Nursing Research News: April 2024

Nursing students gathering and studying at a table.

Each month, the Center for Research and Scholarship at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing sends an internal research newsletter to faculty, staff, students and researchers. A recap is posted here.

Message from the Associate Dean for Research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through Deputy Director of Extramural Research, Dr. Mike Lauer, and Director of the NIH Center for Scientific Review, Dr. Noni Byrnes, has announced significant changes to the peer review process and application forms for fellowship applications (e.g., F30, F31, F32, F33, and F99/K00), effective January 25, 2025. 

These changes aim to address concerns raised by the extramural community regarding potential biases in the current fellowship review process. The revisions to the NIH fellowship application and review process are designed to increase the likelihood of identifying the most promising fellowship candidates consistently. 

Key changes include reorganizing and refining the current five scored criteria into three: 

  • Candidate’s Goals, Preparedness, and Potential
  • Research Training Plan, and
  • Commitment to Candidate.

The Center for Research and Scholarship will provide more information about the changes in the fellowship application forms and the review process as it becomes available.

-Ronald Hickman, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN

Scholarship Awards and Grants

Derry Ann Moritz Scholarship

Colleen Carroll, PhD candidate, is the inaugural recipient of the Derry Ann Moritz Scholarship, which supports PhD candidates at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing whose dissertations focus on topics regarding palliative and end-of-life care.

An oncology palliative care nurse practitioner at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center since 2022, Carroll was looking for opportunities to elevate her experience in the field. Last year, she had the opportunity to be the primary author of a medical manuscript. Toward the end of the writing process, she connected with Susan Mazanec, a nurse scientist at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and associate professor at the School of Nursing. Carroll and Mazanec stayed in touch, and Dr. Mazanec ended up recommending Carroll for the Moritz Scholarship. Congratulations, Colleen!

Sigma Spring 2024 Call for Research Grants

The Alpha Mu Chapter of Sigma Global Nursing (STTI) is funding two grants, each up to $1,000: one for student applicants with at least a master's degree in nursing or are enrolled in a nursing doctoral program, and have Sigma membership, and the other grant is open to all STTI members. Allocation of funds is based on the quality of the proposed research, the future promise of the applicant, and the applicant's research budget. Applications from novice researchers who have received no other national research funds are encouraged. Funds for these grants do not cover expenses incurred prior to the funding date, travel, conference registrations, and computer software or hardware. Submission deadline is May 1, 2024. See this "call for grants" document for more details.

Stielau Award for Early-Stage PhD Research

The Joyce M. Stielau Award is available to current PhD candidates at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. This funding is intended for early-career investigators currently conducting early-stage research. Applicants can request up to $2,000 for funding of their current IRB-approved research. All fields and areas of study will be considered.

The late Joyce M. Stielau was a nurse anesthesiologist, devoted hospital volunteer, philanthropist, and former president of the Greater Cleveland chapter of Mended Hearts, a support group for cardiac patients. A veteran of the United States Air Force, Mrs. Stielau earned her nursing degree from the University of Cincinnati. The foundation named for her and her late husband Herbert supports scholarships and research in the field of nursing, among other important causes. Details about the Stielau Award and how to apply can be found on the School of Nursing website.

Algase Dissertation Award for Eldercare Research

Research funding is available through the Donna Algase Dissertation Award to current PhD candidates at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing. Provided by the generous support of the Donna Algase Dissertation Award Endowed Fund, this award will grant two early career investigators up to $1,350 each for their early-stage research in the field of eldercare.

CWRU alumna Donna L. (Muszynski) Algase (GRS '88, nursing), began her nursing career in pediatric and pediatric intensive care, but found her passion for gerontological nursing and research while completing her bachelor's degree at the University of Toledo.

Widely published on nursing theory, gerontological nursing, and dementia research, Dr. Algase developed her nursing knowledge into an entrepreneurial opportunity and, along with a colleague, began an educational consulting business to deliver in-service and continuing education programs for long-term care facilities. An established authority on end-of-life care and research, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004.

Details about the Donna Algase Dissertation Award and how to apply can be found on this page of the School of Nursing website.

Research and Scholarly News

Faculty Co-Edit Interprofessional Leadership Textbook 

FPB School of Nursing faculty members Carol Savrin, associate professor, and Jesse Honsky, assistant professor, collaborated to edit Interprofessional Leadership for Nurses: Mastering Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes for Success, 1st Edition, recently published by Cognella Academic Publishing.

Savrin and Honsky developed this book as a supplementary text for entry-level and advanced nursing courses and programs to help entry-level and advanced nursing students recognize and build on their leadership and teamwork skills. The text integrates knowledge, skills, and attitudes from multiple disciplines, and links students to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials for nursing education.

The book provides students with salient advice from the field to help them develop into competent and effective healthcare professionals with leadership skills.

Other News and Information

New Name for VA Medical Center

The Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center has asked CWRU to now identify the hospital as "VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System" going forward.

Guidance for working with the VA is on the RADAR Canvas site. The Form 2 for memorandums of understanding between the VA and CWRU has been updated to reflect the new name. Additionally, VA Guidelines have been updated, including information regarding rules for the utilization of an independent physician association (IPA). The current indirect cost (IDC) rate agreement has been extended through June 30, 2025, and is also on the Canvas site.

CWRU Human Research Protection Program Renewed 

CWRU's Human Research Protection Program (CWRU HRPP) recently received a 5-year renewal of its Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs (AAHRPP) full accreditation status.

It was originally accredited in 2016, with a renewal in 2019. The CWRU HRPP is responsible for monitoring the rights and welfare of CWRU research participants while ensuring the university’s commitment to high-quality research. AAHRPP, seen as the gold standard of HRPP accreditation, serves to ensure “ethically sound and scientifically valuable research through the accreditation of high-quality human research protection programs.” CWRU’s accreditation is critically important to our researchers’ ability to receive federal and nonfederal funding, as well as to collaborate with other AAHRPP-accredited national and international organizations.

NIH News and Updates

Changes Coming to Applications and Peer Review 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is implementing multiple changes that will impact the preparation and peer review of most grant applications submitted for due dates on or after Jan. 25, 2025. Although each of these initiatives have specific goals, they are all meant to simplify, clarify, or ensure greater fairness. NIH has released a guide notice (NOT-OD-24-084) that provides an overview of each change to help the research community contextualize them as details are released over the next few months. 

Where’s the Public Access Policy?

There is a new location for NIH public access policy content and resources. As of March 12, 2024, NIH Public Access Policy content and resources have been consolidated into the NIH Sharing Site.

Recent School of Nursing Publications

Dolansky, M. A., Davey, C. H., & Moore, S. M. (2024). Research and Practice in Quality Improvement and Implementation Science: The Synergy for Change Model. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 10-1097.

Ruksakulpiwat, S., Thorngthip, S., Niyomyart, A., Benjasirisan, C., Phianhasin, L., Aldossary, H., Ahmed, B. H., & Samai, T. (2024). A Systematic Review of the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Nursing Care: Where Are We, and What’s Next? Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 1604-1605.