![]() ![]() I also became aware of another very important benefit of Sigma membership-mentoring by other members. I admired their global leadership and began to comprehend the impact of Sigma’s voice and the extent to which being part of the organization connected me to nurses around the world. Klopper, PhD, MBA, RN, RM, FANSA, then president of Sigma. I also had the opportunity to meet Patricia Thompson, EdD, RN, FAAN, who was then Sigma’s CEO, and Hester C. In addition to meeting leaders in nursing education, practice, and research, I experienced the excitement and motivation that come from being surrounded by hundreds of nurses working toward the common goal of optimizing nursing’s role in advancing the global health agenda. Those conferences provided my first real exposure to global nursing research. Shortly after my induction, I experienced the first of many member benefits when I applied for and received travel grants from my local chapter to attend both the 25th Quadrennial Congress of the International Council of Nurses in Melbourne, Australia, and Sigma’s 42nd Biennial Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. If I knew then what I know now, I never would have considered not joining Sigma. Still unsure but trusting my mentor’s advice, I accepted the invitation. My adviser knew of my interest in global health, and she assured me that membership in Sigma would provide opportunities and resources that would help me develop skills needed to advance my career in the direction I desired. ![]() ![]() I felt honored to receive the invitation but was unsure how Sigma differed from other organizations. I was in my third year of study at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. As predicted, I received an email shortly afterward inviting me to join Sigma’s Lambda Psi Chapter later that spring. That was my routine until my adviser told me to be on the lookout for an invitation from one particular organization and not to hit “delete.” The organization she was referring to was Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (Sigma). Because my budget was limited and I was unsure which invitations were scams and which were truly worthwhile, I typically hit “delete” immediately upon seeing “pay here.” If you are like me, the author says, you will be overwhelmed by the many opportunities and abundant information your Sigma membership provides.Īs an undergraduate, I received a flood of emails from groups inviting me to join their organizations, typically at extravagant cost. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |