SNAPS (Student Nurse Alliance for Peer Support)

Description

The Student Nurse Alliance for Peer Support (SNAPS) is a program designed to cultivate resilience in undergraduate nursing students at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and University of Tennessee Southern. Made possible through a mini-grant from UT Wellness, SNAPS provides crucial peer support for students navigating challenging clinical situations.

Nursing students who encounter difficult clinical experiences can self-refer or be referred to trained peer supporters—upper-class nursing students who offer compassionate, peer-to-peer guidance to help them process through their feelings and emotions. This additional layer of support helps build resilience and reduces the impact of second victim phenomenon among student nurses.

Picture this:

You're in clinicals on the med-surg floor. You've just finished interviewing your patient for your care plan, and you've really connected. She reminds you of your grandma—you share similar interests, and her husband is equally kind. She came in with chest pain but says she's feeling much better and is excited to get home to her cat this afternoon. You thank her and head to your next patient. A few minutes later, on your way to lunch, you hear it: "Code blue, fourth floor, room 482." You freeze. That's your patient—she was fine just moments ago. You drop your lunch and run back to find her receiving CPR. The team codes her for an hour, but ultimately, she dies.
The patient is the first victim. You are the second victim—left grieving, wondering if you missed something, struggling under the invisible weight of emotional pain.

Why is peer support important?

Up to 70% of nursing students will experience this at some point in their careers. Without support, these normal reactions can progress into serious mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance use, and even suicide.

What helps the Second Victim Phenomenon?

Research shows that most of the time, you want to talk with a peer—someone who truly understands because they've been there.

How do I make a Referral? [email protected]

For yourself:

If you're dealing with a difficult clinical situation that has left you feeling emotionally heavy, our trained peer supporters are here to help!

Simply send an email with your name and program and one of our trained supporters will reach out so you can talk to someone who truly gets it.

For a peer:

If you're concerned about a fellow student who experienced a difficult clinical situation, you can refer them to SNAPS.

Simply send an email with their name and program. A SNAPS faculty member will reach out to confirm the student's voluntary participation before connecting them them a peer supporter.

For Clinical Instructors:

Clinical instructors can also refer a student using the same process. Send an email with the student's name and program, and a SNAPS member will confirm voluntary participation before pairing the student with a peer supporter.

Participation in this program is 100% voluntary. SNAPS is designed to provide confidential peer support for students processing emotions and feelings related to difficult clinical experiences.

This program is not designed for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please seek immediate help: