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Nurses are well positioned to incorporate genetic and genomic information across all aspects of the United States (U.S.) health care system. Nurses, the most trusted health professionals [1], make unique contributions to the field of human genetics and genomics and complement the work of other health care providers to improve the health of the public. Health care benefits greatly from the unprecedented and ongoing work elucidating the genetic/genomic basis of health, illness, disease risk, and treatment response. The progress in genetics and genomics is applicable to the entire spectrum of health care and all health professionals and as such to the entire nursing profession (2.9 million) [2] in the United States regardless of role, clinical specialty, or academic preparation. The majority of disease risk, health conditions and the therapies used to treat those conditions have a genetic and/or genomic element influenced by environmental, lifestyle, and other factors therefore impacting the entire nursing profession [3]. Nurses have intimate knowledge of the patient’s, family’s, and community’s perspectives; an understanding of biologic underpinnings; experience with genetic/genomic technologies and information; skills in communication and building coalitions; and most importantly, the public’s trust. Across the lifespan, nursing focuses on health promotion and disease prevention, which is an integral component of genetic/genomic health care practices. Awareness of nurses’ strengths and skills, together with the recognition that prevention is the hallmark of genetic/genomic health care, will inform public policymaking groups as they address issues that affect heath care practice in the area of genetics/genomics. Policy making process will be informed with new insights will be gained with inclusion of nurses and professional nursing organizations. These policies can facilitate the ability of U.S. health care systems to use genetic/genomic knowledge to promote health and manage disease.

With the goals of the Human Genome Project accomplished and the “vision for the future of genomics research” elucidated, there will continue to be an astonishing rate of the generation of new genome knowledge and discoveries. It was recommended over 40 years ago that genetics be included in nursing curricula. However, more recent surveys indicate that genetics content is still lacking. To address this need, the Genetics Program for Nursing Faculty (GPNF) was developed. One result of working with faculty who participated in GPNF educational offerings is the Genetics Curriculum Checklist. This tool will assist nursing faculty to integrate genetics content into their curricula.

It is critical that nurses be recognized for their ability to deliver genetic services in collaboration with medical geneticists, genetic counselors, physicians, and providers from other disciplines. The purpose of this special communication is to describe progress made by the International Society of Nurses in Genetics toward incorporating genetics into nursing education and practice.

The purpose of the study described in this article was to reassess the type and amount of genetics content in basic nursing preparatory programs in the United States. Recommendations are made for increasing genetics content in baccalaureate nursing programs. These recommendations are a result of the synthesis of the current survey data with previous data and recommendations.