to integrate genetics and genomics into practice. Nurses play a pivotal role in providing health care, and they should be well equipped to apply genetics and genomics to health care settings. This scoping review explored the existing literature of educational interventions to improve nurses' competencies, including knowledge, attitudes, and skills in genetics and genomics. Method: A scoping review was conducted with the Joanna Briggs Institute method for scoping reviews. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and ERIC in March 2021. We included original research studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals that reported findings on the effectiveness of an educational intervention to improve nurses' competencies in genetics or genomics. Results: A total of 17 studies were included in the scoping review. Registered nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nursing faculty were targeted with different types of interventions, including face-to-face education, online/remote education, and written materials. Conclusion: Limited research shows that various educational interventions improved the competencies in genetics and genomics among nurses with different degrees and areas of practice. Research is needed to evaluate the long-term effects of educational interventions by reliable assessment methods for nurses with appropriate sample sizes. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2022;53(1):13–20.]