By Jennifer R. Majumdar, PhD, MSN, CRNA

During a three-day in-person event at the ONS National Office in Pittsburgh, PA, we attended lectures on topics such as study design, analytical approaches, and biomarkers. We also met with—and received feedback from—faculty mentors with deep subject-matter expertise in our specific areas of research. Our ultimate goal was to develop research proposals for grant funding under the guidance of renowned precision symptom science experts from across the United States.

My program of research focuses on symptom management in patients undergoing outpatient oncology surgery. This builds on my PhD dissertation study that identified that women undergoing breast-conserving surgery experience postoperative distress that peaks on postoperative day 1. During the ONS workshop, I learned three incredibly valuable guiding principles that will help my career as a nurse scientist.

Rely on the Expertise of Mentors and Organizational Resources

Developing a grant proposal is a logistically complicated task, and it will be stronger and more likely to be funded when the principal investigators (PIs) use the expertise of mentors and organizational resources. Mentors can provide nuanced guidance to help avoid common pitfalls. Through discussions with mentors at the workshop, I was able to hone the ideal instruments and potential biomarkers to integrate into my research proposal. Many organizations have extensive support available, including library resources, budget development support, and methodology experts. 

Writing can be lonely, but it does not have to be. Reach out for support early and often, and don’t try to navigate the process alone. 

Identify a Conceptual Framework and Clearly Define the Central Concept

The first lecture during ONS’s workshop described the National Institutes of Health Symptom Science Model and the Nursing Science Precision Health Model, which serve as the foundation for precision symptom science. We learned that the important first step when writing a grant proposal is to establish a conceptual framework by reviewing the current literature to identify frameworks others have used in your field of study. The next step is to define the concepts that you will study. Clearly identifying the central concept makes a grant proposal stronger, less confusing to review, and ultimately more likely to be funded. 

This exercise was invaluable for me. My program of research focuses on the concept of anxiety, and the workshop showed me that I was using the words “stress,” “distress,” and “anxiety” interchangeably when they are distinct and unique concepts. By the conclusion of the session, I felt my proposal had been considerably strengthened.

Invest Time to Develop a Strong Grant Proposal

One of the most valuable elements of the workshop was the structured time to focus on developing the grant proposal. A strong grant proposal cannot be developed overnight: It takes weeks or even months to get feedback and fine-tune every word. Proposals allow PIs to demonstrate they are detail-oriented and able to complete the project. PIs should also seek as many different perspectives as possible. Keep in mind that the best people to give feedback are likely very busy themselves, so plan plenty of time to obtain their thoughtful insights. 

Although all of the workshop participants had identified their topic and submitted a specific aims page that provided an overview of their proposal, but we were all in different stages of development, ranging from just identifying the overall goals of the study to putting the finishing touches on a nearly completed proposal. The workshop allowed participants to clearly define our topic and broad project idea and move our proposals closer to submission.

On the final day of the workshop, all of the participants presented a summary of our grant proposals. We shared our progress to date and asked the group for their opinions about lingering questions. Taking the time to not only present but also to listen to advice brought all of our grant proposals to the next level. 

Overall, the ONS workshop was a truly career-defining opportunity. In addition to learning about the fundamentals of precision symptom science, the chance to connect with other researchers in various stages of their careers was invaluable. As the next generation of nurse researchers, we can continue advancing the field of precision symptom science that many of the mentors leading the workshop established. I am grateful to have been a part of the workshop and look forward to continuing their legacy in defining oncology nursing practice for symptom science.