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/ http://www.va.gov/oaa/ Contact Dr. Mary B. Dougherty at Mary.Dougherty@va.gov or Mary.Dougherty@va.gov (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 is realistic.

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 Information continued… 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 Plan continued… 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 1. Title and Purpose(s) of the Study 2. Background/Preliminary Studies 3. Significance 4. Study Design/Methods 5. 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!