Donna Z. Bliss, PhD, RN, FGSA, WOCNF, FAAN
University of Minnesota School of Nursing
What made you want to become an FNINR Ambassador?
I wanted to assist in supporting NINR to be able to continue to fund nursing research and to make known to legislators and the public the impact nursing research has.
How long have you been an FNINR Ambassador?
7 years
What advice would you give your younger self?
Be in tune with what you enjoy doing in your career and use that to guide your path.
What made you want to pursue a career in nursing?
I pursued a career in nursing to make a positive impact on the quality of life and well-being of individuals who are managing health problems or undergoing treatment and to support their families.
What book should every nurse read?
The Language of Kindness: A Nurse's Story
What has been your most interesting/surprising outcome while conducting nursing research?
The discovery of new and sometimes unexpected information is aways fascinating. I also enjoy the team collaboration.
What is a fun fact many people may not know about you?
I like to arrange fresh cut flowers.
About Donna
Donna Z. Bliss, PhD, RN, FGSA, WOCNF, FAAN, is a Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing in Minneapolis, MN. She is a Horace T. Morse and University of Minnesota Alumni Association Outstanding Teacher and member of the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. She is Emerita Professor in Nursing Research of the School of Nursing Alumni Association and Long-Term Care Professorship. She has held positions of Assistant Dean for the PhD Program and Director of Graduate Studies, Chair of the Adult and Gerontological Health Cooperative, and interim Associate Dean for Research at the School of Nursing.
Dr. Bliss’ program of research spans over 22 years of funding and currently focuses on use of innovative technologies supporting symptom and self-management of adults/older adults with chronic health conditions with a focus on fecal incontinence and associated skin problems and enhancing nursing education in these areas. She has more than 130 publications and made numerous national and international presentation on these topics and is recognized as a leading scholar in her field. She has served as the chair of the Nursing Committee of the International Continence Society (ICS), Director of the Center for Clinical Investigation of the Wound Ostomy and Continence Nursing (WOCN) Society, chair of the Health Sciences section of the Gerontological Society of America, Associate Editor of Nursing Research, and as an editor of the Cochrane Reviews Incontinence Group. She was recently a visiting professor at the University of Sao Paulo Faculty of Nursing in Brazil.
She currently serves on the Board of the Friends of NINR and the ICS Standardization Steering Committee, chairs the Abstract Committee of the WOCN Society, and is on the editorial and reviews boards of several professional journals.
