NCSBN Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program Awards Grants Totaling More Than $2.2 Million to 11 U.S. Organizations

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - Oct 24, 2011) - The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN^®) www.ncsbn.org Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program recently awarded grants totaling more than $2.2 million to 11 U.S. organizations. Since the grant program began in 2007, it has awarded more than $8 million in grants for research related to public policy and building the science of nursing regulation.

This year grants were awarded to the following institutions, organizations and programs:

• Laurie Badzek, LLM, JD, MS, RN, West Virginia University Research Corporation on behalf of the West Virginia University School of Nursing, for "Expanding Registered Nurse Scope of Practice: A Method for Introducing a New Competency into Nursing Practice";
• Jeri Bigbee, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, FAAN, Boise State University School of Nursing, for "Nurses and the Population's Health";
• Joanne Disch, University of Minnesota, for "Creating a Data Repository for Tracking Nursing Student Errors and Near-Misses";
• Donna Felber Neff, PhD, RN, DSNAP, University of Florida, for "Foreign Educated Nurses: Effects on Nurse, Quality of Care and Patient Safety Indicator Outcomes";
• Bonita Jenkins, EdD, RN, CNE, District of Columbia Board of Nursing, Department of Health, for "A Descriptive Study of the Titles, Educational Preparation, and Utilization of Unlicensed Assistive Personnel in Acute Care Settings in District of Columbia Metropolitan Area and the Implications for Regulations to Promote Quality Care";
• Pamela Randolph, MS, RN, Arizona State Board of Nursing, for "Measuring Competency with Simulations: Proposed Phase II";
• Jay Shen, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, for "Comparing Medication Errors Between Internationally Educated Nurses and American Educated Nurses";
• Danielle Smith, MSN, RN, Louisiana State Board of Nursing, for "A Retrospective Comparative Study Examining Outcomes Related to the 2006 Cohort of Pre-RN Licensure Students Receiving Criminal Background Checks in Louisiana";
• Christine Szweda, Cleveland Clinic, for "Evaluating the Use of Human Patient Simulation (HPS) to Improve Critical Thinking Competencies and Perceived Self-Confidence of New Graduate Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit";
• Allison Trinkoff, ScD, RN, FAAN, University of Maryland School of Nursing, for "Nursing Home Outcomes: Contextual Factors and Regulatory Oversight of Care Providers"; and
• Laura M. Wagner, PhD, RN, New York University College of Nursing, for "Impact of an Internationally Educated Nurse Workforce on Patient Safety Processes and Outcomes in Nursing Homes."

The Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program funds innovative projects that can have measurable impact on nursing regulation and can create meaningful change. The program's research priorities include:

• Issues related to licensure;
• Patient safety;
• Scope of Practice (LPN/VN, RN and APRN);
• Nursing Education;
• Continued Competence;
• Discipline and Alternatives to Discipline; and
• National and International Regulatory Issues and/or Portability.

The application deadline for the next funding cycle of the Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program is Jan. 13, 2012. Any individual, institution, organization or program interested in advancing the science of nursing regulation and building regulatory expertise worldwide may apply. Grant awards have a $300,000 per project limit. For more information on the grant or the application process, visit the Center for Regulatory Excellence Grant Program section at https://www.ncsbn.org/389.htm.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization whose members include the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories -- American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also nine associate members. Mission: NCSBN provides education, service and research through collaborative leadership to promote evidence-based regulatory excellence for patient safety and public protection.

The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not the individual member state or territorial boards of nursing.

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