The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International - STTI

The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International exists to improve the health of people by increasing the scientific base of nursing research.

The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International was founded in 1922 at Indiana University. The founders chose the society’s name from the meaning of the Greek words Storge, Tharsos, and Time: “love,” “courage” and “honor.”

The founders’ vision for the society helped bring recognition to nursing as a science. In 1936 it became the first organization in the United States to fund nursing research. Since then the Society has underwritten more than 250 small or "seed" grants, which often begin a whole body of research. These peer-reviewed grants are often the first recognition of potent concepts that eventually lead to major, wide-scale research projects and innovation in the nursing profession.

More than 360,000 nurse scholars have been inducted into Sigma Theta Tau. With 125,000 active members. It is the second largest nursing organization in the world. Members are active in more than 90 countries and territories, and 431 chapters are located on 515 college and university campuses in the U.S. as well as countries including Australia, Botswana, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, England, Hong Kong, Korea, Mexico, The Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa, Swaziland, Taiwan, Tanzania and Wales.

Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students, who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing. 61% of active members hold master’s and/or doctoral degrees; 56% have a specialty certification; 48% are clinicians; 40% have more than 15 years of work experience; 21% are administrators or supervisors, and 20% are educators or researchers. In addition to English, members are fluent in 20 other languages including Spanish, Dutch and Finnish.

Graduate Students (Master's and Doctorate) must have completed ¼ of the nursing curriculum; achieve academic excellence (at schools where a 4.0 grade point average system is used, this equates to a 3.5 or higher); and meet the expectation of academic integrity.

Nurse Leader Candidates must be legally recognized to practice nursing in his/her country; have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent in any field; and demonstrate achievement in nursing.