CIRC is made up of several research groups that each focus on one aspect of healthcare. Each group is referred to as a "sharing group." An example of a sharing group is the Caring sharing group comprised of individuals who each are conducting their own respective research study in the concept of caring for another human being. Each research study focuses on one aspect of caring, and it may be the first time this has been looked at or it is a replication study of another research study within the same sharing group. Routine sharing occurs between the groups about what each research study has found. Theory, or hunches, is what guides the conversation and interpretation of the data. Tested theories (hunches) may prove to be correct, partially correct or incorrect.
Each sharing group is at a different level of maturity, and new sharing groups are continually forming. As each sharing group matures, it may engage with another sharing group, for example, the Caring group may engage with the Model of Care group to understand which model of care promotes the most caring for patients.
Caring - Examines theories of caring, including but not limited to Watson’s Theory of Caritas, Swanson’s Theory of Caring Behaviors, and McCauley’s Theory of Careful Nursing. Read more. Group Leader: John Nelson
Self Care and Compassion Fatigue/Burnout - Examines the relation self care as a way of being and doing relates to patient, employee, and organizational outcomes. Tools to measure self care are based on theories proposed by Dossey, Watson, and Swanson. Read more.
Relationship-based Care - Examines the social and technical aspects of the work environment for successful execution of caring behaviors. Social behaviors include relationships with leadership, nurses, physicians, and entire healthcare team. Read more. Group Leader: Jayne Felgen
Workload (Staff and Faculty of Nursing) - Workload will always be a challenge, but finding ways to increase the positive correlates of workload and identifying buffers of workload is a primary aim of this Sharing Group. It is hypothesized if work is satisfying, despite the intensity, it will positively impact employee outcomes, and the outcomes of employee work. Read more.
Group Leader: Lois Hamel
Primary Nursing - This model of care includes the concepts of continuity of care, interdisciplinary collaboration, care planning with the patient, and relationship with the patient. Measurement of the impact of primary nursing has a dramatic impact on workload. Read more. Group Leader: Marie Manthey