Genetic and Genomic Testing in Clinical Practice: What You Need to Know

The clinical applications of genetic testing are growing rapidly and they now account for a significant percentage of total laboratory testing procedures. Many clinicians are uncomfortable with the types and applications of genetic tests and the dependable resources that are available for self‐education. Furthermore, Direct to Consumer genetic testing has presented several challenges to healthcare providers as consumers now have an access to tests that they may not fully understand and results they may act upon inappropriately. This article presents some of the issues and resources to help nurses navigate this changing landscape.     

Bathroom Entrapment Leading to Cardiac Arrest From Crush Syndrome

Crush injuries have the potential to cause life-threatening systemic effects such as hyperkalemia, dysrhythmias, acute kidney injury, and renal failure. Systemic involvement is known as crush syndrome (CS) and results from tissue ischemia and muscle necrosis. This is a report of a 76-year-old female who developed a fatal dysrhythmia following release of her extremity from prolonged entrapment in bathroom safety equipment. Hyperkalemia should be presumed in any crush injury and be treated empirically and aggressively. Although tourniquet application prior to extrication is not widely recommended to prevent CS, it should be considered in prolonged extremity entrapment.     

Another opinion

For the first time a physician will be able to program exactly how medications are going to be taken and eliminate the unpredictable variable of patient compliance.¹