Theta Lambda and Local Student Nursing Organizations Make a Big Difference for Harmony House

 

Student Nurses

As part of an ongoing effort to mentor new leaders, engage student nurses in scholarship and philanthropy, and improve the health of the local community the Sigma Theta Tau International Theta Lambda chapter has sponsored this third year of a collaborative community leadership project.

Three local colleges continue to be involved, Cox College of Nursing, Missouri State University, and St. John’s College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Southwest Baptist University.  College student nursing organization leaders and members meet with theta lambda board members to adopt a local organization and then undertake different activities throughout the year to help support that organization.  Past community organizations that have benefited from this have included NAMI and the Down’s Syndrome Group of the Ozarks.

This year the student nurses adopted Harmony House, a community agency that provides shelter, advocacy and education to survivors of domestic violence.  The schools raised $700.00 which was doubled through a matching grant that will provide toys for children of parents seeking shelter in the “Welcome Toys” program.  In addition, the three schools filled a 15-foot U-Haul truck with clothing and furniture for parents setting up new house holds after leaving Harmony House.

Harmony House Donations

Congratulations to the hard work of the Ozarks area student nurses! Their contributions and effort will make a difference in the lives of many important children.

Updates on Affordable Care Act August 12th

Judy Baker, CMS Director of Region 7, would like to meet with nurses in the Springfield area to give us an update on current changes in health care related to the Affordable Care Act.  She will be in Springfield next Friday, August 12.   The meeting will be from 4pm to 5pm in the private meeting room at Hebrews Coffee, 1604 E. Republic Road in Springfield.  STTI members, local area nurses, nurse leaders, faculty, and students are welcome to attend and hear about upcoming changes in health care.

 

Collaborative SNO/SNA project a big success!!!

By: Susan Kramer

The collaborative SNO’s from MSU, Cox and St. John’s/SBU joined together to hold a Spring Fling party for the kids and their parents from the Down’s Syndrome Group of the Ozarks on Saturday, 3/19/11. This was held at the Greenwood School Lab gymnasium on the MSU campus. Approximately 42 kids with their parents attended the 3 hour event and everyone seemed to have a great time. The students offered approximately 12 different games and activities that ranged from face painting (thanks to Cozi Bagley and her students at Cox College!) to a musical cupcake walk. Other activities included: basketball toss, tunnel crawl races, dancing competitions and the most popular of all; the ball pit (see photo). Pizza and sodas were provided for refreshments.

Kids playing

Lynn Neidigh-director of DSGO was present and told me, and I quote: “the families that attended had a blast. One person even asked if we could do this every year! It was really perfect and if the SNO’s decide to do it again next year, I imagine we would have an even bigger turn out. Thank you to all the students and faculty for their hard work. This has been one of the best volunteer experiences that our organization has ever had. The SNs are all very professional and easy to work with and it has been a great honor to work with your fine students and great organization.”

Spring Updates and Induction

Hello Southwest Missouri Nurses and Nursing Students! We hope your spring is going well.  Below are just a few things going on with the chapter and updates on upcoming events.  We hope you can join us for them and look forward to seeing you.

Current Chapter Activities
This has been a very active year for the theta lambda chapter.

SPRING EDUCATION EVENT APRIL 2nd

The chapter is proud to sponsor an educational event on April 2^nd at the O’Reilly Cancer Center on the St. John’s Regional Health System campus entitled, Implications of Health Care Reform for Missouri. Keynote speakers included Rebecca McClanahan, RN and former Missouri legislator, and Judy Baker from the Department of Health and Human services.  Cost is $35 dollars for Theta Lambda members and $10 for students. Advanced registration is required by 3/28/11.  Please mail registration forms and payments to the address directed on the attached brochure.

SAVE THE DATE FOR SPRING INDUCTION APRIL 9th

Mark your calendars and join us for Spring Induction on April 9^th to be held in the Missouri State University Plaster Student Union ROOM 314. Free parking is available in lots 7, 14, 29, and the visitor parking lot by Taylor Health and Wellness. Guest speaker will be Dr. Susan Berg presenting on, “Cultural competence and health disparity education in Nurse Practitioner programs”.  Finalization of new officers as well as induction of community leaders will take place.  Cost is $18 per person.  Send your reservation and money, payable to Theta Lambda, to Caroline Helton, Missouri State University, 901 S. National Ave. Springfield, MO 65897, no later than April 6th.  You can also RSVP by phone or e-mail and pay at the door.

CarolineHelton@MissouriState.edu or 417-829-0891, or 417-836-6569

Join us for brunch, networking, an informative presentation, and chapter business.  See the attached flier for more information.

If you would like to become a member or would like to nominate a new member of the chapter and have not ever been inducted into Sigma Theta Tau you may do so by sending the following to the chapter counselor Caroline Helton via her e-mail: A letter of reference to the chapter by a current active member, a one page essay about why you would like to join the chapter, and your curriculum vitae.

 
Have You Ever Wanted to Be More Involved?
Now is the time to get involved in your local sigma theta tau organization. The time commitment to serve is minimal, but the impact on nursing science in Southwest Missouri is great. If you are interested in serving on any of the following committees please send an e-mail to the address below: governance, leadership succession, education, or communication. Likewise, maybe you would like to serve on the board. The office of secretary is open this spring and a counselor will be needed from the Missouri State University faculty. We would love to have you! If you are interested please send an e-mail to the new chapter e-mail account:STTIthetalambda@gmail.com.  Be looking for notification of open electronic voting for active members this spring.

Theta Lambda Working to Strengthen Nursing in Southwest Missouri

The Theta Lambda chapter has been working in many other venues within the community to encourage nursing, professional involvement, leadership, and scholarship.  The following are just a few of the many activities the chapter is supporting.

Southwest Missouri Student Nurses are working together: Leadership, professional involvement, community activism

The Theta Lambda Chapter is well into their second year of the  ’Student Nurse Leadership Project’, where student nursing organizations from Cox College, Missouri State University, and Southwest Baptist University are working together with the local Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks. Activities done to support this group included a door hanging fundraiser spearheaded by the Missouri State University SNO group that raised $500 for the Down Syndrome group, a ‘spring fling’ scheduled for March at  the Southwest Baptist University St. John’s College of Nursing campus, and brochure development by the Cox College of nursing. If you would like to be informed of activities or participate in this project, feel free to contact the board via e-mail at STTIthetalambda@gmail.com.

Research Day at the MSU Department of Nursing

Dr. Susan Berg is once again heading up Research Day on Monday April 18^th at the Missouri State University campus to encourage scholarship and oral presentation of research and clinical projects by the graduate nursing students at the university.  The Theta Lambda chapter is proud to help sponsor this event and encourages members, nurses, and local students to attend.  The event begins at 5:00 pm in the Professional Building room 424.

Movers and Shakers:

Members of the Theta Lambda chapter continue to be active in nursing and scholarship.  Dr. Susan Berg is having a chapter entitled HEENT in the text Patient Education a Practical Approach by Jones and Bartlett. The copyright year will be 2012.  Dr. Patricia Webb will have an article on Autism screening during well child visits published sometime this year in the Journal for Nurse Practitioners and presented at the International Association of Forensic Nurses Scientific Assembly about using evidenced based guidelines in the evaluation of the sexually abused pediatric patient.  Theta Lambda member Jan Atwell, along with Dr. Rose Utley and Rachel Anderson have an upcoming article in Geriatric Nursing.  Terri Schmitt has been a panelist with the podcasted show Insights in Nursing with producer and nurse Jamie Davis and has been privileged to work with the Blog of the Interdisciplinary Nursing Research Quarterly Initiative on a student blog carnival of writings and thoughts concerning the recent I.O.M. nursing initiative. Terri will also be presenting with international Sigma members Rob Fraser and Dr. Carole Eldridge on social media and electronic communication in education and leadership at the 41st Biannual Convention of Sigma Theta Tau in the Fall of 2011.

Dr. Susan Sims-Giddens presented ”Integrating Applied Learning in the Merit, Tenure, and Promotion Process” February 25, 2011 at the 6^th Annual Conference on Applied learning in Higher Education in St. Joseph, MO. Caroline Helton presented a poster entitled “Critical Reflection Documentation of Student Service-learning Experiences” February 25, 2011 at the 6^th Annual Conference on Applied learning in Higher Education in St. Joseph, MO. Dr. Susan Sims-Giddens, Caroline Helton, and Carol Daniel presented “Health promotion and Disease Prevention of Homeless and Vulnerable Populations” March 16, 1011 at the National Nursing Center Consortium in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Susan Sims-Giddens will present “Transitioning from a Digital Immigrant to a Digital Native” May 24, 2011 at the Midwest Healthcare Educators’ Academy in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Jan Atwell will present “Simulation: Relief for Dreading to Care for the Dying Patient” May 24, 2011 at the Midwest Healthcare Educators’ Academy in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  Carolyn Hart presented a poster on “Persistence in learning in online nursing students” at the Nurse Educator Institute in Branson, MO.

If you are doing great things or know other members who are, drop us a line, we would love to send them a kudos STTIthetalambda@gmail.com.

Fall 2010 Updates: What the chapter was up to last year

Current Chapter Activities
This has been a very active year for the theta lambda chapter. We have lead a project with nursing students from three different colleges of nursing, we have sent members to the national meeting, we have elected new officers, and we have persevered in our new communication methods.

JOIN US FOR our FALL MEETING

The Theta Lambda board would like to invite you to an evening of dinner and discussion at the Midtown Springfield Library Branch, near City Utilities, from 5:30 to 7:00pm on November 1st. Dinner will be served. Please RSVP to our e-mail at STTIthetalambda@gmail.com so that we can order enough food for everyone. We will begin our business meeting at 6pm. Come and network, catch up with old friends, meet the new board members, and possibly even win a door prize! We look forward to seeing you there.

Spring induction and election of new officers:

Spring induction occurred at Kentwood Hall on April 17th. Eleven new members, including two community members, were inducted into the Theta Lambda Chapter. New officer elections were completed and the new board took over operations of the chapter. Dr. Charolette Seckman provided an excellent presentation on “Evaluating an evidence-Based Practice System” and members and their families enjoyed poster presentations from MSU students and brunch. We hope you can join us for the next chapter event.

Welcome these new members! Undergraduate Inductees:  Joy Callaway, Whitney Cochran, Beth Davis, Casey Morrow, Michael Plumel, and Jaclyn Walker;  Graduate Inductees:  Sylvia Imanda:  Community Members:  Cozetta Bagley, and Janet Beyer; and Transfer Members:  Carolyn Graves and Donna Steele.

Speaking of induction - Mark your calendars now and plan to join us for spring induction in 2011! We will celebrate induction on April 16th in the Kentwood Ballroom from 9 am to Noon. Be watching for information regarding this special event, coming spring of 2011.

Theta Lambda Chapter to sponsor Missouri State University Graduate Student Think Tank

The theta lambda chapter is sponsoring the graduate nursing students’ Think Tank for this fall. The Think Tank will be held on Tuesday November 9th at 7p.m. in Lincoln Hall, Room 211 on the OTC campus. The forum is open to the public. The topic of this year’s forum is – End of Life Care.

Election of New Officers (Spring 2010):

Prior to spring induction the chapter enacted their first on-line voting, which was an excellent way to capture the votes of members who could not attend induction. A new chapter president elect, Dr. Susan Berg, was installed for a two-year term and Dr. Susan Sims-Giddons has stepped up to serve as our chapter president. Sandy Jemison was re-elected to the office of secretary and Caroline Helton, chapter counselor, and Jan Atwell, chapter secretary, continue serving until spring of 2011. If you would be interested in serving the chapter next year, please contact us via e-mail at STTIthetalambda@gmail.com . Thank you to all of these nursing leaders who are committing their time and resources to advancing nursing in Southwest Missouri!

NAMI Project completed for last year, but Southwest Missouri Student Nurses are working together again this year through Sigma Theta Tau International

The Theta Lambda Chapter enacted their first ‘Student Nurse Leadership Project for the 2009-2010 school year, where student nursing organizations from Cox College, Missouri State University, and Southwest Baptist University worked together with the local NAMI  organization throughout the year. The student nurse leaders have coordinated a work day, supply drive, coordinated walkers for the May ‘Miles for Minds walk’, completed fundraising to donate to the non-profit, and even completed and competed in a public service announcement campaign. Their gifts and time have allowed the local office to better meet the needs of their clients.

This year the student nurses have already begun working with the Theta lambda board on this years project and are looking forward to working with the Downsyndrome Group of the Ozarks. If you would like to be informed of activities or participate in this project, feel free to contact the board via e-mail at STTIthetalambda@gmail.com. Be looking for upcoming calendar events and announcements.

Check out our new page with Photos from the NAMI project

2010 International Year of the Nurse
2010 is the International Year of the Nurse: The chapter would like to have an event with possibly education and some recognition during the 2010 year for this important event. Your ideas, volunteer abilities, and leadership would be appreciated to help us create something special for nurses in Southwest Missouri. Please e-mail us at STTIthetalmabda@gmail.com. For more on this millennium event visit – http://www.2010iyn.net/.

Chapter Movers and Shakers:

Member Dr. Susan Sims-Giddens and Dr. Mary Beth Mann received notification of their grant renewal from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for the Missouri Preschool Project. The project involves a collaborative effort between the MSU child development center, the MSU Department of Nursing, and the Springfield R-12 School system to provide preschool for 35 preschool aged children from low income SWMissouri families.

Dr. Susan Berg received a grant from the Missouri State University Citizenship and Service Learning this year for a collaborative project between PA, audiology and NP students. The grant was to look at innovative ways to learn otoscopy.

Member Dr. Martha Baker has been named Dean of the St. John’s College of nursing and Health Sciences at Southwest Baptist University. Member Dana Hunt has been named director of the Bachelor’s of Science in nursing program at SBU.

Dr. Donna Gloe and Chapter secretary Jan Atwell received a Missouri State University internal grant funded by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning for Technology Curriculum Innovation. They will be designing and implementing an End-Of-Life simulation for junior nursing students. They will also be evaluating attitudes and concerns about death when caring for clients.

Dr. Patricia Webb, MSU faculty and member, had an article from her DNP project on autism screening in the primary care setting accepted for publication by Journal of Nurse Practitioners and will published some time in 2011. Congratulations Patricia!

Congratulations to these and all of our other members on their great accomplishments.
If you are doing great things or know other members who are, drop us a line, we would love to send them a kudos STTIthetalambda@gmail.com.

Check out the updates to the Chapter News page

The latest in chapter activities and our current leadership project are there. Also, view the power point there from member Terri Schmitt about what she learned at the Biannual convention this past October.

WELCOME TO THE NEW SITE!

If you are here, then it means  you made it to our new website. You maybe wondering why we changed sites and URL’s. Well, after much considerastion and decision we wanted a site that could change and adapt with our needs and changing members without the need for a member to have to ‘code’ the site, which is what happens when webistes are built. Likewise, we wanted a user-friendly and ‘free’ site so that all board members could post to the site while keeping costs down so that we could do more good nursing works with our funding. Look around and check out the website/blog and let us know what you think. Thank you, as always, for being a member of Sigma Theta Tau International, Theta Lambda Chapter.

Welcome to Nursing and Sigma Theta Tau at Missouri State University!

Welcome to the website for the Theta Lambda Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. Sigma Theta Tau is the international honor society of nursing professionals. The honor society was founded in 1922 by 6 nursing students from Indiana University Training School for Nurses. Since that time, the organization has grown to hold chapters in almost every country in the world, promoting the education of nurses and health world wide.

The Theta Lambda chapter was started in 1983 and chartered in 1986 at Southwest Missouri State University, in the heart of the Ozarks. Much has changed since the chapter’s original charter. Today the chapter has grown to over 300 active and recently active members, with many local member alumni. The chapter is still housed at its original University, but in 2005 Southwest Missouri State University met a long-time goal in becoming Missouri State University. The chapter and the university nursing department have been leaders in the promotion of professional nursing, research, advanced education, and clinical excellence in the surrounding area.

Be sure to check out our Chapter News page for current chapter information and our Calendar of Events!