THE 2025 COHORT APPLICATION PERIOD: AUGUST 1 – September 30, 2024.
What is SNAPT?
Created by the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing through funding from the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the Supporting Nursing Advanced Practice Transition (SNAPT) Fellowship is an exciting opportunity for talented primary care Nurse Practitioner students from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing (JHUSON) and the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) who are seeking employment in Maryland. All students in the Pediatric, Family, and Adult-Gerontology programs are eligible to apply. The SNAPT Fellowship facilitates a seamless transition for AP-DNP students from academic coursework to graduate professional practice. The Fellowship program was developed to address the needs of NPs transitioning into practice, allowing for an individualized approach to meet competency goals, to increase confidence and resilience, and to promote retention in primary care.
Students accepted to the program will complete their final clinical rotation at a primary care site in Maryland. They will then be hired and begin a 12-month paid fellowship, then transition to a permanent position with the partner organization. Our SNAPT partner institutions include practices across Maryland that serve a variety of patient populations. Many of our partners are Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) which may allow students to apply for loan forgiveness if they qualify through the federal program (application is separate). The SNAPT program staff is dedicated to matching applicants with partner sites based on their areas of interest and career goals.
Mission Statement
The mission of the SNAPT program is to enhance and further develop the clinical skills, knowledge, and confidence of new NP to allow them to meet the challenges of working with complex patients in community practices. Utilizing an interprofessional scholarly approach, new graduate nurse practitioners are prepared to deliver high-quality, compassionate, culturally competent, patient-centered care in the primary care environment. Graduates of the SNAPT fellowship are equipped to become leaders in practice, serve as change agents in their community and assist in training other NPs for the future.
In this unique partnership program, practice mentors work alongside the fellows, providing practical knowledge and support. The SNAPT faculty work with fellows to develop their professional identity while helping to build enhanced critical thinking skills through education sessions and in-person immersions. Though Fellows enter the program with excellent preparation to practice primary care independently, the program’s mission is to reinforce their knowledge in the context of the complexity of needs common to community clinics. Skills to encourage retention and prevent burnout will also be an integral part of the SNAPT program.
GOALS FOR THE PROGRAM
At the completion of the program Fellows will:
Provide patient-centered care for the treatment of common and uncommon health conditions, including health promotion.
Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving bio-psycho-social, clinical, epidemiological and nursing science in the provision of Evidenced Based Practice (EBP) focused care.
Demonstrate ability to evaluate their own practice and improve outcomes of patient care based on the best available evidence.
Demonstrate effective communication and collaboration with patients, families, and inter-professional colleagues.
Demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional roles and responsibilities and adherence to ethical principles.
Demonstrate awareness and responsiveness to the larger context and health care system, including the ability to identify and utilize resources.
Demonstrate the ability to practice within an interdisciplinary team in a manner that optimizes safe, effective patient and population-centered care.
Demonstrate qualities required to sustain lifelong growth as a healthcare professional.
Why SNAPT?
NP graduates are transitioning into a complex primary care environment which requires the development of confidence in their diagnostic, management, and resiliency skills. A supportive environment with a dedicated practice-based and SNAPT faculty mentor allows the fellow to develop a professional identity and strong practice skills. This unique Fellowship pairs the student with practice partners before graduation, which allows for integration into practice culture and encourages the building of professional relationships with their future employer. The SNAPT program is an exciting opportunity for community-based healthcare practices to recruit and retain talented DNPs seeking employment as primary care NPs in Maryland.
What is the SNAPT Fellowship Timeline?
SNAPT is a novel 18-month curriculum-to-career fellowship program for new primary care nurse practitioners. The program includes structured didactic sessions, focused clinical training, skill building, simulated activities, and support in all aspects of the transition to practice. Fellows in each cohort meet together weekly for education and support. Each fellow has a practice and program mentor to guide the transition process.
There are three phases to the program.
PHASE I, STUDENT FELLOWSHIP JANUARY – MAY)
The program commences in the students’ final 5 months of their DNP program. Students are placed at a clinical practice site to complete their final semester clinical hours. This site has agreed to hire them as a fellow for the transition to practice fellowship. In addition to a clinical immersion, students take a Transitions to Practice Course, and complete on-line resiliency training. Students graduate from JHSON or UMSON, and begin preparation for their certification boards.
PHASE II, JUNIOR FELLOWSHIP (MAY – JANUARY)
Pre-employment
After graduation, SNAPT Fellows participate in a Transition to Practice Boot Camp that includes interactive discussions, skills and Observed Structured Clinical Exams (OSCEs). Fellows take and pass their Board Certification Exam and complete credentialing requirements for hire by their clinical practice site. The SNAPT staff guides and supports fellows through this transition from student to practicing provider.
Employment
The paid fellowship begins in August. Fellows start full-time practice while receiving 1 to 1 on-site mentorship and weekly meeting with a JHSON faculty liaison. Fellows also participate in supportive weekly topic discussions, case conferences, didactic modules and reflective journaling. A monthly immersion provides for additional skill building through hands on procedures and standardized patient interactions. During this portion of the compensation is at a reduced rate but fellows enjoy full benefits through the practice partner.
PHASE III, SENIOR FELLOWSHIP (FEBRUARY – JULY)
During this second phase of the paid fellowship compensation increases to that of a full-time employee. During this time the mentor remains available for consultation and support as fellows move into more independent practice. Support from the SNAPT faculty, bi-weekly education sessions and in-person immersions continue.
CONTINUED SUPPORT AFTER FELLOWSHIP
Fellows will continue with their practice for one additional year, further mastering their skills. At the end of this second year, fellows will be provided training to become a preceptor to AP-DNP students. Many fellows choose to pay it forward by becoming mentors to future fellows. CNE training and certification is encouraged.
What will participants gain?
A paid NP Fellowship experience
Career placement in your desired area of primary care NP practice, which allows you to proceed directly to the workforce upon graduation. You are hired by the practice where you completed your final clinical rotation assuming you meet all of its hiring and performance criteria.
Mentorship—One-on-one ongoing support and guidance beyond graduation with an experienced provider at your place of employment and a faculty mentor who will help you transition smoothly from academia to practice.
Built in support to balance your transition to practice. Your employer has already agreed to support you as you gain confidence and competence as a primary care provider.
Benefit from access to free online learning modules and weekly meetings. Modules are tailored to provide solutions to professional challenges and suggestions on areas for growth that new nurses may encounter upon entering the workforce.
Criteria for admission
Must be a student entering their final semester of a primary care NP program at JHSON or UMSON.
Complete the application to the SNAPT program
Successfully interview with SNAPT selection committee and leadership from partner health care facility
Satisfy hiring criteria mandated by partner institution
Be committed to your employer and the program for three years
RECRUITMENT
Formal Recruitment Sessions are Planned During the Summer Semester (June And July). Students are Encouraged to Attend to get Additional Information and ask Questions.
How can I apply?
Interested JHSON and UMSON primary care NP students will apply online to the program in August of each year. Applicants will complete the SNAPT Questionnaire.
In addition to the application question on the questionnaire, applicants will need to upload:
Curriculum Vitae
Applicant Essay (please save in PDF format then upload)
Official graduate transcripts – proof of good academic standing
Enrollment with anticipation of graduation in May 2024
Additionally, three (3) letters of recommendation are required. (1) from JHUSON or UMSON faculty, (1) clinical instructor or preceptor, and (1) colleague or supervisor in RN practice.
Referee writing a letter of recommendation should go to this link, answer the questions, and upload their letters of recommendation through the website.
Essays should address the following four questions. Each response should be 250 words or less per question. Essays longer than specified will not be read. Please answer the following in your essay:
Describe your previous nursing experience.
What are your three most important professional goals and how will these goals be furthered by participation in the SNAPT Fellowship program?
What are your current/potential interests in clinical practice (population, setting, care delivery model)?
Tell us about a success you’ve seen in either a clinical or educational setting welcoming diversity and/or inclusion and improving health equity and how you might bring that success to our program?
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The selection process
Application will be reviewed by the SNAPT Faculty Selection Committee. Qualified applicants will be invited for an interview. If admitted to the program students will then interview with practice leaders at their clinical practice site to determine a goodness of fit for their practice. Students will be informed of their final status and placement no later than November 1.
Application deadline for Spring 2024 cohort – Midnight, September 22, 2023.
Letters of recommendation from references are due no later than midnight, September 22, 2023. Requests for extensions must be requested at least 2 days before this deadline.
The SNAPT Program is produced with the assistance of a Nurse Support II Program grant #21-111 under the auspices of the Health Services Cost Review Commission. Opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, and no official endorsement should be inferred.
©SNAPT Fellowship, 2023. All rights reserved.