Claire M. Fagin Fellowship

2010 Fellowship Application Specifics

Applicants: BAGNC held a webinar Monday, October 5th to assist you with the application process. Here are TIPS and POTENTIAL PITFALLS. Feel free to contact the staff with questions.

The John A. Hartford Foundation & The Atlantic Philanthropies
Claire M. Fagin Fellowship Program

The American Academy of Nursing seeks applicants for its Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity (BAGNC) Claire M. Fagin Fellowship Program. This Fellowship supports two years of full time advanced research and leadership training for doctorally prepared nurses committed to careers in academic geriatric nursing. Through generous funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Atlantic Philanthropies, the BAGNC program awards a total of $120,000 ($60,000 per annum) to each selected Claire M. Fagin Fellow. The Mayday Fund provides an additional $5,000 award to selected candidates whose research focuses on pain in older persons. The Fellowship Award term begins July 1st of the award year.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• be doctorally-prepared registered nurses,
• hold degree(s) in nursing,
• be United States citizens or permanent U.S. residents,
  
• have potential to develop into independent investigators, and
• demonstrate potential for long-term contributions to geriatric nursing.

Applications are accepted from (1) doctoral students who will complete their doctoral program prior to the official start of the Fellowship award and (2) faculty members in accredited Schools of Nursing who hold the rank of assistant professor or associate professor.  Priority is given to applicants who received a PhD within 7 years of their application for this award. The Fellowship is not intended to support basic research training.

The program is committed to advancing well-qualified applicants from under-represented minority groups to improve the nation’s ability to provide culturally competent care to its increasingly diverse aging population.

Program Description

Overview

The Claire M. Fagin Fellowship Program focuses on building academic geriatric nursing capacity through the development of leaders in gerontological nursing.  The following program activities facilitate this effort: implementation of a research project; focused study; networking among BAGNC Scholars, Claire M. Fagin Fellows and mentors as well as colleagues in other fields.

Selected Fellows, in collaboration with their mentor(s), will implement an individual professional development plan that supports them in developing new competencies and enhanced effectiveness as an academic leader and researcher.

Over the award term, successful Fellows will demonstrate growth in ability to transform self and organizations by moving outside traditional modes of success; complete and write-up a significant research project; and achieve funding from other sources.

Institution

The selected institution is a significant consideration in the application review and selection process. Many nursing schools throughout the country are acceptable places of study and research. It is important that the school chosen have the resources and capacity to support the Fellow in his or her research program.

The John A. Hartford Foundation funds nine Centers of Geriatric Nursing Excellence. These Hartford Centers demonstrate the highest level of commitment to gerontological nursing and have outstanding leadership and capacity in gerontological research, practice and education. Although applicants are encouraged to consider these Hartford Centers as potential sites for their doctoral program, it is not a requirement for this application.

The nine Hartford Centers of Geriatric Nursing Excellence are located at the following Schools or Colleges of Nursing:
Arizona State University,
Oregon Health & Science University,
Pennsylvania State University,
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences,
University of California at San Francisco,
University of Iowa,
University of Minnesota,
University of Pennsylvania, and
University of Utah. 

Professional Development Plan, Research Project and Mentor

The application has two components – a professional development plan and a research proposal. The professional development plan details activities tailored to prepare the applicant in research, teaching and leadership.  Next, the applicant will propose a significant gerontological nursing research project consistent with the applicant’s interests and previous research or clinical experience and identify a mentor(s) who is a strong geriatric nurse scientist with whom he/she will work, and provide a signed letter from the proposed mentor(s) outlining a plan for their work together. For program administration purposes, one mentor must be designated as the primary mentor.

Support

The Fellowship Award offers each candidate a total of $120,000, not to exceed $60,000 per year. Applicants may also request an additional $5,000 Mayday Award if research focuses on pain in older adults, which may be used over the two year term.  The Coordinating Center covers the fellow’s travel and hotel for participation in the Leadership Conference.

Requirements

If Selected, Fellows must:

• Devote full time effort to the research project and professional development plan. While some academic commitments may be maintained, these should be relevant to the Fellow’s research and study, sufficiently minimal so as not to reduce full time equivalency in the funded fellowship program and not be in conflict with the work the Fellow is undertaking. Where such activities are to be undertaken they must be carefully and fully described in the application.
• Attend BAGNC’s Annual Leadership Conference and the Gerontological Society of America’s Annual Scientific Meeting. Both meetings are essential and required activities for the Fellow. (Mentors are encouraged to attend the Leadership Conference.)

Criteria Considered in the Selection of Fellows

Note: Strong applications will demonstrate all of the following.

Applicant demonstrates:

• Evidence of commitment to a career in academic geriatric nursing
• Evidence of  involvement in educational, research and professional activities
• Potential for substantial, long term contributions to the knowledge base in gerontological nursing
• Potential for leadership

Proposed Research demonstrates:

• Significance and timeliness for improving the health and well-being of older adults and their caregivers
• High quality, feasibility and innovativeness
• Potential for making contributions to the field of geriatric nursing
  

Proposed Development plan is:

• Tailored to address needs of the applicant and
• Clear in detailing plans for preparation in research, teaching and leadership

Selected Mentor(s) and Institutions of Study—the proposal must:

• Include qualifications of the faculty mentor and detailed evidence of the mentor’s commitment to and involvement with the applicant’s professional development and activities throughout the two-year award program
• Demonstrate a match between the mentor’s area of gerontological nursing research and the applicant’s research interest area
• Confirm the primary mentor’s agreement to participate in BAGNC Program activities including the Annual Leadership Conference when possible
• Show evidence of school’s commitment to the applicant’s academic career and professional development during the applicant’s fellowship period

Monitoring and Evaluation

The BAGNC program includes ongoing administrative support as well as oversight. Please read the following policies for details on these features.

• Program Policies and Reporting Procedures (2009)
• Disbursement Policy and Financial Office Agreement (2009)

Timeline

January: Applications due. (12:00 Midnight EST, January 13, 2010)
March: BAGNC Selection Committee reviews all completed applications submitted by the stated deadline then selects a panel of candidates. All applicants are advised of decisions as soon as feasible.
July 1st:  Award program officially begins.

Questions?

Please first check our FAQ page. If you need further clarification or have additional questions, please contact anyone at the Coordinating Center.