At the heart of SNAPPI is a unique time-buy back approach. Qualified nurses working full-time in hospitals are empowered to supervise nursing students within their familiar practice setting. These dedicated professionals receive compensation for their time spent guiding and mentoring students, all while maintaining their vital roles within the hospital. This creates a win-win scenario.
Building on the success of our initial feasibility studies, we are implementing four key strategies to scale and expand the impact of SNAPPI across Texas:
We are deepening our partnerships with existing SNAPPI healthcare systems, expanding the number of participating sites and increasing the number of SNAPPI placements available at each location.
We are actively recruiting new nursing programs and their affiliated healthcare systems, both within and beyond the Houston area, that have the capacity to support a SNAPPI pilot. We provide comprehensive support for the successful implementation of new SNAPPI sites.
We are committed to exploring the versatility of the SNAPPI model in diverse scenarios where the need for nurses is most acute. This includes expanding our reach to additional markets, rural healthcare facilities, Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) programs, and evaluating the effectiveness of Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)- prepared nurses as clinical faculty.
We are collaborating with a leading Texas-based, technology-driven healthcare staffing firm to streamline the recruitment, HR processes, onboarding, and scheduling essential for the SNAPPI model. Furthermore, we are developing a robust digital environment to support the seamless statewide expansion of SNAPPI.
A substantial increase in the number of SNAPPI sites (aiming for 29) and available SNAPPI placements (aiming for 44).
A broader understanding of the diverse scenarios in which the SNAPPI model can be successfully implemented.
The development of a robust technological and process support framework to facilitate the widespread adoption of SNAPPI across Texas.
The program, funded by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board's (THECB) Nursing Innovation Grant Program (NIGP), has already produced promising results in its four-site pilot study, which involved over 50 participants across multiple healthcare institutions, including: St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands Hospital, Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital, HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital and Nurseify.
Key findings from the pilot include:
Students have praised the program for improving their clinical education. One participant said, "I definitely felt more confident and comfortable with the [hospital's] staff knowing that my instructor is their coworker." Recognizing SNAPPI's transformative potential, the Governor's Task Force on Health Care Workforce Shortages has highlighted the program as a model for addressing the state's healthcare workforce challenges. Additionally, due the of the success of the pilot program the THECB has awarded the SON and SNAPPI program an additional $999,500 in grant funding for FY2025-2027.
With the right support, this expansion will offer a long-term solution to the nursing faculty shortage—allowing nursing schools to train more nurses and strengthen Texas' healthcare workforce. To achieve this, SNAPPI needs sustainable funding to expand to more healthcare systems and nursing schools, develop implementation tools, establish evaluation and improvement processes, and coordinate efforts across partner institutions.
By supporting SNAPPI's expansion, Texas has the opportunity to lead the nation in innovative solutions to the nursing shortage, ultimately ensuring high-quality healthcare for all Texans.
See Recommendation 14 on Page 39, for SNAPPI Detail
With 28 years of experience in healthcare, Dr. Monique Huntley has worked across a range of healthcare organizations and academic institutions.
Dr. Desha Johnson Makiya, PhD, MBA, RN, CCRN, PCCN, is a distinguished nursing professional, educator, and researcher with expertise in healthcare management, didactic instruction, and clinical practice.
"The nursing shortage is not simply a workforce issue—it is a national health crisis. At the heart of this challenge lies a bottleneck in education: too few clinical faculty to train the next generation of nurses.
We cannot afford incremental change. We must think boldly, act urgently, and dismantle the barriers that keep experienced nurses from contributing to the classroom. This is why I support programs like SNAPPI—because they do more than respond to the crisis; they reimagine the system itself.
By creating pathways for practice-based nurses to become clinical educators, we expand capacity, elevate the profession, and ultimately improve patient care. Solving the faculty shortage isn't just a strategic imperative—it's a moral one. And it will take all of us, working together, to ensure that the future of nursing is not only possible, but powerful."
— Dr. Devon Berry
Copyright © 2025 SNAPPI - All Rights Reserved.
Educate More. Practice Better. Lead the Change.