Poster Presentation
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
9:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
The first chapter of STTI in Japan: management and activities
Fujiko Nakao, MSN, RN1, Reiko Azuma, MEco, RN1, Misae Ito, MSN, RN, NMW1, Kyoko Murakami, PhD, RN, NMW1, Susan Turale, EdD, MSt, RN, RPN, SRF, SRCNA1, Takahiro Kakeda, MSN, RN, PHN2, and Carolyn S. Melby, PhD, APRN, BC, CCH3. (1) Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University, Ube, Yamaguchi, Japan, (2) Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Kurashiki-cityUbe, Okayama, Japan, (3) Nursng, National College of Nursing, Japan, Kiyose, Japan
| Learning Objective #1: Describe the activities and management of the group-centered process of a new STTI Chapter Committee |
| Learning Objective #2: Describe key strategies to enhance this process |
Nurses from Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan recognized the critical importance of our countryfs nurses joining in international activities in an increasingly globalized world. As a result, Tau Nu Chapter in Japan was established on March 8th 2006 with 109 members, the first chapter in the country. It was initiated by Japanese academics and some members of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) working in a university faculty, and developed to promote nursing leadership in the institution and in clinical practice.
This paper discusses various aspects of the first year of establishment, including some facilitators and barriers affecting chapter activities. Tau Nu Chapter is financially and systematically well supported by the mother academic institution, which has made good inroads into internationalization, with the first Japanese nursing journal "Nursing and Health Sciences" published in English, and the Alliance for Asian Nursing and Health Science Leaders. The chapter committee members act as a bridge between the STTI and individual members in Tau Nu Chapter, and have established a three monthly academic meeting. The committee members are composed of various nationalities and positions. In typical Japanese fashion the decision-making style of the committee is group-centered, promoting group commitment. This enhances the motivation, growth, and leadership skill of young academics and nurse leaders. Some barriers to our work are discussed. For example, an honor society in nursing is well acknowledged in western countries, but there are many nurses in Japan who find the concept hard to understand. The English language skills among prospective members are also problematic.