Sigma Theta Tau (Sigma in short) was founded in 1922 by six nurses at Indiana University School of Nursing (formerly known as the Indiana University Training School for Nurses).
The sorority’s name is derived from a combination of three Greek words, storgé, timé, and thárros which mean love, honor, and courage.
Why you should join Sigma
Thanks to Sigma, nurses all around the globe can be empowered with the right tools and motivation to achieve excellence through scholarship, leadership, and service. This has been the organization’s driving mission since it was founded in 1922.
The ultimate end goal is not only to develop leaders in the nursing field, but also to improve healthcare overall, everywhere.
To achieve this level of excellence, Sigma members have numerous opportunities centered around the fundamental areas of education, scholarship, research, leadership, both character and career development, as well as evidence-based nursing.
At the same time, Sigma Theta Tau also exists to connect leaders in the nursing industry from all across the globe.
What does it take to be part of Sigma?
Today, Sigma consists of over 135,000 active members and counting spanning over 100 countries. If you are a baccalaureate or graduate nursing student with excellence in scholarship, you are eligible for a membership. If you are a leader in the nursing who has acquired exceptional achievements in the field, you are also eligible.
In fact, Sigma members are made up of a mix of demographics with members who are in staff positions making up majority (51%) of it. The second biggest demographic are members with master’s or doctoral degrees making up 39% of the population followed by 19% who are in administration and supervisorial roles, 18% in faculty, and only 12% who are in advanced practice.
Costs to join Sigma
There is an annual chapter membership fee to become a member of Sigma which is determined by each individual chapter’s board of directors. Usually, the fee averages around $30.
On top of this, there is another additional international member fee for members who want to enjoy international membership benefits. The fees are as follows:
- For residents of high-income countries – $69.50
- For residents of middle-income countries – $26.00
- For residents of low-income countries – $13.00
Sigma Theta Tau is one of the biggest voices in the nursing field. The organization along with its partners promote nursing research by empowering individuals through scholarships, grants, and monetary awards.
If you are in the nursing field, join Sigma Theta Tau today to always keep up to date with the best practices in nursing.