Student Nursing Organizations

NBNA was founded in 1971 in response to concerns regarding the growing inequities in healthcare for African Americans and the lack of a voice from Black nurses on their issues. The National Black Nurses Association's mission is to provide a forum for collective action by Black nurses to investigate, define and advocate for the healthcare needs of African Americans and to implement strategies that ensure access to healthcare, equal to, or above healthcare standards of the larger society.

NBNA is committed to improving the quality of life of persons who share the African American heritage and other ethnic groups by:

• Building consumer knowledge and understanding of healthcare issues
• Educating and mentoring Registered Nurses, licensed vocational/practical nurses, nursing students and retired nurses
• Facilitating the professional development and career advancement of nurses in emerging healthcare systems
• Promoting economic development of nurses through entrepreneurial and other business initiatives

As a professional nursing organization representing more than 150,000 African American registered, licensed vocational/practical nurses, nursing students and retired nurses throughout the United States, NBNA is guided by the principle that African American nurses have the understanding, knowledge, interest, concern and the expertise to make a significant difference in the healthcare status of African American communities across the nation. Thus, since its inception, improving the health of community-based African Americans through the provision of culturally competent, community-based programs has been the cornerstone of the National Black Nurses Association. NBNA members are leaders in their communities in the delivery of health promotion and disease prevention programs and public health education programs.

Contact Professor Beth Pitman [email protected] for more information about this organization at Oklahoma City University. Meetings: noon to 1 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. Instagram: @kramer_bsna

Kramer School of Nursing is blessed with students from a variety of cultures, ethnicities and religions. We respect cultural values and the beliefs of every individual. Our goal is to provide our students, faculty and staff an opportunity for cultural encounters. The INSA believes that these encounters will help us to achieve cultural humility and make our community more inclusive.

We invite everyone to be a part of this community regardless of your culture and beliefs.

Contact Professor Gracy Amalraj [email protected] for more information. Meetings: Noon to 1 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Instagram: @insa_ocu

The mission of Nurses Christian Fellowship is to engage students and nurses with the good news of Jesus Christ to bring God’s love and healing to nursing and health care. Begun in 1948 as a ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, NCF is both a professional organization and a ministry of and for nurses and nursing students. NCF provides a local, regional, national and international network to bring the message of Jesus Christ and a Christian worldview to nursing education and practice.

• Local groups meet for prayer, Bible discussion, mutual encouragement and outreach.
• NCF staff and volunteers provide mentoring and help to develop campus chapters and community groups that are growing in love for God, and God's word, people and purposes.
• NCF membership enables Christian nurses and students to officially identify with NCF's mission and be linked for Christian influence in nursing.
• Partnership with NCF enables us to link with Christian nurses in other countries to bring Jesus Christ to nursing worldwide.

NCF provides Christ-centered resources and programs that equip nurses and students for ministry in nursing, including spiritual care, ethics and a Christian perspective on nursing issues. All are welcome to attend meetings, although only members may run for office.

Contact Dr. Janice Carr [email protected] for more information about this organization. Meetings: Noon to 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. Instagram: @kramer_ncf

The purpose of the Oklahoma City University Student Nurses Association (OCU/SNA) is to assume responsibility for contributing to nursing education in order to provide for the highest quality health care. The OCU/SNA provides program representation of fundamental and current professional interest and concerns and aids in the development of the whole person and his/her responsibility for the health care of all people.

KSN encourages participation in the OCU/SNA by providing full membership to all undergraduates of OCU's Kramer School of Nursing.

The function of the OCU/SNA shall be:

1. To have direct input into standards of nursing education and influence the educational process.
2. To influence health care, nursing education and practice through legislative activities as appropriate.
3. To promote and encourage participation in community affairs and activities toward improved health care and resolution of related social issues.
4. To represent nursing students to the consumer, to institutions and to other organizations.
5. To promote and encourage students’ participation in interdisciplinary activities.
6. To promote and encourage recruitment efforts, participation in student activities and education opportunities regardless of a person’s race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, citizenship, religion, national origin, disability, illness, legal status or personal attributes.
7. To promote and encourage collaborative relationships with Oklahoma Nurses Association, the American Nurses Association, The National League for Nursing, the International Council of Nurses, as well as the other nursing and related health organizations.

To read the SNA By-Laws click here: SNA By Laws

For more information about SNA, contact the faculty advisor, Shella Gettings at: [email protected] Meetings: Noon to 1 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month. Instagram: @kramer_sna

In 1992, six nursing students at Indiana University met to found a Society to advance nursing as a profession. They chose the name from the initials of the Greek words Storga, Tharos, Tima, meaning love, courage, honor.

Modern nursing was barely 20 years old. The new Society recognized, encouraged, and supported nursing excellence and scholarship by advancing professional development, scholarly pursuit, leadership, creativity and a commitment to nursing. Today the Society has 356 chapters around the world that actively support excellence in nursing scholarship, practice and leadership.

Beta Delta Chapter-at-Large

Beta Delta Chapter was first established on May 15, 1970, at the University of Oklahoma School of Nursing with 61 charter members. In April 1982, the chapter was enlarged to include the University of Central Oklahoma and Oklahoma Baptist University. At that time, the chapter became known as Beta Delta Chapter-at-Large.

On April 15, 1999, the Beta Delta Chapter-at-Large expanded to include Southern Nazarene University and Oklahoma City University. When Southwestern Oklahoma State University was added to the list, Beta Delta earned the distinction of being the only at-large chapter with six schools of nursing. The seventh member school to join the chapter was NWOSU in 2021.

Beta Delta-at-Large Chapter has been involved in growing and developing leaders and contributing to the nursing profession by supporting students and nurses through scholarships and research grants. Sigma allows members to connect and collaborate with fellow nurses and to serve in our community.

Graduates from these programs are in the upper 35% of their class, have a minimum of 3.0 grade point average, and have completed at least one-half of the nursing courses in their respective schools. Graduate students have a minimum of 3.5 grade point average and have completed one-fourth of their nursing courses. Community leaders have demonstrated marked achievement in education, practice, research, administration or publication. All inductees have been wholeheartedly endorsed by current Beta Delta Chapter members as current, or potential, leaders in the profession of nursing.

For information about Sigma Theta Tau International at Oklahoma City University, contact Professor Janice James at [email protected]. For access to the Beta Delta Chapter, click here. To access the headquarters of Sigma Theta Tau International, click here.