Tips for VA Pre and Postdoctoral Nurse Fellowship Applications

1. Tips for VA Pre and Postdoctoral Nurse Fellowship Applications Maude Rittman, Ph.D., RN North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System Gainesville, FL Jill E. Bormann, Ph.D., RN VA San Diego Healthcare System San Diego, CA (created January 2007)

2. Information for Applicants • Check VA’s web page at http://www.va.gov/oaa/ • Contact Dr. Mary B. Dougherty at Mary.Dougherty@va.gov or (202) 461-9498

3. Overview: • Getting Started Writing • VA Facility Information • Applicant Information • Training Program • Presentation of the Application

4. Tips for Applicant • Develop a clear understanding of your strengths and goals • Emphasize the significance of your research within the VHA and for the veteran population • Start writing 3 months in advance and set early deadlines of drafts • Obtain assistance in writing, if needed

5. Getting Started Writing • Review specifics in Program Announcement and have a clear division of labor with mentor in writing application • Establish a core document using headings as specifically stated in guidelines • Use tables with columns for goals, activities, target dates, and faculty. This blueprint helps identify gaps in plan and that the plan isrealistic.

6. VA Facility Information • Facility Support – Clinical and patient data, involvement of nurses in education, resources provided to applicant • Nursing Research – Facility’s accomplishments, list of nursing research studies, nursing publications, academic affiliations of nursing staff

7. VA Facility Information continued… • List related areas of research at facility • Report funding for Nursing Research and Other Research • Present information that makes your facility stand out in relation to your interests

8. Applicant Information • Present strengths of applicant, mentor, & project director—how they compliment each other • Emphasize how fellowship will extend applicant’s knowledge and skills in a specialized area of theory and research • Demonstrate commitment of affiliated academic institutions

9. Applicant Informationcontinued… • Provide evidence that applicant has potential to obtain grant funding after completing (postdoctoral) fellowship • Highlight strong match between applicant and mentor

10. Training Program • Demonstrate plan for strong collaboration between VA and affiliated university research team members • Emphasize the significance of research within the VHA • Demonstrate how applicant will remain active in VHA research after completion of fellowship

11. Training Plancontinued… • Present clear goals and objectives that are linked with specific knowledge, skills, and activities (see sample Program Curriculum in next slide) • Demonstrate how the training plan can be accomplished during period of fellowship • Include activities that will increase applicant’s understanding of VHA research system • Provide a specific, detailed evaluation plan

12. For Pre-Doc: Description of Proposed Dissertation Research • Title and Purpose(s) of the Study • Background/Preliminary Studies • Significance • Study Design/Methods • Proposed time line for completion of each stage • (not to exceed 10 pages)

13. Sample of a Post-Doc Program Curriculum – Goal: Increase knowledge of outcomes measurement • Learning objectives • Evaluate outcome measures commonly used in research with HIV/AIDS patients • Knowledge/Skills • Skills of critiquing instruments used in outcomes research • Learning Experience • Course: Theory of Measurement & Evaluation • With mentor, critique selected outcome HIV measures • Training Staff • Faculty in Evaluation & Measurement Department • Mentor, Dr. Smith

14. Example of Fellowship Evaluation • Short Term Goal • Increase knowledge of health care economic • Performance Criteria • Demonstrates understanding of health care economics • Integrates economic theory into design of HIV outcome studies • Evaluation Method • Successfully completes course & independent Study by (date) • Submits research proposal that incorporates economic theory • Evaluator • Faculty in courses • Mentor

15. Presentation of the Application • Use a Cover Page • Use Color Print • Create Table of Contents

16. Thank you!