American Association of Critical-Care Nurses invites clinicians and researchers to apply for grants

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) invites clinicians and researchers to apply for its grants, with awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

This year, AACN makes available nearly $200,000 in research funding, including three Impact Research Grants of $50,000 each, to support inquiry that drives change in high acuity and critical care nursing practice.

Priority projects address gaps in clinical research at the organization or system level and translation of these findings to bedside clinicians. Projects include use of technology to assess patients and manage outcomes; ways to create a healing and humane environment; and processes and systems to optimize high acuity and critical care nursing.

AACN developed the Impact Research Grant program to ensure a pipeline for evidence-based resources that include protocols and practice alerts in support of a wide range of AACN priorities. Currently funded AACN Impact Research Grants include projects related to identifying the impact of telemedicine on ICU nursing care, studying feeding intolerance in preterm infants and measuring the quality of care provided by pediatric cardiovascular nurses at children's hospitals.

AACN will award three $50,000 Impact Research Grants in 2012, the final year of the initial three-year program. Applicants may request up to $50,000 in total costs. Research must be completed in two years. AACN continues to offer annually the AACN-Sigma Theta Tau Critical Care Grant and AACN-Philips Medical Systems Outcomes Grant, up to $10,000 each.

All research grant applications opened Sept. 1 and must be submitted online by Nov. 1. Principal investigators must be current AACN members.