Sigma Theta Tau International, Nursing Honor Society: Why aren’t you a member?
Often, when I head to nursing conferences, I feel overwhelmed by my harried schedule, workload, logistics, and finances. However, once I arrive and become engaged I am excited, invigorated, and better informed about nursing. One particular nursing convention continues to stand out by the works of the organization behind it.
Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society’s (STTI) biennial convention is currently taking place in Grapevine, Texas and I am once again privileged to be here as an attendee. Dr Karin Morin, current president, reminded attendees at the opening session of the amazing, ever expanding, and tireless work that the organization continues to pursue. STTI is the only international nursing organization. Likewise, it is the only nursing NGO for the United Nations, continues to expand partnerships to fund learning and mentoring academies like the maternal child and leadership cohorts, and has published over 24 timely text titles in the last biennium. They are not just setting goals, to fuel nursing scholarship, evidence based practice, and to improve the health of the world’s global citizens through nursing science, but they are achieving them.
Even as I type this, I am sitting in an intimate room with nurses from all countries and occupational settings preparing to hear a presentation on how to build sustainable nursing research teams that flourish. There is hardly an empty seat in the room. Such diversity, and yet oneness of purpose, is awe inspiring indeed. Part of me desires to bring more acute care and bedside nurses to such events and discussions. I am acutely aware right now that what is occurring here in this room is the way to inspire nurses and move the profession forward.
With such impressive activities and 469 chapters globally, one might ask… why aren’t all nurses members? Time, finances, lack of access to a chapter, and numerous other excuses may come to mind, but really, wouldn’t any of us like to be part of something bigger than ourselves, something that is changing nursing throughout the globe? I have found my STTI membership to be one of the most beneficial and cost effective nursing organization memberships that I posses. Community members are invited to join, but if you cannot find a local chapter then there is a virtual chapter that you can also access. I encourage you to consider joining and becoming involved. Perhaps I will see you in 2013 in Indianapolis.