Call for Papers

ANF Nursing Research Grants Program for 2011

The purpose of the American Nurses Foundation (ANF) Nursing Research Grants (NRG) Program is to encourage the research career development of all nurses. Each year, through our Nursing Research Grants (NRG) Program, ANF provides funds to beginning and experienced nurse researchers to conduct studies that contribute toward the advancement of nursing science and the enhancement of patient care. Awards are given in all areas of nursing, including healthy patient outcomes, health care policy development, critical care, gerontology, women’s health, community and family intervention. Many past grant recipients have gone on to receive subsequent funding and expanded their programs of research based on findings from their ANF funded studies.

Eligibility and Grant Size

In all award categories, the principal investigator must be a licensed registered nurse who has obtained at least one degree, either a baccalaureate degree or higher, in nursing. Beginning and experienced nurse researchers are encouraged to apply. However, it should be noted that some awards specify the level of researcher eligible to apply. Co-investigators may be non-nurses as long as the proposal is a nursing research project. Grants range from $3,000 to $25,000. Final determination of an applicant’s qualification for either research category is made by the Nursing Research Review Committee based on the information provided in the application.

Beginning researcher. A nurse who has no more than three research-based publications in referenced journals and has received, as principal investigator, no more than $15,000 in extramural funding in one particular research area. Note: other funds obtained in support of the project submitted to ANF for funding consideration will not be considered in the $15,000 limitation.

Experienced researcher. A nurse who has more than three research-based journal\publications and has received more than, $15,000 as principal investigator, in research funding since their degree.

Unless indicated otherwise, ANF grant recipients are eligible to apply again to the Nursing Research Grants Program three years from when the last grant was concluded. ANF will accept applications for masters’ theses or doctoral dissertations only if the project has been approved by the principal investigator’s thesis or dissertation committee. If the dissertation has not been successfully defended, the application will be considered ineligible.

Principal investigators (PI) are limited to submitting one application per research award category per year. Only one PI with the same research proposal can be designated as the principal investigator.

Project Expenses

Only expenses essential to the conduct of the proposed research will be considered for funding. Expenses must be incurred within the one-year grant period or approved extension deadline. ANF will not consider requests or assume responsibility for any costs incurred prior to the award date. Unexpended funds will be returned to ANF (Option 1 grants) when the funding period terminates, or will be retained by ANF (Option 2 grants).

Consultant/Expert fees must be limited to $250 per day, plus travel & lodging (not to exceed 20% of the total budget applied for). Travel and lodging expenses are based on government per diem rates. Requests to purchase specialized equipment with a unit cost of more than $500 will be considered. Justification for this expense must be documented. The Committee will make the final determination on such expenses. The ownership of such equipment at the end of the grant period will be individually assessed. Supplies, items with a unit cost of less than $500, remain the property of either the individual investigator (Option 2) or the institutional affiliation (Option 1) at the close of the grant period.

Prohibited Expenses include principal and co-investigators’ salaries unless otherwise exempted, educational assistance such as tuition, textbooks, or dissertation/thesis preparation, investigator traveling to meet with his/her thesis or dissertation committee, presentation of papers or conference attendance, purchase of personal computers.

A prior written request and justification must be directed to the ANF Director before any funds can be moved or reallocated. Budget changes must be preapproved by the foundation. Permission may be granted to move funds from one budget category to another as long as no additional expense to ANF is involved. ANF may grant permission to transfer funds to a different institution in the event of a change in the investigator’s institutional organization. A written request should be directed to the ANF Director before the change is to occur. Adjustments of line item expenses to purchase equipment in the latter stages of the grant period will not be permitted.

Basis for Awarding Grants

Proposals are judged on scientific merit with critique based on the following criteria:

Significance: Is the study important to nursing practice and to the development of nursing knowledge? Does it address a gap in what we know?

Approach: Are study aims logical, appropriately conceptualized? Do study design, sample, instruments, procedures, and data analysis allow specific aims to be accomplished?

Innovation: Is the study novel or innovative in approach, perspective or line of inquiry?

Investigator: Is the study within the applicant’s ability? Are consultants or mentors adequate?

Environment: Are available resources and research environment adequate to support the research?)

Strength of Investigator and Research Team: Is the primary investigator versed in the theory and supported by co-investigators versed in study design and practice?

Attention to Human Subjects Protection or Other Protections (Animals): Does study design, sample and instruments respect and protect participants, their confidentiality in selection and in the conduct of the study?

Justified Budget: Are purchases explained, including the need for particular materials, software and equipment? Are opportunities for other resources use explored?

Application Fee

A nonrefundable application fee of $100.00 is required to apply for any of the awards. If the Principal Investigator is submitting more than one research proposal and the research is not the same it will be counted as a separate proposal and an additional $100 fee will be required. All payments must be received by May 2, 2011. Applications without payments will not be reviewed.

Application fees may be paid online via a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or by mail with check.

Checks should be made payable to "American Nurses Foundation" and mailed to:

Please include the Application ID (which will be given to you once you begin an online submission) and the Title of Project.

Online Application Deadline

Applications MUST be completed online by 11:59pm (EST) on Friday, May 6, 2011. Incomplete applications after this date will not be considered.

Review Process

The Nursing Research Review Committee (NRRC) is composed of doctorally prepared nurse researchers. The Nursing Research Grants Reviewers (NRGR), also doctorally prepared experienced nurse researchers, also review proposals. A wide range of expertise is represented on both of these committees. Applications will be reviewed between May and August. Final approval of the NRRC’s funding recommendations will be made by the ANF Board of Trustees.

Award Notification

All principal investigators will be notified of the disposition of their application. Applications are treated as privileged communication and are restricted to the Nursing Research Review Committee, the Nursing Research Grants Reviewers, Board of Trustees, ANF staff, and the external funding organization upon request. The one-year grant cycle runs September to August. Notification with critiques will be sent out by August 31, 2011 to all applicants whether awarded a grant or not. Under no circumstances will more than the specified maximum funding be awarded.

International Applicants

There are no citizenship restrictions for principal investigators. Non-US nurses are eligible. However, when a study involves human subjects, IRB approval from a United States university or agency, or country of origin is required and, if applicable, from each site where the study or portions of the study will be conducted. Studies involving animals require similar Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval from a United States university or agency, or country of origin. All documentations must be in English.

Required Online Application Information

The online application is a step by step submission process in which you must complete all the required information on a step before the online system will allow you to advance to the next step. At any point in the online submission process, prior to the deadline, you can return to a previous completed step, simply by clicking the step name in the "Application Control Panel" (left frame) within the online application system.

Before beginning your submission, we recommend that you review the list of required information. Click on each hyperlink below to see more detail. The forms accessed through hyperlink are identical to those provided in the application process. You may download and fill out these forms prior to beginning your submission, and then simply upload them when requested in the application process.

*NOTE- For any listed materials not showing a hyperlinked form, you will simply upload your own document.

Applicant name and contact information

Academic and employment affiliation, RN licensure information, research society membership information

Official name and contact information

This is required only if Funding Option 1 is chosen. Upon completing the "Confirmation" step of the online application process, an email will be sent to your designated Official requesting them to review and endorse your application by completing an acknowledgement statement which MUST be completed by Friday, May 6, 2011.

Research abstract (upload file during submission process)

Provide a succinct and accurate description of the proposed project. Provide a structured abstract, including: Purpose, Background/Significance, Methods (including Design, Setting/Sample, Procedures, Instruments if applicable, Analysis plan), Nursing Relevance/Implications. The abstract should be 450 words or less and single-spaced.

Total Project Budget

ANF Budget

Biographical Sketches (as applicable):

Project Narrative (upload file during submission process)

Must not exceed 5 single-spaced typed pages (not including references. Do not use type print smaller than 12 point. Use 1" top, bottom and side margins. The investigator must prepare the project narrative according to the outline provided under Research Abstract section (above). The review committee will consider the information provided as an example of the investigator’s ability to conduct the proposed research. Principal investigators can use either numbered (e.g., superscript or other numbered format) or author/year (e.g., APA) format for reference citations.

Research Instruments (upload file during submission process):

Copies of all instruments should be provided. If the instrument is not in the public domain, you must include documentation of permission to use the instrument.

Advisor Evaluation Form (as applicable):

Under For DNP Capstone Projects or Scholarly Projects, please provide a written approval statement from the chair stating that the proposed project could be completed within a year, as proposed. During the upload process, the Advisor letter selection can be used.

Documentation of Tax-Exempt Status (as applicable, upload file during submission process):

This is required only if Funding Option 1 is chosen. Attach a copy of the U.S. Department of Treasury/Internal Revenue Service form which verifies that the institution is exempt from federal income tax.

Documentation of IRB/IACUC Approval (as applicable, upload file during submission process)

IRB and IACUC approvals are the only documents that will be accepted after funding has been accepted. Funds will not be distributed until this document is completed, if applicable.

Letters of Support From Consultants (as applicable, upload file during submission process):

Include documentation of availability from consultants who will be utilized during the project. This documentation should be in the form of a signed letter from the consultant verifying availability and willingness to participate and clearly delineating how she/he will be involved in the study.

Letters of Support From Organization (as applicable, upload file during submission process):

Include documentation of support from organization. This documentation should be in the form of a signed letter.

Letters of Support From Offsite Facility (as applicable, upload file during submission process):

From individuals administratively responsible for access to potential subjects and other resources in settings where the study is conducted.

Summary Critiques (as applicable, upload file during submission process):

This is required only if the applicant is resubmitting a proposal previously reviewed as part of the ANF grant program and explains how the proposal has been altered in response to previous reviewer critiques.

The downloadable PDF files referenced above can be completed prior to starting your application.

Begin/Resume Application Submission

* Application submissions and revisions are no longer being accepted. *

Need Support?

If you run into any problems with the online submission process, please email your questions or comments using the hyperlink to "Report a Technical Problem" which also appears in the Application Control Panel. Technical support may also be obtained by calling (401) 334-0220 between 8:30 a.m and 6:00 p.m. EST, Monday - Friday.

For non-technical question and information pertaining to the ANF Nursing Research Grants Program, please contact ANF at anfnrg@ana.org or by calling (301) 628-5229.