MOC AACN Research Grant The MOC AACN Research Grant is funded and supported by MOC AACN. We encourage clinicians and researchers to propose projects that support inquiry and systematic research that generates new knowledge. The grants are designed to support research efforts and ensure a vital source of relevant research for creating the evidence-based resources that influence high acuity critical care nursing practice. We expect that the knowledge gained from the project will be shared. Upon completion of your research study or project, MOC AACN encourages you to submit your work for publication and/or presentation. Areas of Research We designed the MOC-AACN Research Grant to address gaps in high-acuity and critical care areas of clinical research. These grants will also facilitate and support other MOC-AACN priorities, such as those included in the MOC Strategic Plan. Eligibility Requirements Principal investigators must hold an earned master's degree or have completed candidacy requirements in a BSN-to-PhD or DNP program. Principal investigators must be registered nurses holding current AACN and MOC membership at the time of submission and must remain AACN and MOC members throughout the life of the grant funding. Available Funding One grant, annually, will be awarded up to $2000.00. The period of the grant is two years from the date of funding. Application Deadline Applicants must submit a completed application to mocaacn.scholarships@gmail.com by 5 pm on June 1 st of the award year. Award Notification Successful applicants will be notified by August 1st. The grant will be presented during our monthly chapter meeting on the second Tuesday of September of the award year. Metropolitan Orlando Chapter 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS Conditions of Award..3 Instructions for Submitting Application.4 Application Details...5 Grant application.8 Abstract...11 Research proposal 12 Budget form....13 Biographical sketch.16 Letters of support.17 IRB approval...18 Research Agreement 19 Frequently Asked Questions 20 2
CONDITIONS OF AWARD 1. The research must be conducted in the United States. 2. Progress Reports: Grantees are required to submit biannual progress reports and a final progress report to MOC-AACN (please see template below). Reports are due January 1 st and July 1st of each year. If the research or project cannot be conducted within two years or the stipulated timeframe of the proposal, a change in timeline must be requested and approved or the unspent funds must be returned to MOC-AACN. Changes in timelines must be requested in writing by email. 3. Abstract Submission and Presentation: A final report on the research conducted must be presented at a local MOC chapter meeting upon completion of the research project. 4. Acknowledgment of Sponsor Support: Grantees must acknowledge the financial support (full or in part) of MOC-AACN in all publications and presentations and a copy of such publications must be provided to the MOC. For example, "This project was funded by a grant from the Metropolitan Orlando Chapter of American Association of Critical- Care Nurses." All publicity and information disseminated about such research must acknowledge MOC-AACN support. 5. Release of Liability: The recipient of the award must certify that any research will be conducted according to the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The recipient must agree to hold MOC-AACN harmless from any and all claims, which may arise from such research. 6. Use of Human and Animal Models in Research: All work involving human participants must show documented compliance with NIH guidelines for human participants as provided by the establishment s IRB. All studies using animal models must adhere to AACN s policy on the use of animal models in research and evidence must be attached that studies involving animals have been reviewed by the AACN Animal Care Committee. 7. Grant Award Funding: Grant awards are determined by the reviewing body according to the guidelines for the program and budget. Grantees will be paid by check from the MOC-AACN. Funds will be awarded to the investigator and an IRS Form 1099 will be issued to that investigator at the end of the calendar year. Unspent funds must be returned to MOC-AACN within six months of completion of the project. The award is one time only. If the applicant desires further assistance, a new application must be submitted at such time as additional funding may be available. 3
Submitting Your Finished Application Carefully follow instructions in the information below. Incomplete or improperly submitted applications will not be processed. Send all files in one email to mocaacn.scholarships@gmail.com with Attn: Research Grant Review Committee in the subject line of your email. Please include all pertinent information on your application. The following documents should be included in your submission, do not send other documents: Grant application Abstract Research proposal Budget form Biographical sketch Letters of support IRB approval When you have prepared the required content for your proposal, assemble your files and check that you have everything as you wish to submit it. Changes to files cannot be made after your proposal has been submitted. Following receipt of your submitted materials, an acknowledgment will be sent to the email address on file in the AACN database, regardless of where you send your files from. If you use different email addresses, you may wish to update your record in the AACN member system. If you do not receive an acknowledgment, your materials were not received by MOC. MOC is not responsible for files that become corrupted through transmission. 4
APPLICATION DETAILS 1. Application Form 2. Abstract. Summarize the main points of the grant proposal in no more than 300 words. 3. Description of Research Project. Write your research proposal according to the guidelines below. Follow this format for your proposal, references and appendices. Use Arial or Times New Roman with 12-point font. APA writing style and references Double-space on 8-1/2" x 11" paper (letter size) with 1" margins. Place first initial and last name of PI in a header with consecutive page numbers in the upper right corner on all pages of the proposal, including references and appendices. Limit the content on aims, significance, methodology and timetable to 4 pages excluding references. All pages in excess of 4 will be disregarded. Use the headings listed below in your proposal. a. Specific aims: State the intended objectives of the proposed study, including the rationale for the approach to the problem, the hypothesis the research is designed to test or the research questions the research will answer. b. Significance: Briefly describe the background of the proposal, including a critical evaluation of the existing body of knowledge about the problem. Identify the importance of the study by relating it to existing knowledge in the field of high acuity and critical care nursing and potential for leading to further research. c. Methodology: Describe the methods that will be used to carry out the research, identifying variables and samples and specifying the protocols and instruments you will use (include copies as an appendix to the proposal). When appropriate, describe the validity and reliability of the instruments. Identify potential limitations of the study. Describe the data analysis plan. d. Timeline: Include the proposed timetable for your study. e. References 4. Budget. Complete the budget form. Use the form provided. Do not submit other formats. Supply all required information. Be sure to justify all expenses. Specify direct and indirect costs of your project. Provide information on how each budget item requested was derived. Indirect costs are limited to 10% of direct costs and must be included in the total proposed grant budget. Do not submit a budget that exceeds the grant award for which you are applying unless you indicate a confirmed source for the additional required 5
funds. An incomplete or improperly prepared budget will prevent your application from going forward to review. Allowable Direct Costs include but are not limited to: Research assistants (calculate number of hours at an hourly rate). Data collection and analysis (calculate number of hours at an hourly rate). Secretarial support (calculate number of hours at an hourly rate). Equipment. Supplies. Consultative assistance, such as research design, programming costs and statistical analysis (calculate number of hours at an hourly rate). Nonallowable Costs: Salaries of the principal or co-investigators. Travel to presentations. Preparation of presentation materials (slides). Presentation or publication of findings. Educational expenses, such as tuition or books. Purchase of computer hardware, unless the relevance of the equipment to the conduct of the study is clearly demonstrated. Direct costs are those costs that can be identified specifically with a particular sponsored project, an instructional activity or any other institutional activity, or can be directly assigned to such activities relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy. Indirect (or facilities and administrative, F&A) costs are incurred by a grantee for common or joint objectives and, therefore, cannot be identified specifically with a particular project or program. Indirect costs are limited to 10% of the direct costs and must be included in the total grant budget. 5. Biographical sketch. Include a biographical sketch or CV for each investigator and each consultant, using the MOC-AACN biosketch form. Do not use any other format. Biosketch or CV may not exceed four pages in length for each person. 6. Letters of support. Provide 3 letters of support, one from each of the following below: One person, such as a colleague, manager or mentor, who can address your ability to complete the project. The institution(s) or unit(s) where your project will be conducted. Your advisor or committee if funding is to be used for academic work, dissertation or thesis. 6
7. IRB Approval. Provide evidence that the proposed project or study has been reviewed and approved (or administratively reviewed as exempt) by an established institutional ethical review board, or that review is in progress. If review is in progress, indicate the anticipated completion date. If ethical review cannot be submitted until the proposal is funded, so indicate. When a proposal without ethical review is selected for funding, funds will not be distributed until ethical review is complete. Investigators affiliated with institutions that do not have established review boards must: Obtain review of the proposal by an established review board at another agency (e.g., university, medical center, etc.) or Submit a letter from their agency administrator indicating a commitment to safe and ethical practice and approval of project implementation within the facility. 7
MOC AACN Research Grant Application Form Part I. Applicant Applicant/Principal Investigator: Name (First, Middle Initial, Last): Credentials: Professional Information: AACN#: Professional Title: Employer s Name: Work Address: Street: City: State: Zip: Home Address: Street: City: State: Zip: Contact Information: Work Phone: Cell Phone: Email Address: Part II. Key Personnel Mentor/Co-Investigator: Name (First, Middle Initial, Last): Credentials: Home Address: Street: City: State: Zip: Contact Information: Work Phone: Cell Phone: Email Address: 8
Other Project Members: Name (First, Middle Initial, Last): Credentials: Name (First, Middle Initial, Last): Credentials: Name (First, Middle Initial, Last): Credentials: Part III. Project and Timeline Project Title: Begin Date: End Date: Project will be conducted at: Institution name: Street: City: State: Zip: Grant Payment Information: Payee Name: Institution: Address: Contact Name: Contact Number: Part IV. Institutional Review Board Location of IRB: Institution name: Street: City: State: Zip: IRB Contact Information: Contact Name: Contact number: 9
Status of IRB Approval: Status: Approval number: Approval date: If pending, explain: Will human or animal subjects be involved in the research project? Yes No If yes, include appropriate human IRB or animal IRB forms. By submitting this application, I certify that the statements in this proposal and all supporting documents are true and complete to the best of my knowledge and accept the obligation with the terms and conditions of any grant awarded by the Metropolitan Chapter of Orlando of AACN as a result of this application 10
Title of Project ABSTRACT (300 words or less, single spaced): 11
DESCRIPTION OF RESEARCH PROJECT Use Arial or Times New Roman with 12-point font. APA writing style and references Double-space with 1" margins. Place first initial and last name of PI in a header in the upper left corner with consecutive page numbers in the upper right corner on all pages of the proposal, including references and appendices. Except for references and appendices, all pages in excess of four will be disregarded. Specific Aims Significance Methodology Timeline References 12
GRANT PROJECT BUDGET & BUDGET JUSTIFICATION Please specify direct and indirect costs for your project. Provide justification for each numbered budget item under "Justification" below. (Enter information into the blank cells. Excel will calculate the totals. Move through the document using the Enter or Tab key.) Applicant Name: Title of Proposal: Grant Name: PERSONNEL (Unless restricted by grant requirements) Item # Position/Title Total # of Hours Hourly Rate Total Example Research Assistant 50 $15.00 $ 750 1 $ - 2 $ - 3 $ - 4 $ - 5 $ - Personnel Total $ - CONSUMABLE SUPPLIES (Include only if not provided by institution) Item # Supplies Costs % Tax Total Example Printing of instruments $100.00 6.5% $ 107 6 $ - 7 $ - 8 $ - 9 $ - 10 $ - Consumable Supplies Total $ - PERMANENT EQUIPMENT (To be kept by institution after study is done) Item # Equipment Costs % Tax Total Example Portable Cardiac Monitor $100.00 10.0% $ 107 11 $ - 12 $ - 13 $ - 14 $ - 15 $ - Permanent Equipment Total $ - 13
TRAVEL (Related only to conduct of study) Item # Mileage/Gas/Parking Fees/Etc. Costs % Tax Total Example Mileage to subjects (10.0 X 0.33) $3.30 0.0% $ 3 16 $ - 17 $ - 18 $ - 19 $ - 20 $ - Travel Total $ - OTHER COSTS Item # Miscellaneous Costs Costs % Tax Total Example Poster materials $25.00 6.5% $ 27 21 $ - 22 $ - 23 $ - 24 $ - 25 $ - Other Costs Total $ - BUDGET TOTALS Sub Total (Personnel, supplies, equipment, travel, and other costs) % Indirect Costs (Limit to 10% for those institutions requiring indirect funds. If not required enter "0%") $ - Indirect Costs $ - TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET REQUEST $ - 14
JUSTIFICATION Item # Describe justification for budget items here. Example Research assistant will collect data from each subject in subject's home. Responsible for data entry and maintenance. 12 hours/week @ $10.00/hr. for 41 weeks = $5,000 15
Principal Investigator/Program Director (First, Middle Initial, Last): BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH NAME POSITION TITLE EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, and include postdoctoral training.) DEGREE INSTITUTION AND LOCATION (if applicable) YEAR(s) FIELD OF STUDY NOTE: The Biographical Sketch may not exceed four pages. A. Positions and Honors. List in chronological order previous positions, concluding with your present position. List any honors. Include present membership on any Federal Government public advisory committee. B. Selected peer-reviewed publications (in chronological order). Do not include publications submitted or in preparation. C. Research Support. List selected ongoing or completed (during the last three years) research projects (federal and non-federal support). Begin with the projects that are most relevant to the research proposed in this application. Briefly indicate the overall goals of the projects and your role (e.g. PI, Co-Investigator, Consultant) in the research project. Do not list award amounts or percent effort in projects. 16
Letters of support Provide 3 letters of support, one from each of the following below: One person, such as a colleague, manager or mentor, who can address your ability to complete the project. The institution(s) or unit(s) where your project will be conducted. Your advisor or committee if funding is to be used for academic work, dissertation or thesis. 17
IRB Approval Provide evidence that the proposed project or study has been reviewed and approved (or administratively reviewed as exempt) by an established institutional ethical review board, or that review is in progress. If review is in progress, indicate the anticipated completion date. If ethical review cannot be submitted until the proposal is funded, so indicate. When a proposal without ethical review is selected for funding, funds will not be distributed until ethical review is complete. Investigators affiliated with institutions that do not have established review boards must: Obtain review of the proposal by an established review board at another agency (e.g., university, medical center, etc.) or Submit a letter from their agency administrator indicating a commitment to safe and ethical practice and approval of project implementation within the facility. 18
RESEARCH AGREEMENT I agree to each of the following as a condition of receiving this award: 1. The research must be conducted in the United States. 2. Progress Reports: Grantees are required to submit biannual progress reports and a final progress report to MOC-AACN. Reports are due January 1 st and July 1 st of each year. If the research or project cannot be conducted within the stipulated timeframe, a change in timeline must be requested and approved or the unspent funds must be returned to MOC- AACN. Changes in timelines must be requested in writing by email. 3. Abstract Submission and Presentation: A final report on the research conducted must be presented at a local MOC chapter meeting upon completion of the research project. 4. Acknowledgment of Sponsor Support: Grantees must acknowledge the financial support (full or in part) of MOC-AACN and the applicable co-sponsor in all publications and presentations and a copy of such publications must be provided to the MOC. For example, "This project was funded by a grant from the Metropolitan Orlando Chapter of American Association of Critical-Care Nurses." All publicity and information disseminated about such research must acknowledge MOC-AACN support. 5. Release of Liability: The recipient of the award must certify that any research will be conducted according to the rules and regulations of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The recipient must agree to hold MOC-AACN harmless from any and all claims, which may arise from such research. 6. Use of Human and Animal Models in Research: All work involving human participants must show documented compliance with NIH guidelines for human participants as provided by the establishment s IRB. All studies using animal models must adhere to AACN s policy on the use of animal models in research and evidence must be attached that studies involving animals have been reviewed by the AACN Animal Care Committee. 7. Grant Award Funding: Grant awards are determined by the reviewing body according to the guidelines for the program and budget. Grantees will be paid by check from the MOC-AACN. Funds will be awarded to the investigator and an IRS Form 1099 will be issued to that investigator at the end of the calendar year. Unspent funds must be returned to MOC-AACN within six months of completion of the project. The award is one time only. If the applicant desires further assistance, a new application must be submitted at such time as additional funding may be available. Electronic Signature: Date: 19
Length of Report and Submission Biannual Progress Report 3-4 pages maximum, including a Title Page and all components listed below. Once complete, please email mocaacn.scholarships@gmail.com with Attn: Research Grant Review Committee in the subject line of your email. Title Page. Include the following: Title of Project: Principal Investigator and Team Members: Organization: Inclusive Dates of Project: Total Cost of Project (thus far): Accomplishments from past activity period and goals for the upcoming activity period Products or outcomes from the activity such as technologies and publications Participants including all persons that have contributed significantly to the activity, their role, their activity and their funding support. This section also asks about collaborators, including foreign collaborators Impact of the project and major contributions: e.g. to the discipline, human resources (e.g. teaching, training), public knowledge, social conditions Changes to the project: delay in plans, changes in approach, compliance (animal use, human subject involvement, biohazards), project expenditures Budget (use template above) 20
Final Progress Report Length of Report and Submission 4-10 pages maximum, including a Title Page and all components listed below. Once complete, please email to mocaacn@aol.com with Attn: Research Grant Review Committee in the subject line of your email. Title Page Include the following: Title of Project. Principal Investigator and Team Members. Organization. Inclusive Dates of Project. Total Cost of Project Itemized (use budget template above). Report Components Include the following six components using these headings: 1. Structured Abstract 2. Purpose (Objectives of Study). 3. Scope (Background, Context, Settings, Participants, Incidence, Prevalence). 4. Methods (Study Design, Data Sources/Collection, Interventions, Measures, Limitations). 5. Results (Principal Findings, Outcomes, Discussion, Conclusions, Significance, Implications). 6. List of Publications and Products (Bibliography of Published Works and Electronic Resources from Study Structured Abstract Five Elements: Structured Abstracts can have a maximum of 250 words. Purpose: Scope: Methods: Results: Key Words (if applicable): 21
FAQs about Grants Q: Who is eligible to apply for MOC AACN grants? A: Current AACN and MOC members are eligible to apply for grants with these exceptions: Principal investigators must have earned at least a master's degree or advanced to candidacy in a BSN-to-PhD or DNP. Q: May two researchers from the same institution apply for AACN grants? A: If they are different studies, then each should apply separately. If it s the same study, they should apply together as co-investigators. Q: What is the deadline to apply for a grant? A: All applications are due by 5 p.m. on June 1 st ; no submissions will be accepted after that time. Q: When will applicants know if they have been selected to receive a grant? A: Successful applicants will be notified by August 1st. Q: What is the difference between allowable direct costs and allowable indirect (facilities and administrative) costs? A: Direct costs can be identified specifically with a particular sponsored project, an instructional activity or any other institutional activity, or can be directly assigned to such activities relatively easily with a high degree of accuracy. Indirect (or facilities and administrative, F&A) costs are incurred by a grantee for common or joint objectives and, therefore, cannot be identified specifically with a particular project or program. The total costs requested in your budget will include allowable direct costs (related to the performance of the grant) plus allowable indirect (F&A) costs. Indirect (F&A) costs are determined by applying your organization s negotiated F&A rate to your direct cost base. Q: Is there a limit on indirect costs? A: Yes. Indirect costs are limited to 10% of direct costs. Indirect costs must be included in your total proposed budget, which must be within the available limit of the grant. Q: Is it permitted to use grant funds for salaries? A: No. Grant funds may not be used to pay any portion of the principal investigator s salary. 22
Q: Is it permitted to use grant funds to pay for the research assistants? A: Grant funds may be used to support the work of the research assistants (data collection, for example) provided the accounting is done on a cost-per-hour basis and not as a percentage of salary. Calculate the number of hours needed for the work and multiply that figure by the hourly rate to arrive at the cost of the research assistants. Q: Is it permitted to use grant funds to pay for consultants? A: Grant funds may be used to support the work of consultants, such as those who are engaged for the development of research tools and analysis of data. Account for such expense on a costper-hour or per-project basis. Q: How should letters of support be addressed? A: Letters of support should be included in the electronic application packet and submitted as one file to the MOC-AACN Research Grant Review Panel. Q: Will one support letter suffice if it s from an advisor who can also address ability to complete the work? A: Most applications include at least two letters of support. However, one letter is adequate provided its content includes all the requirements and the reviewers can clearly see that. The two letters are meant to show 1) the applicant has the academic preparation to complete the work, usually written by the faculty advisor, and 2) there is enough history of perseverance to complete the work; such a letter is usually written by someone (nonfamily) who has known the applicant over time. Q: How are grant funds paid? A: Grant funds will be paid according to the preference of the principal investigator directly to the PI as an individual, in which case MOC-AACN will require a W-9 Form and will issue an IRS Form 1099 to the PI at the end of the year. Q: How long is the period of the grant? A: The period of the grant is two years from the date of funding, unless an extension is requested in writing by the grantee and approved by MOC-AACN. Q: What happens to the grant money when the principal investigator transfers to another institution during the term of the grant? A: The grant money will transfer with the principal investigator. However, if the research cannot be continued, the funds will be returned to MOC-AACN. 23
Q: Is someone without a master s degree, such as an enrollee in a BSN-to-PhD or DNP program, eligible to submit a grant application as the principal investigator? A: Enrollees in BSN-to-PhD or DNP programs are eligible provided they have advanced to doctoral candidacy and have included such documentation in their submitted materials. Q: What if I cannot get ethical review completed before the grant submission deadline? A: If evidence of ethical review and approval are not included in your grant application materials, please indicate if the review is in progress and when it will be completed. If your institution does not conduct ethical review until a study is accepted for funding, so indicate. Evidence of ethical review and approval must be submitted to AACN before any funds can be released. If your study is exempt from ethical review, simply indicate that in your materials. Q: Is the Principal investigator expected to present an oral session of their study findings at a MOC-AACN meeting. A: Yes. 24