This page tells the story in chronological order of how a group of nurses in Southwest Minnesota formed the Southwest Minnesota Nursing Honor Society. On a very cold December 19, 2020, the Southwest Minnesota Nursing Honor Society became Omega Omicron Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International. So as you read, you will note the origins as the Southwest Minnesota Nursing Honor Society and then our Chartering as Omega Omicron Chapter!
Nancyruth Leibold
Archivist
Charter History
(Note: This history is in chronological order.)
Planning for the Southwest Minnesota Nursing Honor Society began in the fall of 2015. During the winter of 2016, the Steering Committee worked to develop documents, policies, and to recruit a Charter Board of Directors. The Charter Board of Directors has been in operation since May of 2016 in collaboration with the International office of Sigma Theta Tau. Our first member induction was in November of 2016. Once established and in operation, our Society will apply as a chapter to the International Nursing Society, Sigma Theta Tau International.
Our purpose is to provide a professional nursing organization for networking, scholarship, community service projects, and continuing education in Southwest Minnesota among nursing students, faculty, and nurses in the region.
The start up of the Honor Society included the development of many organizational and operational documents, policies, bylaws, and committees. The Steering Committee and Charter Board of Directors worked diligently at the start up of the Society. What follows is a small tribute in chronological orderto the work involved in the birth of the Southwest Minnesota Nursing Honor Society.
Society Mission, Vision, and Purpose
Society Mission
The mission of the Southwest Minnesota Nursing Honor Society is of advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.
Society Vision
The Southwest Minnesota Nursing Honor Society vision is to be the regional organization of choice for nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.
Society Purpose
The purpose of the Southwest Minnesota Nursing Honor Society is to provide a professional nursing organization for networking, scholarship, community service projects, and continuing education in Southwest Minnesota among nursing students, faculty, and nurses in the region.
Our first induction was held November 3, 2016. The following is a story from the Southwest Minnesota State University, Department of Nursing December 2016 Newsletter:
Our first Educational meeting was a Webinar about Meaningful Mentoring. The following is the story from the SMSU Department of Nursing December 2016 Newsletter:
First Nursing Conference!
Our first conference was held on March 29, 2017 at Southwest Minnesota State University. We had speakers, posters, and announced the first awards of the Charter Nursing Honor Society! Click the button to the right to view the Early Beginnings of the Southwest Minnesota Nursing Honor Society Poster!
The Society is eternally grateful to the SMSU Foundation for funding during the charter year, which included membership recruitment, inductions, and the 2017 Summit: Excellence in Rural Nursing conference. Thank you SMSU Foundation!
Educational Webinar, November 2017:
Educational Webinar, February 2018:
Compassion Fatigue and Rural Nursing
In February of 2018, we held our educational webinar, Compassion Fatigue and Rural Nursing by Presenter: Dr. Mary Bemker, PhD, PsyS, LADC, LPCC, CCFP, RN, CNE. Dr.
Bemker explained the main tenets of compassion fatigue for nurses that work in rural communities. She also shared preventative activities for nurses to offset compassion fatigue.
Image below: Dr. Mary Bemker
The 2018 Spring Induction Ceremony was held on March 15, 2018 at 6 pm in the Whipple Art Gallery on Southwest Minnesota State University campus.
In 2023, Omega Omicron was awarded the Chapter Key Award from International! This was a major accomplishment for Omega Omicron.
The Key Award Application was led by Dr. Nancyruth Leibold with Dr. Mary Bemker.
The 2024 Archivist Poster:
