Learning Objective #1: Describe the group process demonstrated during the initiation of an honor society of nursing

Learning Objective #2: Recognize communication patterns that support group functions

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Although the development of an honor society has been well known as a major contributor to professional development and superior achievement in the Western countries, less is known about the concept of honor society in Japanese culture. To promote nursing leadership activities in academic institutions, faculties who are already members of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) initiated the process of starting honor society with the purpose of developing a Chapter of STTI. This paper illustrates the barriers encountered by Japanese nurses to becoming a member, and how the nursing honor society was established within an educational institution of higher education in Japan. A descriptive study, using group process as the study framework, was conducted to describe group members' responses to the development of the honor society. Four stages of the group process are identified, (1) acknowledging information about honor society, (2) forming the steering committee and getting support from the academic institution, (3) informing nursing faculties, and (4) task oriented group work. Major barriers to becoming a nursing honorary member included the prospective member's ability to use the language of STTI which is English, and other difficulties which included confusion regarding the concept of honor society, interpretation of Bylaws, and member selection procedure. Throughout the four stages, effective communication that flowed mutually among the initiating members at the beginning, and directed more at the leader when the group works toward a task, is recognized as the important key for successful group commitment.