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Student Organizations in Nursing
National Student Nurses Organization (NSNA)
- To assume responsibility for contributing to nursing education in order to provide for the highest quality of health care;
- To provide programs representative of fundamental and current professional interest and concerns; and
- To aid in the development of the whole person, his/her professional role, and his/her sense of responsibility for the health care of all people in the walks of life.*
* Taken from “What’s It All About,” NSNA publication #20, 100.
This organization functions at the national, state, and local level. Youngstown State University has an active local chapter in which nursing students may apply for membership. The Ohio Student Nurses Association (OSNA) participates with other states in the NSNA.
The focus of the local chapter of Student Nurse Association (SNA) is the promotion of professional nursing goals. The SNA officers consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, and Junior and Senior Class Representatives. Various activities such as fund-raisers, social activities, mentorship programs, and extra-curricular programs are conducted by the SNA organizations. The SNA chapter has two faculty advisors. Membership meetings are scheduled throughout the academic year for the SNA membership. Information regarding NSNA, including class officers, is posted on the bulletin board outside the Nursing office.
Sigma Theta Tau Internation Honor Society of Nursing
Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing is the only international honor society for nursing. This organization is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.
The founders chose the name Sigma Theta Tau from the initials of the Greek words Storga, Tharos, Tima, meaning "love," "courage" and "honor." The mission of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International is to support the learning, knowledge, and professional development of nurses committed to making a difference in health worldwide. The vision of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International is to create a global community of nurses who lead in using knowledge, scholarship, service and learning to improve the health of the world’s people.
A Nursing Honor Society was initiated in 1990 at YSU in order to meet requirements for establishing a local chapter of Sigma Theta Tau. Under the direction of Diane McDougal, interested faculty and students diligently followed Sigma Theta Tau guidelines to structure this organization, develop by-laws, and select members to achieve its purpose. Sigma Theta Tau approved the establishment of Youngstown State University’s Xi Xi Chapter and the first chapter induction occurred in June 1994.
Membership is by invitation to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship, and to nurse leaders exhibiting exceptional achievements in nursing. Sigma Theta Tau International sends students who meet eligibility criteria an invitation to join in the spring semester of each academic year. The Xi Xi induction ceremony is generally held on campus in the spring.
YSU’s Xi Xi Chapter established a scholarship in 2006 for chapter members. Applications are available through the Youngstown State University Foundation.
Student Representatives on Nursing Committees
One student representative and one alternate representative from the junior, senior, and RN track are invited to serve on each of the following committees:
- BSN Admission, Progression, and Graduation Committee (AP&G)
- BSN Curriculum Committee
- Evaluation Committee
- BSN Orientation, Honors, and Awards Committee
Students in the junior, senior and RN track classes are given the opportunity to volunteer to serve on the above committees. Members are randomly selected from these lists of volunteer students. The Nominating Committee is responsible for selection and notification of committee appointments. Student representatives/alternates are notified of scheduled committee meetings by the appropriate Committee Chairperson or Co-Chairs. Student representatives are not permitted to attend meetings or participate in discussion of information regarding student grades or confidential data.
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