UF Nursing student among select group

A University of Florida doctoral nursing student recently participated in a National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research Summer Genetics Institute, designed to provide advanced nurses with a foundation in molecular genetics for clinical practice and research.

Jennifer Dungan, a second-year College of Nursing Ph.D. student, attended the two-month summer research training program on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md. More than 35 genetics experts from the NIH and universities in the Washington, D.C., area served as course faculty for the institute, which included 20 nursing students and faculty, most of them either doctorally prepared faculty or Ph.D. students.

The courses included lecture, seminar and laboratory components, addressing molecular aspects of genetics; ethical, legal and clinical practice issues; and the role of the nurse in the area of genetics.

Laboratory experiences integrated the concepts and principles of genetics with experiments designed to enhance understanding of genetic testing, strengths and limitations of genetic approaches, and use of genetic information clinically to counsel individuals and families.

“Nurses need to understand genetics for a number of reasons,” said Dungan, whose doctoral dissertation will deal with genetic variables of hypertension. “First, we need to stay on top of the newest genetic findings, which may affect health care. Secondly, we need to continue to be effective patient advocates in areas concerning genetics, and finally, we need to be good clinical educators.”