Applicant Web Conference November 1, 2013

1. Applicant Web Conference November 1, 2013 www.executivenursefellows.org

2. Purpose The Robert Wood Johnson Executive Nurse Fellows program is a three-year advanced leadership program for nurses who aspire to lead and shape health care locally and nationally. Fellows strengthen their leadership capacity and improve their abilities to lead teams and organizations in improving health and health care.

3. ENF Program Goal To create a cadre of nursing leaders with enhanced leadership capacity who drive improvements in: • population health; • access, cost, and quality of American health care systems; and • the education and professional formation of future health professionals

4. Eligibility Criteria • RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows awards are open to registered nurses who hold senior leadership positions. • Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories. • Individual candidates for receipt of award funds must be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents at the time of application.

5. Eligibility Criteria • Candidates for receipt of award funds must have the support of their employing organization to fully engage in all curricular, action-learning and leadership project components of the program. • Applicant organizations must have the administrative and financial capacity and experience to accept the award on behalf of the Fellow and be able to comply with all reporting requirements. • Individual candidates who work for an organization that lacks this capacity or experience, or who work for a sole proprietorship or single-member LLC are not eligible to apply.   

6. Eligibility Criteria • Consistent with RWJF values, this program embraces diversity and inclusion across multiple dimensions, such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, and types of expertise and employment. • We strongly encourage applications that will help us expand the perspectives and experiences we bring to our work.

7. Selection Criteria • A strong professional record that reflects positions of increasing leadership responsibility and the potential to achieve higher levels of leadership effectiveness. • Vision, passion and capability to make a substantial impact on health and health care. • Insight, courage and evidence of a commitment to lifelong growth and development.

8. Selection Criteria • Capacity and willingness to learn in collaboration with other RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows through action, reflection, feedback and support. • Commitment (from the employing organization and individual) for the Fellow’s continuing employment and active engagement in three consecutive years of structured learning, self-study and project activity.

9. Key Dates and Deadlines January 14, 2014 (3 p.m. ET) • Deadline for receipt of online applications Early April 2014 • Semifinalist notification May 5 – 6, 2014 • National Advisory Committee conducts face-to-face interviews with semifinalists (attendance required) Late May 2014 • Notification of acceptance July 9, 2014 • Fellows’ introductory virtual session September 14 – 19, 2014 (Greensboro, NC) • First session for 2013 Cohort (required) 2015–2017 • Bi-annual sessions and intersession activities

10. Applications and Awards Applicationsaccepted only through the RWJF Application and Review Online system Total Awards: up to 20 fellowships with each fellow receiving up to $35,000 total over three years

11. ENF Applications

12. Employment Sector (self-report from application)

13. Other Data from Application • In 2011: 13 (10%) applied previously; of these 1 was selected • In 2012: 16 (17%) applied previously; of these 3 were selected • In 2013: 17 (16%) applied previously; of these 3 were selected

14. Other Data from Application • In 2011: 40 (29%) of the applicants were APRNs; 8 (38%) of Fellows are APRNs • In 2012: 33 (36%) of the applicants were APRNs; 6 (30%) of the Fellows are APRNs • In 2013: 33 (30%) of the applicants were APRNs; 5 (25%) of the Fellows are APRNs

15. NPO Approach to Program Using latest thinking in adult learning principles and design methodology, the program will: • Focus on leadership development • Be highly interactive and experiential • Be relevant and applicable to each Fellow’s organizational context • Include opportunities to discuss and apply learning to broader health care context

17. Key Program Elements • Advanced curriculum, employing best practices from the field of leadership development, delivered through face-to-face program sessions and technology‑facilitated intersession activities (years 1–3); • Intensive and ongoing executive coaching from Center for Creative Leadership Executive Coaches (years 1–3); • Team-based action learning and implementation of team projects (years 1–2);

18. Key Program Elements • Self-directed, individual leadership development activities and implementation of a bold individual leadership project (years 2–3); • Opportunity for post-program leadership development activities; and • Membership in the nationwide ENF and RWJF networks.

19. July 2014 (TBD) September 14-19, 2014 January 2015 (TBD) January 27-29, 2015 January 26-28, 2016 June 16-19, 2015 June 22-24, 2016* February 21-23, 2017* September 13-15, 2017 February 2017 (TBD)

20. Tips for Developing a Competitive Application • VisitExecutiveNurseFellows.org to learn about people who are current and past RWJF Executive Nurse Fellows. • Present your application in a way that is likely to capture the reviewers’ attention and interest. Each reviewer reads many applications – try to make clear up front why your leadership goals and the impact you wish to make merit the investments inherent in this Fellowship. • Keep in mind that the reviewers represent a range of disciplines and points of view, and write in a way that can communicate across fields.

21. Tips for Developing a Competitive Application • Review the selection criteria and be sure that you address these criteria in your application. • Allow plenty of time to write and revise based on the input of colleagues. • Approach a current or previous Executive Nurse Fellow and ask for advice on the application narrative prior to submission. • Start early to avoid delays with online technology.

22. Tips for Developing a Competitive Application • Pay close attention to the application procedures. This may be the most important suggestion we can make. It is surprising how many applicants do not seem to take the time to read the materials and, therefore, do not end up understanding the priorities of the program. Carefully read the Call for Applications and the Frequently Asked Questions on the program's website and follow the application procedures. • If you are a semi-finalist, you may consider asking a colleague to conduct a mock interview with you and give you feedback.

23. Questions we have received Be sure to check the FAQ section of our website.

24. Questions we have received • Is there an age limit? • Is there a minimum educational requirement? • Can I keep my full-time job and still participate in the program? How much of a time commitment is required each year? • What happens if I change employers or lose my job during the course of the program? • Are factors (leadership, volunteerism, recommendations) weighted differently in the determination of fellows? • Will nurse practitioners in clinical leadership be considered? • Does an applicant have to be in his/her current position for a specific amount of time prior to applying?

25. Questions we have received • Is there a downside to submitting an application annually if not selected in a prior year? • Are applicants that work for the same organization able to apply during the same year? • Does the employer have to be a certain size organization? Does it have to be nonprofit? • What are the organizational capacity requirements required to support a fellow? • Does my employer have to pay any money for me to participate? • Do I have to pay for my own travel expenses to attend program meetings?

26. Questions we have received • Does the program include a mentoring component? If so, how are they identified? • Do I have to have an identified project as part of the application process? What are the projects that are required over the course of the fellowship? Can you give an example of a project that a Fellow has done? • What are the benefits to being a fellow for the individual and the organization? • Can you please discuss the outcomes that participants have achieved as a result of her participation? • Are any of the program educational components able to be used toward higher education degrees for Fellows?

27. Questions we have received • Can you describe the background and characteristics of the participants who are the ideal fit? • What are you looking for from candidates in academic settings? • Are there specific criteria for successful candidates from a community organization? • This call is for nurses in Senior positions. Since I have a hybrid position that is administrative (Director of a Health Center) with a faculty appointment, I was not sure if this was considered "senior" enough. • Is the criteria of working full time in a leadership position a requirement (i.e., if that is only part of my role would I qualify?)? • Is the travel to the interviews reimbursable to applicants?

28. Questions we have received • Other than dean or assistant/associate dean level positions, what type(s) of position(s) can an applicant hold at an academic institution to be eligible to apply? e.g., program coordinator, chairperson, project director, director. • I am employed in a very rural area. Executive positions are limited and filled. I have an MSN in Leadership and am currently in a Doctoral program. Is there a way I can still qualify to apply for this fellowship? • Do you have to be in a specific position or at a set level in your organization to apply? • Can you discuss why you ask for a letter from my immediate supervisor? If I report to a Board, can they write the letter?

29. For more information… www.executivenursefellows.org