Table 1.
Total Canadian nursing documents analyzed for GG content.
| Document Organization/Type | Organization(s), Year, Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Nursing Regulatory Bodies (n = 27) | ||
| Entry-level competencies for Baccalaureate Registered Nurses | BCCNM (2021b) (BC); CCRNR (2019) (National); CRNA (2019) (AB);CRNPEI (2019a) (PEI); CNO (2020) (ON); CRNNL (2019a) (NL); NANB (2019) (NB); NSCN (2020) (NS); RNANTN (2019) (NT &N); (SRNA, 2019) (SK)a | 1. ELC competency of specialized knowledge: ‘genetics’ listed as part of entry-level RN knowledge base of health sciences 2. ‘Biology and genetic endowment’ listed in ELC as a determinant of health |
| Registered Psychiatric Nurse Entry-Level Competencies | BCCNM (2022) (BC); CRPNA (2014) (AB); CRPNM (2014) (MN); RPNAS (2014) (SK); RPNRC (2014) (National) | 1. ELC of ‘Body of Knowledge and Application’: RPNS must demonstrate knowledge “including genetics and prenatal and genetic influences on development” (RPNRC, 2014) 2. Determinants of health defined as 13 factors including genetics |
| Nurse Practitioner Entry-Level Competencies | CRNNL (2016) (NL); BCCNM (2021a) (BC); CRNA (2016) (AB); CRNM (2016) (MN); CCRNR (2016) (National); NANB (2016) (NB); NSCN (2016) (NS); RNANTN (2016) (NT&N) | NPs synthesize pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions related to determinants of health (including genetics) |
| Standards of Practice for Nurses and Nurse Practitioners | CRNNL (2019b) (NL); CRNPEI (2019b) (PEI)b; NANB (2019) (NB); YRNA (2013) (YK) | ‘Professional Relationships and Leadership’ Practice Standard, the RN/NP advocates on an individual and collective level for healthy public policy informed by determinants of health (including genetics) |
| National Professional Association (n = 6) | ||
| Position statement of the role of the nurse with reproductive and genetic technologies (RGTs) | CNA (2002a)c (National) | Outlined role of the nurse vis-à-vis RGTs: provide clients information to make informed decisions, referrals, and advocating for availability of information and public engagement in policy surrounding RGTs |
| Historical overview of RGTs | CNA (2002b) (National) | Factsheet providing a timeline from 1900 to 2001 about key developments in human biology, genetics, assisted human reproduction and cloning |
| Glossary of terms related to RGTs | CNA (2002c) (National) | Two-page list of main terminologies used in public discussion/debate surrounding RGTs |
| CNA Code of Ethics for Nurses | CNA (2008)d (National) |
“genetic endowment” cited as a determinant of health (p. 24) Advances in genetics and genomics described as an important sociopolitical consideration for nursing practice (p. 33) |
| Canadian Nurse Practitioner Core Competency Framework | CNA (2010) (National) | ‘genetics’ listed as a determinant of health (definable entities that are associated with or induce health outcomes) that is incorporated in assessment, diagnosis and therapeutic management of clients and in the evaluation of outcome |
| Report Proceedings from National Nursing Data Symposium (on CNA document repository) | National Nursing Data Standards et al. (2019) (National) | Outlined future considerations for integrating nursing data with big data (including genomics) |
| Nursing Education Accreditation Association (n = 1) | ||
| National Canadian Nursing Education Framework (Baccalaureate, Masters, Doctoral)e | CASN (2015) (National) | Under Knowledge Domain; baccalaureate nursing education programs in Canada will prepare students with “foundational knowledge…from natural & life sciences, and from behavioral & social sciences” (genetics included in this list) (CASN, 2015, p, 8). |
| Documents from Specialty Nursing Practice Associations (n = 3) | ||
| Perinatal Nursing Standards in Canada | CAPWHN (2018) (National) | 1. In pre-conception phase, Perinatal nurse demonstrates knowledge (1.3b) of “genetic risk (e.g., personal and family history of genetic diseases or disorders” (p. 19); 2. In antenatal Phase; (2.4), the perinatal nurse demonstrates understanding indication and implications for prenatal genetic testing |
| Practice Standards and Competencies for the Specialized Oncology Nurse | CANO/ACIO (2006) (National) | Specialized oncology nurses will a) have an understanding of genetic risk factors, b) apply knowledge of the role of genetics in disease-associated variations to assess genetic family history information, c) provide information to families on the role of genetics in prevention, diagnosis and treatment options, d) assist individuals/families in understanding the processes of genetic counseling and referring them to appropriate genetic information resources and genetic professionals. (p.15) |
| Radiation Oncology Nursing Practice Standards and Competencies | CANO/ACIO (2015) (National) | Radiation oncology nurses will have an understanding of factors that affect radiation therapy including genetic syndromes |
BCCNM: British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives; CASN: Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing; CCRNR: Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators; CANO: Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology/Association des infirmières en oncologie; Canadian Association of Perinatal and Women's Health Nurses CRNA: College of Registered Nurses of Alberta; CNA: Canadian Nurses Association; CRNPEI: College of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island; CNO: College of Nurses of Ontario; CRNNL: College of Registered Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador; CRPNA: College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Alberta; CRPNM: College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of Manitoba; NANB: Nurses Association of New Brunswick; NSCN: Nova Scotia College of Nursing; RNANTN: Registered Nurses Association of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut; RPNAS: Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan; RPNRC: Registered Psychiatric Nurses Regulators of Canada; SRNA: Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association; YRNA: Yukon Registered Nurses Association.
a SRNA is now the College of Registered Nurses of Saskatchewan.
b Genetics listed in CRNPEI Standards of Practice for Nurse Practitioners only, not for Registered Nurses.
c This document was retired from the CNA website midway through the research process.
d This document was in the 2008 version but omitted from the most recent (2017) version.
e Genetics is referenced in National Nursing Education framework for Baccalaureate nursing education only, not Masters or Doctoral Nursing Education.