Guidelines for Proposals for Research Grants

Focus Areas

Research and EBP project proposals that address clinical practice or educational or administrative dimensions of rehabilitation nursing are requested. Quantitative and qualitative research projects will be accepted for review.

Eligible Applicants

The principal investigator for the research grant or project director for the EBP project must be a registered nurse who is active in rehabilitation or who demonstrates interest in and significant contributions to rehabilitation nursing. Membership in the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses is not required. Graduate student researchers and DNP students are eligible for funding.

NEW Deadline is March 1, 2013

The Research Grant Committee reviews proposals once a year. 2013 proposals must be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  by midnight March 1, 2013. Proposals received after that date will not be considered. Funding begins January 2014 for the selected proposals.

Responsibilities of Principal Investigator/Project Director

• Completion of the project within 2 years of initial funding
• Submission of a progress report to the RNF Research Grant Committee every 6 months until the research or EBP project is completed
• Submission of a publishable manuscript presenting the research or EBP project to Rehabilitation Nursing or another appropriate refereed journal
• Presentation of a paper or poster pertaining to the research or EBP project at an Association of Rehabilitation Nurses educational conference within 2 years of initial funding.Travel, hotel and conference registration expenses up to $1,000 to attend the ARN annual conference for presentation of this funded work will be reimbursed by RNF for grant recipients if the presentation is accepted by the ARN Annual Conference Committee.
• Acknowledgment in any publication, paper, or poster that the research or EBP project was supported by the Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses; and
• RNF Research Fellows may be encouraged to serve as mentors for novice researchers.

Required Information

Prepare the proposal which is not to exceed 10 double-space, typed, 8 ½" x 11" pages exclusive of the project budget, appendices, and references. Use 12-point type for all documents included in the application.

• Grant application
• Guidelines for Proposal

The grant application includes the following:

• All applicants must complete the Research/EBP Project Grant Checklist to verify inclusion of all required materials and included it as part of the application.
• All applicants must complete the Summary Data Form included in the packet.
• All applicants must complete the Grant Contact Forms regarding the contact person for the grant funding agreement and disbursement of funds should application be selected.
• The institution or agency named in the proposal must complete the Administrative Approval Form to indicate acknowledgment and approval of the research or EBP project. (Approvals may be pending at time of submission but must be given before the grant is awarded).
• Use the space on the Abstract Form for a typed, 250 to 350 word abstract defining the research or clinical problem, stating the significance of the research or EBP project, and presenting the research or EBP project methodology and plan for analysis.
• Include the NIH Biographical Sketch of the principal investigator/project director, all co-investigators, and consultants. Also, if applying for the New Investigator Grant, include NIH Biosketches for advisors and mentors.
  NIH Biosketch sample and instructions and NIH Biosketch form.

Headings
Complete proposals must include the following headings:

Statement of the Problem
Research study: This section includes the description of the problem, its significance to rehabilitation nursing, a concise and critical review of current literature, the research question(s), objectives, and any hypotheses.

EBP project: This section includes a description of the current practice and why change is needed; the proposed change in practice; and a concise and critical review of current evidence in the literature concerning the practice issue.

Methodology
Research project: This section describes the research setting and the approach to the research question(s). At a minimum, include a description of the sample population, variables, data collection, procedures, instruments, analysis, and implications.  If the research design is qualitative, corresponding methodology and scientific rigor are expected.

EBP project: This section describes the plans for implementation of change and information about the data to be collected. Include details about the patient population, if applicable. Include a brief discussion about the limitations of the project and plans for sustainability if expected outcomes are achieved.

A precise timeline illustrating project tasks and objectives to be completed in less than 2 years is required for ALL TYPES of PROPOSALS.

References
This section cites bibliographic information in the proposal.

Project Budget
A budget for the entire project must be submitted. If RNF funds are to be used for only a portion of the budget, identify the specific items for which you seek support. Identify remaining items to be funded from other sources and in-kind contributions. Clearly describe those sources of funding or support in addition to the amount you are seeking from each entity. This section must specify the direct costs associated with the research or EBP project. Neither indirect costs nor travel expenses to conferences for presentations are funded by RNF. Neither the principal investigator/project director's salary nor the purchase of a computer will be funded unless significant justification is provided in proposal. Include notation of contributed funds, personnel, or indirect allowances. The budget must represent sufficient funds to complete the project.

Because funds are not distributed in one sum, the principal investigator/project director should propose a strategy for the receipt and distribution of funds during the length of the project. The strategy should facilitate the conduct of the study and may be done on a semiannual basis, by expense voucher, by task or objective, or by another means. The funding year shall begin in January following the awarding of the grant at the ARN educational conference.

Personnel
Clearly specify the principal investigator or project director for the project who will be the grant recipient responsible for the conduct of the study or project. Indicate the rehabilitation nursing activities and contributions of the principal investigator/project director. Describe the functions of all personnel involved with the project.

If there are co-investigators, consultants, or other key personnel describe fully the contributions of each to the project. Include the NIH Biographical Sketch of the principal investigator/project director, all co-investigators, and consultants. If applying for the New Investigator Grant, include NIH Biosketches for advisors and mentors.

Setting
Obtain written approval of the administrative officer of the institution or agency in which the proposed study or project will be conducted (Administrative Approval Form).

Review and Approval
The principal investigator/project director must provide proof of review and approval by his or her institution's Human Subjects Review Board or Institutional Review Board (IRB) and approval by an educational institution or the institution where the research or EBP project will be conducted.

Pending approval will not disqualify a proposal for review, but final approval must be given before the grant is awarded.

Appendices
Include citations of supportive information and data collection tools. Include any or all of the following in the Appendices:

Appendix A: Measurement Instruments
Appendix B: Human Subjects and/or Animal Subject Approval
Appendix C: Consent Forms
Appendix D: Institutional Agreements
Appendix E: NIH Biosketch and Other Supporting Documents

Submission Guidelines

Requirements

• Submit the entire packet electronically in pdf format.
• Complete all proposal materials. Incomplete proposals will not be considered.
• Email proposals to Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Evaluation Procedures

Proposals will be reviewed by members of the Research Grant Committee members and a peer review panel. Proposals will be rated according to predetermined weighted criteria. The committee members and peer review panel will recommend the proposals selected to receive funding to the RNF Board of Trustees.

All principal investigators/project directors will be notified of the disposition of their proposals after action by the RNF Board of Trustees. Principal investigators/project directors will receive a summary critique of their proposal from the Research Grant Committee.

Notification of Award

Grant recipients will be notified in August. Public announcement of the grant recipients will be made by the RNF Chair at the ARN educational conference. RNF requests that recipients do not publicly announce receipt of the grant until after the ARN educational conference. Recipients are strongly encouraged to attend the conference.

Funds will be awarded to the institution, agency, investigator, or project director at the discretion of the RNF Board of Trustees and will be based on the recommendations of the Research Grant Committee. The strategy for funding proposed by the principal investigators/project directors will be considered in the decision.

Rehabilitation Nursing Research Agenda

The Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation (RNF), the research arm of the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses (ARN), has developed the Research Agenda to guide the research activities of the Foundation.

This agenda is consistent with the research goals of the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Nursing Research as well as the national health objectives identified in Healthy People.

The RNF Research Agenda addresses four key areas:

• Nursing and nursing-led interdisciplinary interventions to promote function in people of all ages with disability and/or chronic health problems
• Experience of disability and/or chronic health problems for individuals and families across the lifespan
• Rehabilitation in the changing healthcare system
• The rehabilitation nursing profession

Brief descriptions of the high-priority issues for each of these areas are also outlined.

RNF encourages nurse researchers and those who fund research to consider this agenda when planning their own research activities.

Added consideration will be given to applicants who use the research agenda and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) priorities that can be found on the NINR web site at http://www.ninr.nih.gov/AboutNINR/NINRMissionandStrategicPlan/ in planning their research proposal.

For more information, contact the Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation office at 800/229-7530 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .