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Applying for an AACN Grant

To apply for an AACN grant:

  1. Identify the grant award that best meets the needs of your research and most closely matches your topic.
  2. Write a cover letter describing how your research meets the eligibility requirements and how the study addresses one of AACN’s research priority areas.
  3. Complete the application and budget form.
    • Be sure to justify all anticipated expenses.
  4. Include a biographical sketch for each investigator and each consultant, using the AACN biosketch form or the National Institutes of Health biosketch form.
    • Please do not use any other format.
  5. Write a research proposal, according to the guidelines and requirements listed below.
    • Please limit the proposal’s sections on specific aims, significance, methodology and timetable to 12 pages in length (not including references and appendices).
       
Abstract: Summarize the main points of the grant proposal (limit 300 words).
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.
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.
Methodology and Timetable:

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.

Include the proposed timetable for your study. Describe the data analysis plan. Identify potential limitations of the study.
Budget:

Specify direct and indirect costs of your project. Include the following items if applicable: supplies, equipment, computer costs, consultative fees and other expenses — such as data collection and analysis.

Justify each expense, providing information on how each budget item requested was derived. Indirect costs are limited to 10% of direct costs and must be included in the grant award proposal.

  1. Provide letters of support from:
    • 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.
  1. 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.
    • If evidence of the review is not included in the proposal, submit documentation that the review is in progress and indicate the anticipated completion date.
       
    • 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.
         
    • Proposals submitted without evidence of ethical review and approval will not be reviewed.
      • If ethical review is in progress but not completed, proposals may be sent for review, provided evidence of ethical review and approval is received by AACN within 30 days of the grant application deadline.
      • Under no circumstances will funding be authorized for proposals without evidence of ethical review and approval.
  1. Log in with your AACN member ID and upload all documents on the AACN Grants Submission page.

More Information About Applying for Grants

For more information about applying for grants:

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