University of Minnesota School of Nursing
5-140 Weaver-Densford Hall
308 Harvard Street
Minneapolis MNUSA
55419
Email: bliss@umn.edu
Biographical Sketch: Donna Zimmaro Bliss is a Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in Minneapolis, MN. She is a Horace. T. Morse-University of Minnesota Alumni Association Distinguished Teacher. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Bliss is the current Director of the Center for Clinical Investigation of the WOCN Society and section editor of the Spotlight on Research section of Journal of Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing. She participates in numerous activities of the WOCN Society. She is also a member of the Editorial Board of Nursing Research and the Journal of Gerontological Nursing. She is the nurse member of the Educational Committee of the International Continence Society.
Dr. Bliss’ primary work has been in research. Her research program includes epidemiological studies, clinical trials and instrument development. She studied the epidemiology of incontinence associated dermatitis in hospitalized patients, community-living residents, and nursing home residents. She investigated using dietary fiber to manage fecal incontinence and defined skin care regimens to prevent incontinence associated dermatitis. She co-developed an instrument to identify incontinence associated dermatitis. She is currently participating in a systematic review of C. difficile infection. She has numerous publications about these topics and has made presentations globally. Dr. Bliss’ research has been supported by federal, foundation and corporate grants.