title: Strong leadership: the case for global connections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify how nurse leaders view and experience the opportunities offered by one of the largest global nursing organisations Sigma Theta Tau International.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Worldwide, nursing leadership is challenged with addressing the complex issues impacting on care delivery. International nursing organisations are a means to bring together individuals to promote leadership and scholarship for nursing practice to promote patient safety and quality care. The newly established all-England chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International is a recent addition to the society in terms of nurse leadership in Europe, as such faces challenges as it establishes its identity and seeks to interpret the organisational vision: to advance world health through nursing leadership and scholarship. Moving forward, members views were sought on the goals of the chapter and how they may be enacted.
  
  
  METHODS
  In July 2013, all chapter members at that time had been nominated on the basis of achievement in nurse leadership; all were invited to participate in an online survey. The online questionnaire contained a series of closed and open questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most respondents joined because they believed in the vision and networking opportunities Sigma Theta Tau International provides. Three themes were extracted from the data: the value of networking and communication, leadership and the development of culturally sensitive organisations and the need for shared scholarship for nursing practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate the growth of effective leadership at all levels of nursing could be harnessed through successful collaboration and keen support for robust connections between practice and education to promote quality care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whilst challenging, globalisation presents an opportunity for a nursing society such as Sigma Theta Tau International to work collaboratively to address healthcare issues. A nursing society that explores and resolves its own complex issues by actively promoting leadership and collaborative scholarship reveals a potential to empower the profession to share our collective solutions towards enhancing clinical practice.
authors: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.
authors: Elizabeth A
authors: EA
authors: Rosser
authors: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.
authors: Janet
authors: J
authors: Scammell
authors: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.
authors: Ann
authors: A
authors: Bevan
authors: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.|Centre for Midwifery, Maternal and Perinatal Health, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.
authors: Vanora A
authors: VA
authors: Hundley
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D005060:Europe; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D007392:International Council of Nurses / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D012956:Societies, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: collaboration; culture; global networking; leadership; networking; nursing; quality care; scholarship; survey