Click on the topics below to see frequently asked questions.
Program Background
- What is Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education (EIN)? EIN is a national initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that supports evaluations of interventions that expand teaching capacity or promote faculty recruitment and retention in nursing schools. The program aims to increase the number of nursing school graduates by evaluating strategies that address the nurse faculty shortage. An important program activity is the dissemination of successful strategies for widespread replication in other nursing education settings. The initiative is overseen by the EIN national program office, which is located at the Center for State Health Policy at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
return to top - What is the purpose of EIN’s Cycle 3 Call for Proposals (CFP)?With EIN Cycle 3, we are inviting applications for research projects studying nursing faculty issues that are critical to achieving the recommendations outlined in the 2010 Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. Consistent with EIN’s mission, projects will typically address teaching productivity and faculty preparation in nursing education for meeting the demands of a reformed health care and public health system. Findings should inform strategies for addressing the nurse faculty shortage while expanding the nurse workforce and maintaining or improving student outcomes.
return to top - What is the background related to this CFP?Nursing’s capacity to serve current workforce needs continues to be undermined by an acute shortage of nurse faculty. For the past several years, nursing schools have turned away thousands of qualified applicants in part because there are not enough faculty members available to teach them (AACN 2009); preliminary data indicate that during 2010, those numbers increased by 25 percent (AACN 2010). The 2010 IOM report challenges the profession to offer optimal education and training to meet the demands of a reformed health care and public health system. Achievement of five of its eight recommendations will depend upon significant changes in the capacity and scope of nursing education. These recommendations include: 1) increasing the proportion of nurses with a baccalaureate degree to 80 percent by 2020; 2) doubling the number of nurses with a doctorate by 2020; 3) implementing nurse residency programs; 4) ensuring that nurses engage in lifelong learning; and 5) preparing and enabling nurses to lead change to advance health. EIN’s current call for proposals seeks to address gaps in requisite knowledge for achieving the IOM’s recommendations in the face of the current faculty shortage. (Click HERE for a presentation of the full set of recommendations.)The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is committed to addressing the challenges facing the nursing profession. The Foundation’s programs seek to ensure that our nation has enough well-prepared nurses from diverse backgrounds to meet our current and future needs. Central to these efforts, RWJF commissioned the IOM report on the future of nursing and is supporting the Campaign for Action, a collaborative effort that seeks to improve the quality of patient care by fully utilizing the expertise and experience of nurses—the largest segment of the U.S. health care workforce—and by enhancing their skills and capabilities. Furthering this commitment, EIN will fund research projects that illuminate issues relating to teaching productivity and faculty preparation that must be resolved to achieve the IOM recommendations.
return to top - Does this funding opportunity focus on research or program evaluation?
We encourage both types of proposals – those addressing research questions and those evaluating innovative interventions. Each proposal will be reviewed based on the project’s contribution to advancing the IOM recommendations, as well as the strength of design and strategy for achieving generalizability. If you are proposing to evaluate a program, please refer to EIN’s previous CFP, which includes more information on requirements of controlled evaluation designs (e.g., using comparison schools, randomized cohorts, or other evaluation techniques).
return to top - Are program evaluations favored over studies addressing research questions?
No, the call for proposals focuses primarily on research projects addressing questions whose resolution is critical to advancing the IOM recommendations. If an evaluation serves this purpose, it will be considered as well. If you choose to apply for an evaluation grant, be sure to familiarize yourself with EIN’s requirements for a controlled evaluation specified in previous CFP.
return to top - The current CFP refers on p. 9 to evidence of an association between particular preceptor arrangements and patient safety or quality of care. Doesn’t that involve an evaluation?
The cited passage is from our example of topics addressing preparation of staff nurses to serve as clinical preceptors in a clinical education model for pre-licensure degree students. The next sentence was intended to convey the relevance of such evidence to the project: If such evidence exists, does preceptor preparation support these arrangements. The intent was not to invite evaluations of the impact of preceptor arrangements on clinical outcomes or critical incidents, but rather to suggest that, if such evidence is available, it would be pertinent to address whether or not the implications are reflected in preparation of preceptors.
return to top - How many projects do you expect to fund?
We will award up to $1.8 million, which may translate to 5-10 projects depending on the pool of applicants and the quality and mix of large- and smaller-scale proposals. All grants will be 24 months in duration or shorter. Two tiers of funding will be considered: grants of up to $100,000 might support case studies, scans of existing programs, or determination of best practices; grants of up to $300,000 might support survey research or controlled evaluations.
return to top - Do you anticipate another call for proposals next year?
At this time, we do not anticipate another call for proposals in 2012.
return to top - What is the EIN National Program Office?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation currently supports more than 80 national program offices. The program offices are responsible for substantive as well as administrative functions of the grantmaking process for RWJF initiatives; program office responsibilities include managing the competitive selection process, providing technical assistance to applicants and grantees, and monitoring site performance. Grants are awarded by RWJF on the basis of recommendations of the program office and the national advisory committee. The Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education National Program Office is located at the Center for State Health Policy at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
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Submitting an Application
- Who is eligible to receive a grant under this program? We welcome applications that draw on the expertise of researchers from nursing and other health sciences, the social sciences, and other relevant disciplines. Eligible applicant organizations include academic institutions, health care organizations, and research firms. Preference will be given to those organizations that are either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 5(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its territories.
return to top - Can there be more than one Principal Investigator on the project?Yes. A project may have more than one Principal Investigator.
return to top - Other than the PI’s biosketch, I understand that the brief proposal can include a second biosketch. Does the second biosketch need to come from the Co-PI (if there is one), or can it come from another co-investigator who is a seasoned researcher, particularly if the PI and Co-PI are new investigators?
The second biosketch can be of any Co-investigator. Please choose the two biosketches that best reflect the applicant team’s qualifications and ability to carry out the proposed project successfully.
return to top - Does the PI need to have had previous experiences as a federal or foundation grant recipient?
No, applicants do not need to have previous grant funding experience. The important qualification is that the PI and Co-investigators demonstrate the necessary competencies to carry out the project as proposed.
return to top - Would you consider proposals from a practical nursing college granting AAS?
Regarding applicant eligibility, we welcome applicants from practical nursing colleges as well as other academic, research, or health care institutions. However, a project should not focus solely on the AAS program, since it would not align with IOM recommendations.
return to top - Can a project include international partners?
Unfortunately the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation does not fund research outside of the U.S.
return to top - How long should the brief proposal be? Should it be double-spaced?
Type your narrative in 12-point Times New Roman font in black. The entire narrative, including section headings, must be no more than seven pages, with single (1) line spacing and one-inch margins on all edges. Narratives that exceed the seven-page limit will not be reviewed. You can find all the details (length, font size, format, etc.) by registering and logging into the RWJF online application system
return to top - Do I have to submit a brief proposal online?
Yes. We will only accept proposals through the RWJF online application system. You may apply online HERE and use the Apply Online link for this solicitation. If you have not already done so, you will be required to register at http://my.rwjf.org before you initiate your application. We strongly recommend that all applicants log into the online system and familiarize themselves with online submission requirements well before the submission deadline.
return to top - What are the terms of the grant funding amounts and what is the grant period?
Two tiers of funding will be considered: grants of up to $100,000 might support case studies, scans of existing programs, or determination of best practices; grants of up to $300,000 might support survey research or controlled evaluations. The maximum for any grant under this program is $300,000. We will consider the appropriateness of the budget in making funding decisions. All grants will be 24 months in duration or shorter. New grants are scheduled to begin on July 9, 2012. Rarely if ever will we grant a no-cost extension to Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education projects.
return to top - Can an applicant fax or email the proposal?
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY FAXES OR EMAILS. All applications must be submitted online through RWJF’s Application
return to top - Where should an applicant send FedEx or overnight deliveries?
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY MATERIALS IN HARD COPY.
return to top - When is the application deadline and late submission policy?
The deadline for brief proposals is November 16, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To be accepted for review, you must complete and submit your proposal by the deadline. To be fair to all applicants, RWJF strictly enforces this submission deadline and will not accept late submissions.
return to top - Can one apply from outside of the United States?
We do not fund applicants based outside of the United States. However, this grant is open to applicants from the U.S. territories, Guam and the Mariana Islands.
return to top - When will we be notified if we have been awarded a grant? When will these grants be awarded?
- May 2, 2012: Notification of funding decision
- July 9, 2012: Start of grant.
- What are the stages of the application process?
There are two stages in the application process: 1) submission of a brief proposal posing the research questions(s) and outlining the research strategy; and, if invited, 2) submission of a full proposal and line-item budget for further consideration.
return to top - What happens after the proposal is submitted? How will my proposal be evaluated?
We review all proposals for completeness and eligibility. We assign them to experts on our national advisory committee as well as to National Program Office (NPO) and RWJF staff for review. RWJF, in consultation with the NPO and the members of the national advisory committee, makes all final funding decisions.
return to top - How can I check the status of my proposal once it is submitted?
We expect to receive many proposals, all of which must go through the same review process. If you have a question about a specific proposal, please send an e-mail to info@EvaluatingInnovationsinNursing.org. Please be sure to include the name of the applicant institution, the principal investigator and contact information in your communication.
return to top - Will I receive specific comments on my application after a decision is made?
We provide critiques and comments on proposals that are recommended for full proposal submission, and on full proposals that are selected for funding. Consistent with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation policy and to ensure a fair application process, we do not provide individual critiques or comments on proposals not selected for funding.
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Developing a Proposal
- What should the brief proposal address? In the proposal narrative template (on RWJF’s online application system), applicants are asked to address the topics below. We recommend that you refer to the EIN Call for Proposals for more details.
- RESEARCH AIMS
Describe the problem you will address, including your research questions and their significance for enhancing teaching productivity, faculty preparation in nursing education, and/or faculty recruitment and retention. Provide details on the logic through which your findings will inform achievement of specific IOM recommendations on the future of nursing. (Recommended 1-2 pages) - METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH
Provide an overview of your research methods including the nature of your sample and its suitability for producing generalizable results, a description of your key variables and associated data collection strategy, and a presentation of your analysis plan. (Recommended length: 2-3 pages) - DISSEMINATION PLANS
Outline your plans for making your findings accessible to those pursuing implementation of the IOM recommendations. Identify your specific audiences and your strategies for sharing your results with them. - RESEARCH TEAM
Describe the relevant expertise and experience of your research team. (Recommended length: up to 1 page) - BUDGET AND TIME FRAME
Provide an estimate of your total budget request, the duration of the project, and the rationale for your choice of the smaller or larger grant option. Indicate the intended, annualized time commitment of key research staff and their roles in the project. (Not to exceed 1 page).
- RESEARCH AIMS
- To qualify for this funding opportunity, does an interprofessional education program need to involve a collaboration with a medical school?
Qualified interprofessional programs would involve, at a minimum, students in nursing and in medicine (as stated in the IOM report), but can certainly include other disciplines such as social work, pharmacy, etc.
return to top - What are some previous initiatives that have supported projects on interprofessional education?
As described in the Call for Proposals, examples include Hartford Foundation’s Geriatric Interdisciplinary Team Training (GITT); Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Partnerships for Quality Education (PQE) — Collaborative Interdisciplinary Team Education (CITE); and Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation’s Interprofessional Education and Teamwork Program.
return to top - Can funding be used to pilot an education program?
No, this particular funding opportunity does not support the development or piloting of programs.
return to top - Sounds like this funding opportunity supports evaluation of existing innovations rather than the creation of innovative interventions or pilot projects. Is that right?
That’s correct – the funds can be used to advance IOM recommendations through research or evaluation of existing programs, but not to develop or pilot programs.
return to top - Can a proposal address just one IOM goal, or must it address more than one goal?
You can propose to address one or more IOM recommendations [be sure to specify which one(s)]. The key is to present a compelling case that your proposed project will generate crucial evidence for one or more IOM recommendations, and clarify how this will be achieved.
return to top - Do we have to have the program (e.g., an accelerated RN-to-BSN) in place to develop a research question?
The program in an evaluation proposal must be on-going, since a new program would not be mature enough in its implementation to be evaluated effectively. The program does not need to be housed in the applicant’s institution, though the applicant should demonstrate the ability to secure the program’s involvement in the evaluation process. If you are proposing to evaluate a program, please refer to EIN’s previous CFP, which includes more information on requirements of controlled evaluation designs (e.g., using comparison schools, randomized cohorts, or other evaluation techniques).
return to top - Can you elaborate on “case studies” as they relate to the smaller funding tier?
A case study can suggest and generate hypotheses, but cannot test hypotheses. As such, this may be an appropriate approach to generating insights about unusual strategies, as long as the proposal makes a compelling case for its potential to advance the IOM recommendations.
return to top - In striving to maximize sample size and improve generalizability, how much will a multi-site study improve a proposal’s chances for funding?
Compared to single-site studies, multi-site studies tend to have the advantage of larger sample sizes (therefore statistical power) and diversity to achieve generalizability. Therefore, a multi-site study design is likely to have greater chances for funding than a single-site study design.
return to top - Is it OK to evaluate existing programs and identify the gaps? Or is that not the focus of this funding opportunity?
The proposal should not just identify “gaps,” but go a step further to elicit how these gaps can be effectively closed to achieve better outcomes. Consult our previous CFP for EIN requirements of controlled evaluations.
return to top - Because innovations are often not embraced widely, some research on innovative programs may need to begin as pilot studies, which may limit its generalizability. Would a pilot study be considered for funding if its potential for application in education appears strong?
Yes, pilot studies of ongoing interventions may be considered, most appropriately for the lower funding tier. The proposal must definitively demonstrate that the program is innovative, and that the study is critical to developing a broader strategy for adoption and implementation.
return to top - Is it correct that the main emphasis of this opportunity is on faculty, as opposed to on students’ educational progression, i.e., what is important about the faculty as opposed to what keeps students from moving forward?
Yes. While students’ educational progression may be an important outcome, proposals should confine their major focus to identifying the precise faculty contributions to successful student progression. return to top - Would you consider proposals from a practical nursing college granting AAS?
A proposal to explore or evaluate educational progression, of which an AAS program is a part, would certainly qualify. However, a project cannot focus solely on the AAS program since it would not align with IOM recommendations.
return to top - Can a project include international partners?
Unfortunately the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation does not fund research outside of the U.S.
return to top - What are the length and style requirements for the brief proposal?
Type your narrative in 12-point Times New Roman font in black. The entire narrative, including section headings, must be no more than seven pages, with single (1) line spacing and one-inch margins on all edges. Narratives that exceed the seven-page limit will not be reviewed. You can find all the details (length, font size, format, etc.) by registering and logging into the RWJF online application system.
return to top - May I submit appendices as part of the brief proposal?
No, please limit your submissions to the page limit explained in the proposal narrative.
return to top - What criteria will be used to evaluate the proposals?
Please see the program’s Call for Proposals for a complete list of Selection Criteria, which include the significance of the research questions, the strength of the research design in addressing the research questions, the adequacy of the scale of implementation (for program evaluations); the comprehensiveness of the dissemination plan and the relevance of the expertise and experience of the research team. Reviewers will also look to the strength and clarity of the logic linking expected findings from the proposed research to specific strategies for achieving one or more of the IOM recommendations.
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Budget
- What can grant funds be used for?
The maximum grant award available is $300,000. There are two tiers of funding for this grant cycle: grants of up to $100,000 might support case studies, scans of existing programs or determination of best practices; grants of up to $300,000 might support survey research or controlled evaluations. Grant funds may be used for project salaries, consultant fees, data collection and analysis, meetings, supplies, project-related travel and other direct project expenses, including a limited amount of equipment essential to the project. Grantees must budget funds for attendance at two EIN national meetings. In keeping with RWJF policy, grant funds may not be used to subsidize individuals for the cost of health care, to support clinical trials of unapproved drugs or devices, to construct or renovate facilities, for lobbying or as a substitute for funds currently being used to support similar activities.
return to top - What budget information is required for submission with the Brief Proposal?
You must submit a preliminary budget with your Brief Proposal, for which you must provide an estimate of your total budget request, the duration of the project, and the rationale for your choice of the smaller or larger grant option. Indicate the intended, annualized time commitment of key research staff and their roles in the project. (Not to exceed 1 page).
return to top - What is the indirect cost rate?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s indirect cost rate is 12 percent. See item #13 at http://www.rwjf.org/applications/faqlist.jsp#13a for more details.
return to top - Are matching funds, or research funds from other kinds of outside sources, required for this funding opportunity?
Matching funds are neither required nor discouraged.
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Application and Review Online
- How do I begin the application process on the RWJF online system?
You must visit the webpage for the RWJF online application system (http://my.rwjf.org) in order to register for the system and have access to the application portal. All first-time visitors must use the “Register” button on the left-hand side of the Welcome screen to set-up their profile for the “MyRWJF” portal. In creating your profile, you will also create an Applicant ID and password. As you enter the portal, you can locate the “current calls for proposals” section, where you will find the EIN call for proposal listed. You then click the “Apply” link to begin your application process. Once you have registered, the system recognizes you as a returning visitor and you may use the “Sign in” button to reach the “call for proposals” section.
return to top - Are there applicant “help” links on the RWJF online system?
The RWJF online system provides a detailed Applicant Guide, a FAQs section and a set of brief instructional videos for applicants which cover specific topics, e.g., applicant login, beginning an application, application home page, continuing an application; uploading documents and submitting an application.
return to top - What if I have questions about the RWJF online application system or the scope of the EIN program?
All questions should be directed to the Evaluating Innovations in Nursing Education Helpdesk. Inquiries can be emailed to info@EvaluatingInnovationsinNursing.org. We prefer to receive questions by email, in order to facilitate accurate forwarding of the question to the appropriate staff member. However, should you wish to contact us by phone, please call (848) 932-4670. Please be sure to include the name of the institution, the project director and contact information in every communication.
return to top - How do I provide access to collaborators that need to work on my proposal?
If allowable for the solicitation, you can invite collaborators by selecting the “Invite Collaborators” button located under the Reference box on your Brief Proposal home screen. If you do not see this button, the solicitation does not allow collaborators to view, edit or submit your Brief Proposal.
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Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- What is the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation?
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, we work with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 35 years we’ve brought experience, commitment and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those we serve. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, we expect to make a difference in your lifetime.
return to top - How can I obtain more information about RWJF?
For more information about the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and its initiatives, visit www.rwjf.org. You can sign up HERE to receive e-mail alerts on upcoming calls for proposals.
return to top - How can I obtain more information about the RWJF Campaign for Action?
For more information about RWJF’s Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, visit http://thefutureofnursing.org/.
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