Start a Sigma Nursing chapter
Every great chapter begins with someone who sees an opportunity to make a difference.
Getting Started
Every great chapter begins with someone who sees an opportunity to make a difference.
If your school or practice setting doesn't currently have a Sigma Nursing chapter, you can take the lead in bringing one to your community. Sigma chapters foster leadership, scholarship, collaboration, and professional growth, creating lasting connections that strengthen the nursing profession. Chapters may be established at accredited nursing programs and qualifying healthcare institutions.
Before exploring the chapter formation process, learn about Sigma Nursing's Chapter Structure Models to determine which option best fits your needs.
Learn about the chapter structure models.
Chapters must be located at a college or university (institution) with an accredited nursing program. At-large chapters can be located at an institution and a practice setting.
Practice setting(s) may join an established chapter, or they may start a new at-large chapter in collaboration with an institution that has an accredited nursing program.
Minimum Requirements:
- Institution grants a minimum of a baccalaureate (bachelor’s) degree or equivalent in nursing.
- School’s nursing programs are accredited by an appropriate accrediting body recognized by the Sigma Governance Committee.
- A Sigma chapter has support from the institution and the educational unit that houses the nursing program.
Minimum Requirements:
- Setting provides care by registered nurse(s).
- Practice requires that healthcare delivered to individuals and communities be delivered by a registered nurse.
- Practice setting is accredited by an appropriate accrediting agency recognized by the Sigma Governance Committee (such as the Joint Commission or equivalent).
- Practice setting administration and chief nursing officials must agree to support a Sigma chapter at the practice setting and in collaboration with the institution(s) of higher education.
- Practice setting must employ nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or equivalent, or higher
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Ready to Start a Chapter?
If you're ready to bring a Sigma Nursing chapter to your school or practice setting, we're here to help you get started.
Chapter Development Process
Before submitting an application to start a chapter, please review the chapter development process.
Phase 1: Inquiry
Prospective chapters learn about the chapter development process, the requirements to become a chapter, and the legal and financial considerations involved. They also learn Sigma Nursing's expectations for how chapters operate, engage their members, and uphold the organization's mission.
Phase 2: Formation
Working alongside Sigma Nursing staff, prospective chapters build their chapter infrastructure and a full strategic plan for operations. This plan covers board leadership, budgeting, programming, membership eligibility, communications, and governance—the foundation for a strong application and a lasting chapter.
Phase 3: Submit & Review
Prospective chapters finalize the application and detailed operational plan with Sigma Nursing staff, then submit it for review by the Charter Review Task Force, International Governance Committee, and Board of Directors. Once approved, all designates sign a New Chapter Action Plan and enact it within two (2) years of chartering.
Phase 4: Chartering & Induction
Approved designates work with chapter development staff at Sigma Nursing headquarters to plan and conduct the official chartering and induction ceremony. Preparation includes training on Sigma's Chapter Management System and Online Induction System, the tools the chapter will rely on going forward.
Phase 5: New Chapter Tasks
Developing chapters complete the milestones in their New Chapter Action Plan and file all required reports for Sigma and any applicable government agencies. They must also send 1–2 delegates to the House of Delegates at Sigma's Biennial Convention (held in odd-numbered years). Chapters that fail to make satisfactory progress may face probation or charter revocation.
Phase 6: Independent New Chapter
Once the New Chapter Action Plan has been fulfilled, the chapter operates independently as a full Sigma Nursing chapter. It continues to receive ongoing support from Sigma's chapter and membership staff as it grows and serves its members.
Sigma Chapter Structure Models
Review the complete list of chapter structure models to determine which one is right for your group. If you are interested in pursuing one of these models, contact Sigma staff.
In this model, one school of nursing works by itself to start a new chapter that is centered at its institution of higher education.
Benefits of choosing this model include:
- Fewer logistical issues for meetings and events
- Easier to track financial matters
- School has own chapter identity
Challenges to choosing this model include:
- Smaller membership
- Few potential volunteers/chapter leaders
- Less financial resources
To start a new chapter with one school of nursing, groups shall progress through each phase of development, systematically completing all tasks outlined with each phase of development. After completion of phases 1, 2, and 3, groups pursing chapter charter status must complete the New Chapter Charter online application as part of the phase 4 process.
In this model, two or more schools of nursing work together to start one chapter. Sigma calls this chapter model an at-large chapter. In some areas or countries, two or more schools of nursing may find it beneficial to join to form one Sigma chapter. There is no limit to the number of schools that can collaborate within one at-Large chapter.
Note: Schools of nursing that have more than one campus can only create an at-Large chapter with the other campuses that have their own school of nursing dean/head of program. Otherwise, the campuses would be all combined in one regular chapter.
Examples of an at-large chapter:
- Two or more small schools of nursing who join to meet the minimum number of members to form a chapter.
- All schools of nursing within a country who join to involve all nurses and utilize as many resources as possible.
- Two or more schools of nursing in different countries, but who are in close geographical proximity and wish to collaborate to form an at-large chapter.
Benefits to choosing this model include:
- Larger membership
- More potential volunteers/chapter leaders
- More financial resources
Challenges to this model include:
- Involving nurses from various institutions of higher education and locations may take more coordination for communication, meetings, and events.
- Depending on the distance from each institution of higher education, meetings and events may need to be held at each location.
- Some members may not want to participate in activities that involve significant travel away from their own school.
To start a new at-large chapter, the group shall progress through each phase of development, systematically completing all tasks outlined within each phase of development. After completion of phases 1, 2, and 3, groups pursing chapter charter status must complete the New At-Large Chapter Charter online application as part of the phase 4 process.
In this model, an institution of higher education may partner with a practice setting to form a new at-Large chapter.
In some areas or countries, one of more institution of higher education and practice setting may find it beneficial to join to form one Sigma chapter. There is no limit to the number of schools and practice settings that can collaborate to form one new at-large chapter.
Practice setting minimum requirements:
- A practice setting is an entity where professional registered nursing is practiced.
- Practice setting must be accredited by an appropriating body recognized by the Sigma Governance Committee.
- Practice setting administration and chief nursing officials must agree to support a Sigma chapter at the institution of higher education.
Institution of higher education requirements:
- Institution of higher education grants a minimum a baccalaureate degree or equivalent in nursing.
- School’s nursing programs are accredited by an appropriate accrediting body recognized by the Sigma Governance Committee.
- Obtained support from the institution of higher education and the educational unit with the nursing program for a Sigma chapter.
Benefits to choosing this model include:
- Offers students and members greater access to nursing leaders in the community.
- Helps foster greater collaboration between the groups.
- Increases the visibility of Sigma in the workplace.
- Promotes engagement, satisfaction, and retention of clinical nurses.
- Formalizes an already existing partnership between the two groups.
Challenges to choosing this model include:
- Higher level of communication and coordination to reach all members.
- Ability to offer diverse programming for all levels of nursing through a variety of processes.
- Decreases member participation if there is a significant distance between school and practice setting.
To start a new at-large chapter with an institution of higher education and practice setting, groups shall progress through each phase of development, systematically completing all tasks outlined within each phase of development. After completion of phases 1, 2, and 3, groups pursing a chapter charter must complete the New At-Large Chapter Charter online application as part of the phase 4 process.
In this model, one or more practice setting(s) works by itself to start a new chapter.
Benefits of choosing this model include:
- Promotes engagement, satisfaction, and retention of clinical nurses.
- Increases networking opportunities with members of similar interest, which increases engagement and fosters community within the hospital setting.
- Increases the visibility of Sigma in the workplace.
- Enhances professional activities that are unique to the practice setting.
- Offers a unique opportunity for nurses to receive recognition and education in the workplace.
Challenges to choosing this model include:
- Involves high levels of coordination for communication and member engagement due to members work schedules.
- Coordination of meeting and event locations if the practice setting has multiple sites.
- Providing diverse programming for all levels, types, and specialties of nurses.
To start a new chapter with one or more practice setting(s), groups shall progress through each phase of development, systematically completing all tasks outlined with each phase of development. After completion of phases 1, 2, and 3, groups pursuing chapter charter status must complete the New Chapter Charter online application as part of the phase 4 process.
Looking for an existing chapter?
Find an existing Sigma chapter to connect with your local nursing community.