Sigma Theta Tau International: What the Nursing Honor Society Is, Who Gets Invited and Is It Worth Joining?

Sigma Theta Tau International (Sigma) is the honor society of nursing, with around 135,000 active members and chapters in many countries. Here’s what it is and who gets invited.

Imagine opening an email that says you’ve been invited to join an international honor society because of your grades and leadership. It feels great. Then comes the question: is it worth the fee?

This article is part of our guide: Nursing Councils, Associations and Unions Explained.

Where Sigma came from

Sigma was founded on 4 October 1922 by six nursing students at the Indiana University Training School for Nurses. It’s still headquartered in Indianapolis, with chapters at universities in the US and in countries including Australia, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, the UK and the Philippines.

Who can join?

Membership is by invitation.

• Undergraduate and graduate nursing students with strong academic records and integrity, usually ranking in the top part of their class
• Nurse leaders with at least a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), legal authority to practise, and notable achievement in nursing

What members get

• Research grants, scholarships and awards
• Conferences and educational programmes
• Journals including the Journal of Nursing Scholarship and Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing
• Leadership and mentoring programmes
• A global professional network

Who benefits most

Nurses planning careers in research, academia, advanced practice or leadership often get the most from Sigma. If that’s you, see our PhD and DNP scholarships guide.

But is it just an expensive line on a CV?

For some nurses, it is mostly a CV line. For others, especially those heading into research, education or leadership, the grants, journals, conferences and networks are genuinely useful. Ask what your local chapter actually does before paying.

Related: Master’s scholarships for nurses · Council vs association vs union

Sources: Sigma Theta Tau International; Wikipedia summary of Sigma’s history and membership.