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Mercy Fort Smith CNO Speaks to Sigma Theta Tau Inductees

September 9, 2024

The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith’s Carolyn McKelvey Moore School of Nursing recently held its chartering and induction ceremony for the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Stephanie Whitaker, chief nursing officer at Mercy Fort Smith, delivered the keynote address during the Sept. 6 ceremony on the UAFS campus. Eleven students, three nurse leaders and 12 faculty members were inducted into the society, including Whitaker and Stephanie Boese, director of med-surg at Mercy Fort Smith.

Whitaker acknowledged the occasion by considering the words of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing, who said, “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse.”

Mercy doctor's coat Stephanie Whitaker, Mercy Fort Smith chief nursing officer, delivers the keynote address during the chartering and induction ceremony of the Alpha Gamma Zeta chapter of Sigma Theta Tau at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

“These words resonate with the core values of Sigma Theta Tau – excellence, leadership, scholarship and service,” she said. “Today, we honor the dedication and hard work of nurses, nurse faculty and senior nursing students, who have achieved the highest academic standards and embody the values of the nursing profession.”

Whitaker went on to say that the induction of new members into the honor society symbolizes not only academic achievement but also a commitment to upholding the highest standards of nursing practice.

“As nursing professionals, let us remember that our responsibilities extend beyond the confines of the hospital walls, health care facilities or academic centers,” she said. “We are advocates, caregivers, educators and leaders. Let us always strive for excellence in all that we do and continue to push the boundaries of nursing knowledge and practice.”

Sigma Theta Tau is an international community of nurses dedicated to advancing knowledge, teaching, learning and service through the cultivation of communities of practice, education and research. Membership benefits include access to research, professional development and services that focus on the core areas of education, leadership, career development, evidence-based nursing and scholarships.

Mercy doctor's coat Stephanie Whitaker, left, and Stephanie Boese, both nursing leaders at Mercy Fort Smith, are inaugural inductees into the Alpha Gamma Zeta chapter of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.
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