Genomics as part of Portuguese undergraduate nursing programs: are we moving in the right direction?

Abstract

The integration of genomics into nursing education has been a growing focus in recent years, as the role of genomics in healthcare continues to expand. Although the fundamental role of nurses in integrating genomic information into patient care is well-documented in the literature, studies have consistently highlighted significant gaps in nurses' understanding of these topics, impacting their ability to provide comprehensive care. This study aims to explore how genomic knowledge is taught in Portuguese undergraduate nursing education at a national level. A deductive content analysis was performed on explicit genomic content in each course specification within the nursing programs. A total of 478 course descriptions from 12 nursing programs were analyzed. Of these, only 25 courses (5.2%) explicitly referenced genomic content. Results reveal significant variability across programs, with some covering a considerable number of genetic topics, while others showed minimal or no coverage of genomic topics. Results also show that topics related to basic molecular biology and fundamental genetic principles tend to be more emphasized in nursing curricula compared to those focused on psychosocial aspects or patient-centered care. This inconsistency highlights the lack of a standardized approach to integrating genomics into nursing education. These findings suggest that the current approach to Portuguese nursing education is insufficient for preparing nurses to effectively address genomic issues in patient care and research. This research argues for a more systematic, early, and consistent integration of genomics across all nursing programs to ensure that future nurses are well-equipped to meet the challenges of modern healthcare, ultimately improving patient outcomes.