The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society

Research And Funding / Center For Clinical Investigations

About the CCI

What is the Center for Clinical Investigation?

The Center for Clinical Investigation of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (also referred to as “the Center” or “CCI”) exists to expand the existing research base for practice by enabling WOC specialty practice nurses to develop their roles as clinical investigators and to strengthen our evidence base through funded research projects.

The Center is funded by the WOCN Foundation. The CCI Board is comprised of the Director and her team and clinicians and researchers involved in the three principal areas of our practice, wound, ostomy, and continence, as well as the WOCN president and Journal editor.

The CCI Director’s Team

On October 1, 2005, Donna Zimmaro Bliss, PhD, RN, FAAN, a member of the CCI Board and internationally respected nurse researcher, assumed the role of Director of the Center for Clinical Investigation. Dr. Bliss was joined by Heather Dávila, BA, the Center’s executive administrative specialist, and Kay Savik, MS, a biostatistician with extensive clinical research experience. The CCI Director’s team is located at the University Of Minnesota School Of Nursing in Minneapolis, MN.

More detailed information about the CCI Director’s team can be found here.

CCI Activities

The CCI actively supports WOC research and evidenced-based practice through several initiatives, foremost among which is its small grants program. The small grants program currently provides funding for three different types of research projects by WOCN members annually. The grants are funded through the generosity of WOCN Society’s corporate partners. Acting in consultation with the WOCN Board of Directors and Officers, the CCI formulates and promulgates the WOCN’s policies concerning the administration of research funding agreements.

The Center aides WOCN Society members to be successful in garnering grant funding. Center members have authored a six-part series of Spotlight on Research articles in the Society’s journal, Journal for Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing, in 2005 explaining the steps of successful grantsmanship. This year, Center has initiated a grant preview program to improve the quality and competitiveness of grant proposals. To date, the CCI’s small grants program has funded four successful research projects and anticipates another exciting grants cycle this upcoming year. The CCI is available to assist potential applicants in designing successful research proposals and all WOCN members are encouraged to apply.

More information about the small grants program and upcoming deadlines can be found here.

Secondly, CCI Director is the section editor of Spotlight on Research in Journal for Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nursing. This regular feature highlights research topics that promote both the conduct of research on WOC questions and the utilization of research findings so that the evidence base of WOC nursing is strengthened. Members of the CCI Board are contributors to this journal section.

Finally, the CCI produces, both directly and in consultation with other WOCN Society committees and task forces, the Clinical and Professional Toolkits. Clinical and Professional Practice Toolkits provide accessible and practical guidelines and information related to topics that facilitate evidenced-based practice. A recent example is the Prevalence and Incidence Toolkit, produced in conjunction with the Professional Practice Committee.

I have grown as a person, caring for excellent clients and making life long friendships through being a part of WOCN.