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Sigma Theta Tau

Learn how an STTI membership can benefit your nursing career!

Society Mission

The mission of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, is advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.

Society Vision

Sigma Theta Tau International’s vision is to be the global organization of choice for nursing.

History

In 1922 six nurses founded The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International, at the Indiana University Training School for Nurses, now the Indiana University School of Nursing, in Indianapolis, Ind., USA. The founders chose the name from the Greek words Storgé, Tharsos and Timé meaning “love,” “courage” and “honor.” STTI became incorporated in 1985 as Sigma Theta Tau International Inc., a nonprofit organization with a 501(c)(3) tax status in the United States.

Membership

STTI membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing. Here are some additional facts about our membership:

  • STTI has more than 135,000 active members.
  • Members reside in more than 85 countries.
  • 39 percent of active members hold master’s and/or doctoral degrees; 51 percent are in staff positions; 19 percent are administrators or supervisors; 18 percent are faculty/academics; and 12 percent are in advanced practice.
  • There are 494 chapters at 676 institutions of higher education throughout Armenia, Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, England, Ghana, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Swaziland, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
  • STTI communicates regularly with more than 100 nurse leaders who have expressed interest in establishing chapters globally, including those in Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, India, Ireland, Israel, Germany, Jamaica, Jordan, Lebanon, New Zealand and Spain.

Products and Services

From its inception, STTI has recognized the value of scholarship and excellence in nursing practice. In 1936 STTI became the first U.S. organization to fund nursing research. Today, STTI supports these values through its numerous professional development products and services that focus on the core areas of education, leadership, career development, evidence-based nursing, research and scholarship. These products and services advance the learning and professional development of members and all nurses who strive to improve the health of the world’s people:

  • STTI, with its grant-offering partners (corporations, associations and foundations), contributes more than US $200,000 annually to nursing research through grants, scholarships and monetary awards.
  • A number of education and research conferences are supported by STTI, including a yearly research congress that presents the latest nursing research from around the world and a biennial convention that offers nursing’s best practices in clinical, scientific and leadership areas.
  • Online continuing education offers peer-reviewed, interactive learning activities which are presented in a variety of learning formats including case studies, evidence-based articles and module courses. These activities are web-linked to full-text articles and abstracts and are available for continuing education contact hours.
  • The Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository – an online digital service that collects, preserves, and disseminates digital materials in both abstract and full-text format. Submissions to this repository may be made by individual nurses and nursing students as well as nursing organizations.
  • STTI’s career development programming provides resources for every stage in the career process, from selection of nursing as a profession to active retirement.
  • Leadership programs include mentoring programs and global health care think tanks.
  • Alliances with other leading providers of nursing knowledge products and services round out STTI’s offering and provide added value to its members.

Publications

  • Journal of Nursing Scholarship – a leading, peer-reviewed scholarly journal with a global circulation of 125,000, is published quarterly and is available in both print and full text, searchable online formats to members and subscribers.
  • Scholarly books on a wide range of topics in nursing and health care of interest to members and other nurses around the world.
  • Reflections on Nursing Leadership – STTI’s award-winning, online member magazine that communicates nurses’ contributions and relevance to the health of people worldwide.
  • Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing™ – a bi-monthly periodical available in print and full text, searchable online formats to subscribers, is a leading global source of the best research and evidence available with applications to nursing practice, administration, education and policy.
  • STTI connect – a monthly electronic newsletter sent to all members, which includes chapter specific information and announcements.

Nursing Knowledge International

NKI was established in 2002 as a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) subsidiary of STTI to serve the knowledge needs of the global nursing community. Through its e-commerce website, www.nursingknowledge.org, the organization delivers nursing knowledge designed to improve patient outcomes by enhancing the knowledge base of its nurse customers. More than 82,000 nurses have joined the NKI community.

Sigma Theta Tau International Foundation for Nursing

The Foundation holds all permanent funds of STTI. These assets are distributed over nine different endowed or restricted funds, each established for a specific purpose. Endowed funds contain donations made by members and friends of nursing, but only the interest earned from these funds are distributed. Restricted funds hold monies that are given to STTI for a specific activity and distributed accordingly.

The International Honor Society of Nursing Building Corporation

Incorporated in 1993 as a corporation with 501(c)(2) status, the Building Corporation holds title to real and personal property for the benefit of STTI. It is also responsible for managing and maintaining STTI’s 39,350 square foot building and grounds.

Criteria for Induction

Interested students, both undergraduate and graduate, are invited to join through STTI chapters located at more than 650 colleges and universities around the world, including through Boise State University. Review the student membership criteria and locate a chapter.

Nursing professionals who were not previously inducted as nursing students can also join STTI as Nurse Leaders.

Membership is based on established criteria and is by invitation only.  Interested students may contact Bev Lugo at beverleylugo@boisestate.edu for more information or to how to apply for an invitation.  Alternately information can be found by visiting Sigma Theta Tau International’s website.