History

Rho Omega Chapter

Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing

Truman State University Nursing Honor Society

The baccalaureate-nursing program at Truman State University was established in 1960 in the Division of Health and Physical Education. After ten years of rather low enrollments and graduations, however, a decision was made to close the program. In response to concern expressed by members of the University and larger community, an advisory council was appointed to consider the need for a nursing education program at Truman State University and to make recommendations for the future of nursing education at the university. The Council, composed of university faculty, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine faculty, health care agency representatives, and interested citizens, considered the charge and recommended re-establishment of the Nursing Program. Based on the Council’s recommendations and the recommendation of President McClain, the Board of Regents approved the development of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree program in a new Division of Nursing, and the appointment of a Division Head, Dr. Grace Devitt, to plan and implement the curriculum.

Under the direction and leadership of Dr. Devitt, the first class to complete the new curriculum graduated in 1976. The National League for Nursing first accredited the Nursing Program in 1978, as a young program offering a high quality education to students primarily from Northeast Missouri. Accreditation has been granted by the NLN since that time. More recently, the Nursing Program has been awarded accreditation by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

In 1985, the Missouri State Legislature, through House Bill 196, designated Truman State University as the statewide institution of liberal arts and sciences. In response to this new mission, the Nursing Program revised its curriculum to place more emphasis on the liberal arts and sciences. Because of the liberal arts and sciences mission, the Nursing Program has been more able to achieve the model nursing education built upon a strong foundation in the liberal arts and sciences that the faculty believe exemplify the desirable characteristics of nursing education. Consistent with this mission, the Truman State University Nursing Program faculty planned a goal to eventually establish a chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.

Preparation for development of the Truman State University Nursing Honor Society began with the formation of a Steering Committee in April 1998. The steering committee was led by Shirley Riley, BSN, RN, Truman Nursing Program Administrative Assistant. The Steering Committee consisted of Truman State University faculty, alumni, students and community nursing leaders. The members of the steering committee were Shirley Riley, Brenda Higgins, Cynthia Green, Susan Barrow, Sharon McGahan, Mariquit Hadwiger, Pamela Melvin, Heather Eckland, Leah Korte, Natalie Anderson, Marcia Beck, and Kathy Chojnacki. The committee met and elected Brenda Higgins as the Steering Committee Chairperson; Mariquit Hadwiger, chairperson of the By-laws committee; and Sharon McGahan as the chair of the membership committee.

By October 1998, the Steering Committee had requested and received letters of support from Dr. Constance Ayers, Nursing Program Director, and Dr. Jack Magruder, University President. Organization by-laws were approved consistent with chapter by-laws for Sigma Theta Tau International. In preparation for the first induction of members into the Truman State Nursing Honor Society, Sharon McGahan formed an eligibility committee to review alumni from 1990 forward who might be eligible for membership. Shirley Riley was elected Secretary and Susan Barrow was elected Treasurer of the Honor Society. Plans were made to have the first induction of members in May 1999. A lilac and white honor cord was selected to represent Truman’s Nursing Honor Society. Letters of invitation, a pamphlet about the Truman State University Nursing Honor Society, Membership Intent Forms and Endorsement for Membership Forms were sent to 197 nurses who were eligible for membership.

On May 8, 1999, the first induction ceremony took place in the Georgian Room of the Student Union Building at Truman State University. Dr. Constance Ayers, PhD, RN, Director of Truman State’s Nursing Program, gave the keynote address, "Caring in Such a Time as This," to 57 charter members, their families, and other guests.

The second induction ceremony was held on October 29, 1999, in the Activities Room of the Student Union Building on Truman State’s campus. Marcia Beck, MSN, RN, alumnus and a recognized lymphedema specialist, presented "Nursing Profession in the Twenty-First Century: How Much Joy Can You Stand?" as the keynote address to the 21 candidates for induction.

Fourteen new members were inducted at the third induction ceremony on May 13, 2000. The keynote speaker was Susan Barrow, JD, MSN, RN, a Truman faculty member and attorney with a local law firm, who presented "Nursing: The Art and Science of Human Care."

On May 1, 2001, the Nursing Honor Society sponsored the 1^st Annual Capstones of Nursing, where senior nursing students, faculty members, and community leaders presented oral and poster presentations of their research proposals and/or ongoing research activities. Belinda Heimericks, MS(N), RN, Executive Director of the Missouri Nurses Association, provided the keynote address, "Nursing Shortage."

The fourth induction ceremony was held on May 12, 2001, with 14 inductees. Truman State alumnus and local nurse practitioner, Michelle Matteson, MSN, RN, FNP, presented the keynote address, "Nursing: An Attractive Profession." The activities of The Honor Society were reported to all members when the Society sent out its first newsletter to members on December 1, 2001.

The Honor Society sponsored Truman’s Senior Capstones on December 11, 2001. Community and alumni members of the Honor Society were invited to participate as BSN senior nursing students presented oral and poster presentations of their current semester’s research proposals.

The 2^nd Annual Capstones of Nursing Conference was held on May 7, 2002. Community, alumni and student researchers presented fifteen oral presentations and 13 poster presentations to junior and senior nursing students, Honor Society members, community nurses, and other members of the University community. Truman Professor, Stephen Hadwiger, PhD, RN, served as keynote speaker with his presentation, "Cross-Cultural Nursing Research."

The Honor Society provided it’s first scholarship to Kristen Leiby, a Truman senior nursing student, who presented her research, "Potential for Enhanced Exercise: A Study of Wellness in College Students," at a conference in Chicago, IL in April 2002. The scholarship supported the student’s travel and accommodations, which allowed her to present her continuing research on standardized nursing language.

On May 18, 2002, thirteen graduating seniors, alumni and community leaders became new members of the Honor Society at the fifth induction ceremony. Keynote speaker was long-time Truman faculty member and geriatric specialist, Gretchen Cornell, PhD, RN, who addressed the group with her talk, "Which Comes First? Chicken or the Egg?" After this induction, it was determined that the Honor Society met the membership requirement for the establishment of a Sigma Theta Tau chapter at Truman.

Last modified: 09/07/06