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Maggie Kirk

Publications and source records attributed to Maggie Kirk.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Genetics education in the nursing profession: literature review.

AIM: This paper reports a literature review exploring genetics education for nursing professionals. The aim was to contribute to the debate about the future direction of such education. BACKGROUND: Advances in genetics science and technology have profound implications for health care and the growing importance and relevance of genetics for everyday nursing practice is increasingly recognized. METHOD: A search was conducted in February 2005 using the CINAHL and Google Scholar databases and the keywords nurse, midwife, health visitor, education and genetics. Papers were included if they were published in English between 1994 and 2005 and included empirical data about genetics education in nursing. In addition, attempts were made to access the grey literature, with requests for information on research, for example, to members of the Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors and searches of relevant websites. FINDINGS: Agreement on the relevance of genetics for nursing practice is extensive. Empirical evidence of the learning needs of practitioners highlights widespread deficits in knowledge and skills, and low confidence levels. Provision of nursing education in genetics is patchy and insubstantial across a number of countries, further hampered by lack of strategic development. Significant progress has been made in the identification of learning outcomes for nurses. Research on the delivery of genetics education is limited, but the role of skills-based training, use of clinical scenarios, and importance of assessment have all been identified as factors that can promote learning. CONCLUSION: Whilst areas of good performance were revealed, many studies identified gaps in professional competence and/or education. New initiatives are underway to support genetics education and its integration into professional practice, but further research is needed on the most effective forms of educational delivery, and an international collaborative approach to this should be considered.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed2006

Genetics and paediatric nursing.

In response to major research initiatives in genetics, the government has invested significantly in new programmes of research and development for NHS staff (Department of Health (DH) 2003. Nurses may feel that these programmes have not yet impacted on their area of practice and are unlikely to for some time. Other priorities may be felt to be more important. This article considers the impact of genetics on the work of nurses who care for children and young people. It introduces a short questionnaire which we are using to identify and fill any gaps in knowledge, training and resources for nurses to prepare them to 'realise the potential of genetics' (DH 2003) in their practice.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2003

Public attitudes to human gene therapy: a pilot study in Wales.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore some factors influencing perceptions of human gene therapy. METHOD: A small qualitative study using two semi-structured interviews per participant (n = 22). The groups comprised (1) people with cystic fibrosis and members of their family (n = 9), and (2) students from a science evening class as well as lay members of the public selected from the practice list of a local general practitioner (n = 13). RESULTS: This pilot study demonstrates support for somatic gene therapy and ambivalence about germline gene therapy. A clear distinction is drawn between therapy and enhancement, with the majority opposing gene enhancement. CONCLUSIONS: Attitudes towards the acceptability of gene therapy are not necessarily determined by experience of, or exposure to, a genetic condition. More research is needed with the general public to determine what is perceived to be acceptable public policy in this field.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The impact of globalization and environmental change on health: challenges for nurse education.

The environment is an established domain of nursing knowledge, but some authors argue that the traditional perspective is too narrowly focused on the immediate environment to appreciate the relevance of the global environment. This article explores how human activities are bringing about global changes through their impact on biogeochemical cycles, land use and mobility of organisms, altering biodiversity and climate, and ultimately compromising the ecosystems services that sustain our planet. The consequences of global change for population health are examined, including the emergence of drug-resistant diseases, and the implications of climate warming and pollution for health. Addressing these issues presents a considerable challenge for nursing at all levels, in promoting sustainable policies, integrating environmental considerations into clinical practice, and in the nursing role as health educators. The greatest challenge is to education, to raise awareness of the relevance and importance of the global environment to health, and to empower nurses with sufficient understanding of the issues to apply them to practice, participate in debate and contribute to policy-making that aims to reduce the burden of global changes. The extent to which the profession is prepared to diversify in response to these challenges is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The role of genetic factors in maintaining health.

This article reviews the essential background information nurses need to help them understand how genetics influences health and ill-health. The typical human genetic make-up is described, along with an explanation of how changes to this can result in disease. The author also describes the characteristics of different patterns of inheritance.

Genetic Counseling↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Genetics for beginners.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Clinical Competence↗