Research/Best Practice

AACN-GCC Research or Best Practice Project
Currently, AACN-GCC will be awarding yearly one grant for research or best practice project. The research or best practice project must be relevant in the areas of critical care nursing practice, education, or administration. Preferences will be given, unless otherwise specified, to proposals relevant to critical care and/or progressive care practice and should address one or more of AACN’'s priority areas.
• Effective and appropriate use of technology to achieve optimal patient assessment, management, and/or outcomes.
• Creating a healing, humane environment.
• Processes and systems that foster the optimal contribution of critical care and progressive care nurses.
• Effective approaches to symptom management.
• Prevention and management of complications.

Eligibility
• Principal investigator or project leader must be registered nurses with an active membership in the local and national AACN.
• Principal investigator or project leader who have received funding from AACN-GCC may only apply for a new grant when their original award obligations have been met.
• Proposals submitted by graduate students must be accompanied by a letter from the faculty advisor or faculty research committee chair.
• A proposal with two or more investigators will receive only one award.

Ethical Considerations and Requirements
• Each research proposal must show evidence that the proposed study has been reviewed and approved (or administratively reviewed as exempt) by an established Institutional Review Board (IRB).
• Each best practice project application must show evidence that the project has been reviewed and approved by administrators of the environment in which the program will be implemented.

Financial Considerations
• Funds should be used to support project expenses. These include, but are not limited to research assistants, secretarial support, equipment, supplies, and consultative assistance (i.e., research design, statistical analysis).
• Funds may not be used for salaries of the principal or co-investigators, travel to presentations, preparation of slides, presentation or publication of findings, educational expenses (i.e., tuition, books) or food.
• Any funds not utilized for the research or best practice program must be returned to AACN-GCC within three months of the completion of the project.

Awarding of Funds
• Applications are reviewed and funded annually during March. Application Deadline will be the end of the second week in February. Unless stated otherwise, applications received after each deadline will be held for consideration during the next funding cycle.
• Recipients will be paid by check.

Application Process
• Write a cover letter which describes how you as the principal investigator or project leader meet the eligibility requirements and how the study or project will address one or more of the AACN’'s priority research areas.
• Complete the application form. Simply click here to open the application, print it, & fill it out. Then mail the completed application & all other required documentation to:
AACN-GCC
PO Box 19122
Cincinnati, OH 45219
• For a research study, provide a letter from the IRB that the project has been approved or administratively reviewed as exempt - OR - For a best practice project, provide a letter from the administrators of the environment in which the program will be implemented.
NOTE: For specific proposal requirements for either a research study or best practice project, click on the topic below:

Research Study
Best Practice Project
Notification Process
• Principal investigator or project leader will receive a letter by mail or electronic mail acknowledging the receipt of the grant materials.
• Applicants will be notified regarding the outcome of the review process within 60 days of the application deadline.

Award Requirements
• Provide a summary of your research protocol and results or best practice project for the AACN-GCC Newsletter.
• Present your research results or best practice project at an identified AACN-GCC conference to be held following the completion of the project.
• If research, the principal investigator is to provide the research abstract and poster presentation at the following AACN-GCC Trends Conference.
• If the research or project cannot be conducted within the stipulated timeframe, a change in timeline must be requested or approved by the AACN-GCC Board.
• If the principal investigator’s or project leader’s contact information changes prior to completing the award requirements, this individual is to contact the AACN-GCC Board in writing.
• Investigators must acknowledge the financial support (full or part) of AACN-GCC in all presentations and publications. For example: “This project was funded by a grant from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Greater Cincinnati Chapter”.

Questions on any of the above information? Send us an e-mail at: Research@aacngcc.org & we will get back to you ASAP!

National AACN also has grants available in support of clinical projects & research. Click here for more information about National AACN support.