The Texas Board of Nursing on Oct. 23 approved an innovative pilot proposed by Sam Houston State University that would let hospital‑employed BSN nurses teach prelicensure clinical courses under a shared academic‑practice partnership model known as SNAPI (Shared Nurse Academic Practice Partnership Initiative).

The board’s action authorizes Sam Houston State to begin the pilot in spring 2026, subject to the requirements and conditions set out in the university’s application and the board’s attached letter and order.

Sam Houston State representatives told the board SNAPI aims to expand clinical teaching capacity — especially for rural and underserved areas — by contracting for a portion of a bedside nurse’s time while the nurse remains a full‑time hospital employee.

Devin Berry, director of the Sam Houston State School of Nursing, said the project grew from a 2023 planning effort and multiple grants and efforts to date. "After two‑and‑a‑half years, SNAPI has secured two additional competitive grants from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, finished a year‑long feasibility study and earned media recognition nationally and locally," Berry said. He told the board SNAPI received an unsolicited $100,000 gift and is pursuing sustainable funding beyond the grant period.

How the model works

SNAPI’s contractual model lets a hospital buy out agreed clinical hours so a bedside BSN nurse can supervise students without losing total compensation or hospital benefits. Presenters described a tested ratio used in their feasibility work: 12‑hour clinical shifts balanced by roughly 4 hours of academic work (grading, student advising and related duties) per 12‑hour clinical shift.

The program’s onboarding includes a preceptor boot camp and orientation, pairing each SNAPI nurse with an experienced clinical faculty mentor, weekly on‑site clinical coaching during the first semester and ongoing Blackboard and clinical mentorship. Presenters emphasized the pilot covers clinical instruction only; didactic classroom teaching remains the responsibility of graduate‑prepared faculty.

Board questions and responses

Board members asked about candidate selection, compensation and sustainability. Presenters said hospitals will invoice the university for purchased time per a templated memorandum of understanding; hospitals reported no extra ongoing financial commitment beyond participating in the MOU and staffing the advisory group that helped design the pilot. Selection criteria for SNAPI nurses include substantial clinical experience in the assigned specialty, evidence of clinical expertise, preceptor training and, in many cases, board‑recognized specialty certifications.

When asked about sustainability, presenters said the current grant period supporting the statewide demonstration ends Feb. 2027 and acknowledged the university does not yet have guaranteed ongoing funding after that date. "We don't have secret money anywhere," Berry said, adding the project’s partners are actively pursuing state and federal funding options to sustain and scale the model.

Board action

Allison Edwards moved to approve the innovative SNAPI pilot as submitted, to begin in spring 2026 subject to the requirement conditions and the attached letter and board order; Drew Riddle seconded. The motion carried.

Why it matters

The board and program proponents framed SNAPI as an evidence‑based, scalable approach to increase clinical teaching capacity in regions that have too few master’s‑prepared faculty and where student travel and placement logistics limit enrollment. If the pilot demonstrates positive student outcomes and site capacity gains, SNAPI proponents said the approach could inform broader policy or funding decisions to expand clinical teaching capacity across Texas.