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School Nurses as Professional Partners: Supporting Educational Outcomes for Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities (SNAPP)

Overview

The School Nurses as Professional Partners (SNAPP) program has been working to provide continuing education for school nurses related to working with students with disabilities and to obtain funding to provide partial funding for tuition for school nurses as they pursue a BS or MS degree. The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs awarded the Partnership funding for SNAPP in 2004 to meet these needs. SNAPP pays tuition for the three SNAPP credit-bearing courses for nurses who participate in the project. Nurses who are enrolled or planning to enroll in RN to BS or RN to MS programs, as well as baccalaureate nursing students at one of the participating university schools of nursing are eligible to apply. Practicing nurses with a BS or MS degree also may apply, but enrollment in a degree-granting program is required by several of the participating schools of nursing. Participating schools of nursing include: Hampton University, James Madison University, Radford University, Shenandoah University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University. In return, SNAPP Scholars agree to work as school nurses for one year.

Major Activities

Provides tuition support for SNAPP Scholars to take the following credit-bearing SNAPP courses:

• Assessing the Health Needs of Vulnerable Populations with the Context of Schools, is an online 3 credit course that focuses on school nursing practice, cultural diversity, the needs of students with low-incidence disabilities (LID), legal issues in schools, and resources that support students with LID, their families, and the professionals who work with them.
• Collaborative Teaming in the Schools: Working Together to Improve Outcomes for Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities, is a one week summer course that brings together SNAPP Scholars and related service personnel to learn about team roles, dynamics and development and to work in interdisciplinary teams on cases to refine their teaming skills.
• A Clinical Practicum through the participating school of nursing.

Contact

Bernice Allen, Project Director, at (804) 828-8593, ballen@vcu.edu
Kristen Stahr, Project Coordinator, at (804) 828-9920, khstahr@vcu.edu