Research Grants for Nurses

Apply for Nursing Research Grants

Registered nurses interested in advancing science and improving patient care through research can finance such endeavors with nursing research grants. Each grant has specific requirements that must be met precisely. When applying for a grant it is very helpful to work with someone who has successfully been through the grant process; he or she can help you make sure that everything in your grant is just right.

The Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

This organization offers several grants itself, as well as in partnership with other organizations. Both beginning and seasoned researchers are encouraged to apply for the Sigma Theta Tau grants. Grant recipients must be members of Sigma Theta Tau.

The Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation grant is funded by Sigma Theta Tau. The principle researcher must have at least a masters degree in nursing and be a registered nurse working in the area of rehabilitation. Each year one Rehabilitation Nursing Foundation grant of $4,000 is awarded. This grant can be reapplied for, but all research must be completed in two years. See the Sigma Theta Tau website for more information.

Another grant funded by Sigma Theta Tau is the Emergency Nurses Association Foundation grant. One grant of $6,000 is awarded each year. The principle researcher must be a registered nurse with a masters degree in nursing. The project must be ready to start when it is funded.

Sigma Theta Tau International Small Grants program awards 10-15 grants each year. These are small grants of no more than $5,000 each. The lead researcher must be a registered nurse with a current license and hold a masters, doctorate or be enrolled in a doctorate program. Research must be ready to begin as soon as the grant is funded.

One Sigma Theta Tau Doris Bloch Research Award is given each year. No more than $5,000 will be awarded. Preference is given to beginning researchers who have not received prior funding.

American Nurses Foundation

The American Nurses Foundation Nursing Research grant is awarded to a researcher who wants to advance nursing practice and patient care. Awards are given in all nursing specialties. Beginner and experienced researchers are encouraged to apply.

The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation

The ISHLT awards the Nursing and Social Sciences Research grant. One award of $12,000 is given each year. The recipient of the award must be member of ISHLT and the Council on Nursing, Health Science and Allied Health. The primary researcher must have at least a bachelors degree in nursing. This grant can be re-applied for twice after it is awarded the first time.

The National Institutes of Health

The NIH has many, many nursing grants that are too numerous to list here. Enlist the help of a professional grant writer who has specifically written NIH grants. The NIH grants have so many nuances, you really need a professional’s guidance to determine which grant you are eligible for.

One NIH grant is the Nursing Research Core Grant. This grant is awarded to a researcher whose project centers on maternal and child health, acute and chronic disabling conditions, HIV infections and sexually-transmitted diseases, health promotion and disease prevention or women’s health issues. Click here for more information about NIH grants, including how to apply.

Nurse researchers who have a bachelors degree in nursing and are citizens of the United States can apply for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) award. Recipients of this award must be interested in furthering nursing as a scientific enterprise. Several different program areas are eligible to receive this grant. These include nursing chronic conditions and infectious diseases, arthritis, diabetes, urinary incontinence, women’s health, men’s health, neuroscience, cardiopulmonary disease, family health and end-of-life and long-term care. Visit the federal grants wire for more information about applying for this grant.

How To Apply For a Grant

The Internet is full of websites discussing the ins and outs of grant writing. It would be wise to take advantage of these sites before sending in a grant application.

The first step in applying for a nursing research grant is to find out which grants your research qualifies for. You will then need to develop your strategy and estimate how long the research will take. Next, consider the particulars of your research. What is the scope? Do you have enough expertise to complete the project on your own or will you need assistance of consultants?

When you apply for a grant is is extremely important that every instruction be followed precisely. Write in clear, concise language. Keep the focus of your grant narrow and specific. Use graphics and bullet points for easy readability. Make sure confidential information is redacted from your research.

Your job, when applying for a research grant, is to convince the grantors that your research is relevant to the field and will have a significant impact on it. You will also need to show grantors that you are taking a logical and innovative approach; this is a two-edged sword as too much innovation will not move the grantors to fund your research. In your application, show the grantors that you are qualified to carry out the research and that you have the resources to get the job done.

It is best to avoid research that uses human subjects, vertebrate animals, particular biologic agents, rDNA and stem cells. Applications involving these items are considerably more complex than the average research program.

Once your application is completed, re-read it; check for errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation errors and make sure that the writing is reader friendly. After you have received the grant, you must remain in compliance with the reporting requirements. Know the specifics of your grant completely and keep up with any changes in grant policy.

If you are unsuccessful at getting a nursing research grant on the first application, re-apply. It could be that you just missed receiving it, not necessarily that your grant was sub-par. Remember the old saying “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”