Pharmacogenomics: personalizing drug therapy.

Pharmacogenomics is a rapidly growing field of research into the ways in which genetic variation affects drug response. Its objective is to develop precisely targeted, optimal drug therapy. One area of pharmacogenomics focuses on identifying genetic markers for differences in the way people metabolize drugs; another concentrates on developing genetic tests that predict how specific patients will respond to agents such as statins or cancer therapies.

Taking a second look: immunization requirements for nursing students.

To comply with clinical agency agreements, nursing administrators and faculty need to be attentive to the management of immunization requests, especially those that are divergent from CDC or state recommendations. As nursing students usually bear the cost of additional immunizations and testing, immunization requirements may represent a barrier in using all available clinical sites. Medical insurers will often reject payment for immunization tests or vaccines that are identified as unnecessary or inconsistent with state or national recommendations.

Florence Nightingale and healthcare reform.

The purpose of this article was to examine the work of Florence Nightingale in light of her collaboration with William Farr, the eminent medical statistician. Nightingale's epidemiological investigations supported by Farr illustrated that attention to environmental cleanliness was an important factor in preventing spread of disease. Nightingale channeled her investigations to support hospital reforms and the need for an educated nurse who could provide better management of the hospital environment.

A collaborative model: twenty healthcare agencies and academic institutions share resources to educate preceptors.

The Boston Collaborative Learning Group (BCLG), a 20-member consortium of healthcare agencies and academic institutions, originated in 1996 in response to a demand for innovative cost-effective measures. Directors of Staff Development and academicians collaborate and share resources in planning preceptor education programs. Over 750 Boston area nurses have attended 1 of 10 programs offered.