2015 ANF Nursing Research Grants

Begin a submission to the following:

Steps and Instructions:

All payments must be received by Monday, October 12, 2015. Applications without payments will not be reviewed. Please plan your applications accordingly.

1. ANF Nursing Research Grants Program for 2015

   The purpose of the American Nurses Foundation (Foundation) Nursing Research Grants (NRG) Program is to encourage the research career development of all nurses. Each year, through our Nursing Research Grants (NRG) Program, the Foundation provides funds to beginning and experienced nurse researchers to conduct studies that contribute toward the advancement of nursing science and the enhancement of patient outcomes. 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, and leadership. Many past grant recipients have gone on to receive subsequent funding and expanded their programs of research based on findings from their Foundation funded studies.

2. 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 $5,000 to $30,000. 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 had no more than $15,000 in extramural funding in one particular research area. Note: Other funds obtained in support of this project submitted to the Foundation for funding consideration will not be considered in the $15,000 limitation.

   Experienced researcher. A nurse who has received more than, $15,000 as principal investigator, in research funding since his or her last degree.

   American Nurses Foundation grant recipients are eligible to apply again to the Nursing Research Grants Program three years from when the last grant was funded. The Foundation will accept applications for masters� theses or doctoral dissertations only if the proposal has been approved by the principal investigator�s thesis or dissertation committee. If the proposal 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.

   Principal Investigators must be a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA). In addition, Principal Investigators need to indicate which of the funding organizations they are a member of. Click here for a current listing of funders and their specific requirements regarding membership as a criteria for receiving funding. You must submit proof of membership along with your application.

3. 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. The American Nurses Foundation will not consider requests or assume responsibility for any costs incurred prior to the award date. Unexpended funds will be returned to the Foundation when the funding period terminates.

   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 the institutional affiliation at the close of the grant period.

   Prohibited Expenses include principal and co-investigators� salaries, 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 computers.

   A prior written request and justification must be directed to the American Nurses Foundation 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 the Foundation is involved. The Foundation 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 Foundation�s Executive Director, or designee, 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.

4. Basis for Awarding Grants

   Proposals are judged on scientific merit with critique based on the following criteria, which should be explicitly addressed in the proposal:

   Significance: Is the study important to nursing practice and to the development of nursing knowledge? Does it address a gap in what we know? Does it lead to enhanced patient or population outcomes? If a clinically based study, how will the results be used to inform current practice?

   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) : Do 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 explored to use other resources to support the study?

5. 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 Monday, October 12, 2015. Applications without payments will not be reviewed.

   Application fees are paid online via Visa or Mastercard only.

6. Online Application Deadline

   Applications MUST be completed online by 11:59pm (EST) on Monday, October 12, 2015. Incomplete applications after this date will not be considered.

7. Review Process

   The Nursing Research Grants Reviewers (NRGR), is comprised of doctorally prepared experienced nurse researchers. Each grant is initially reviewed and scored in Round One by three reviewers.

   The Nursing Research Review Committee (NRRC) is also composed of doctorally prepared nurse researchers. Grants that receive a high score in Round 1 and meet the cut-off point for acceptance. The NRRC committee provides these grants with a second score to determine the grants that are funded.

   A wide range of expertise is represented on both of these committees. Applications will be reviewed between May and August.

8. 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, the Foundation staff, and the external funding organizations. The one-year grant cycle runs September to August. Notification with critiques will be sent out by September 1, 2015 to all applicants whether awarded a grant or not. Under no circumstances will more than the specified maximum funding be awarded.

9. 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 documents must be in English. All Principle Investigators must be a member of the American Nurses Association.

10. Required Online Application Information

    1.  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. IRB approval pending applications are acceptable; however, approval will be needed before awarded funds are released.

    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.

    1. Applicant name and contact information
    2. Academic and/or employment affiliation, RN licensure information, research society membership information, and proof of membership in the American Nurses Association.
    3. Official name and contact information
       • Upon completing the "Confirmation" step of the online application process, an email will be sent to your designated university or affiliate Official requesting him or her to review and endorse your application by completing an acknowledgement statement which MUST be completed by Monday, October 12, 2015. Please ensure that the name and address of your institution official is accurate so there is no delay in the receiving the funds. This refers to an individual in the office that will be in charge of administering the fund. For example: Office of Research and Sponsored Programs; Office of Research Services; office of Research, Grants, and Contracts.
    4. 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 fewer and single-spaced
       • Translate your abstract into lay language � �Why is this research important� Upload your lay language abstract in addition to your structured abstract.
    5. Budget
       • There are three one-page forms for you to upload multiple budgets for your proposal (if needed)
    6. Biographical Sketches (as applicable):
       • All of the Bio sketches are found in one form. Each form is marked for a particular bio sketch to include: Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, Consultant (2 forms), and an Academic Advisor.
    7. 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 Times New Roman. 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.
    8. 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.
    9. 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.
    10. Documentation of Tax-Exempt Status (as applicable, upload file during submission process):
        • 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.
    11. 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. However, funds will not be distributed until this document is completed.
    12. Letters of Support From Consultants (as applicable, upload file during submission process. All letters of support should be scanned and uploaded into one document.
        • 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.
    13. Letters of Support From Organization (as applicable), upload file during submission process. All letters of support should be scanned and uploaded into one document.
        • Letters of support from organizations include outside organizations/agencies that the applicant is working with to complete the study.
    14. Letters of Support From Offsite Facility (as applicable), upload file during submission process. All letters of support should be scanned and uploaded into one document.
        • Letters of support from off-site facilities refer to universities, associations, conference centers, etc. where you are conducting meetings, focus groups, etc.
        • From individuals administratively responsible for access to potential subjects and other resources in settings where the study is conducted.
    15. 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 Foundation grant program and explains how the proposal has been altered in response to previous reviewer critiques.

    Principal Investigators must upload photos (one head shot and one photo of PI engaged in work related to the research proposed). By submitting your electronic photo, ANF reserves the right to send your photo to the external funding organizations after the award is made.

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

11. 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 Gisele Marshall at gisele.marshall@ana.org or by calling (301) 628-5229.

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