Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc () is an international, nonprofit, professional service organization for registered professional nurses and student nurses, representing many cultures and diverse ethnic backgrounds.

The Sorority has more than 8000 members located throughout the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...

, the District of Columbia, Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and

Monrovia, Liberia Monrovia () is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia’s total population. As t ...

. Dr. Sarah Killian, DNP, RN is the current National President.

History

Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc., was founded on October 16, 1932, at Freedman's Hospital in Washington D.C., now known as Howard University Hospital. The organization's foundation was based on concerns, at that time, which regarded restrictions in the employment of black nurses to segregated facilities and hospitals, and menial positions where there was little to no chance of advancement in the profession. The charter chapter, Alpha, was founded and organized by Ailene Carrington Ewell, RN, with the assistance of 11 other courageous black registered nurses, collectively known as "The Twelve Jewels": Clara E. Beverly, Lillian Mosely Boswell, Gladys Louise Catchings, Bessie Foster Cephas, Henrietta Smith Chisholm, Susan Elizabeth Freeman, Ruth Turner Garrett, Olivia Larkins Howard, Mildred Wood Lucas, Clara Belle Royster, and Katherine Chandler Turner.Founders

Programs

The organization has programs focusing on health promotion/disease prevention, leadership development, mentoring, recruitment, retention and scholarship. These programs include national, regional, and local conferences, seminars, and workshops; consumer health education programs throughout different communities; leadership development programs/summits that focus on continuing education; recruitment and retention of nursing students; and award recognition of outstanding nurses in the profession. The organization has relationships with many civic, professional, and educational groups including the

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, the

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, the

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, the

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Sickle Cell Disease Association of America The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Inc. (SCDAA) is a nonprofit organization with the sole purpose of supporting research, education and funding of individuals, families those who are impacted by sickle cell disease. Mission state ...

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, the

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, and the

National Institute on Drug Abuse The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a United States federal government research institute whose mission is to "advance science on the causes and consequences of drug use and addiction and to apply that knowledge to improve individual a ...

Publications

Chi Eta Phi has several publications including: *''Chi Line'', National Newsletter (Semi-annual publication) *''Glowing Lamp'', ''Journal of Chi Eta Phi Sorority'' (Annual Publication/Peer Reviewed/Evidence-based/Nursing research journal) *''Mary Eliza Mahoney, America's First Black Professional Nurse'' *''The Nurse in the Kitchen''

Chapters

The graduate and undergraduate (Beta) chapters are grouped into five regions according to geographic areas. There are over 101 graduate chapters and 41 undergraduate chapters located in 33 states, Washington, D.C., St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, and

. Membership is by invitation and is both active and honorary.

References

External links

* {{Nursing Student organizations established in 1932 Professional fraternities and sororities in the United States 1932 establishments in Washington, D.C.