Welcome to Sigma's new grant application system.

Please be sure to read all instructions carefully as there have been several updates and changes to the application.

Application Deadline: 11:59pm US EST, 1 December 2026.

Note: Applications that do not meet the specific grant purpose criteria and/or requirements will not be reviewed.

Sigma research priorities are as follows: promotion of healthy communities through health promotion, disease prevention and recognition of social, economic and political determinants; implementation of evidence-based practice; targeting the needs of vulnerable populations such as the chronically ill and poor; and capacity development for research by nurses.

In its mission to provide leadership and scholarship in practice, education and research, Sigma presents the following research grant opportunities:

• Sigma/Western Institute of Nursing Research Grant Funding Start Date: 1 April
• All Other Grant Funding Start Date: 1 June

Sigma/Alpha Eta Collaborative Research Grant - This grant of up to $2,000 is given to active members of Sigma chapters in Africa Region for a new research project in Africa. Funds for this grant are provided by Alpha Eta Chapter. 

Sigma Small Grants - Approximately 10-15 Small Grants of up to $5,000 each are given annually. The purpose of the grant is to encourage nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through research. Preference will be given to novice researchers who have received no other national research funds. Preference will also be given to Sigma Theta Tau members. Annual funding is provided by Sigma Foundation for Nursing. 

Dr. Dorothy Brooten Transitional Care Research Grant- One grant of up to $5,000 is awarded annually to one recipient. Its purpose is to advance evidence-based transitional care in clinical settings and the dissemination of its impact. Funds for this grant are provided by Sigma Foundation for Nursing’s Dr. Dorothy Brooten Research Permanent Fund. 

Doris Bloch Research Grant- One grant of up to $5,000 is awarded annually to one recipient. The purpose of the grant is to encourage nurses to contribute to the advancement of nursing through research. Funding is provided by a gift to Sigma Foundation for Nursing’s Research Permanent Fund from the Doris Bloch Estate.

Sigma/Rosemary Berkel Crisp Research Grant - One grant of up to $5,000 is awarded annually to one recipient. Its purpose is to support nursing research in the critical areas of women's health, oncology, and pediatrics.  Funding is provided by a gift to Sigma Foundation for Nursing’s Research Permanent Fund from The Harry L. Crisp, II and Rosemary Berkel Crisp Foundation.

Sigma/American Board for Occupational Health Nurses Research Grant- This grant of up to $10,000 is given to one recipient. The purpose of the Sigma/American Board for Occupational Health Nurses (ABOHN) collaborative research grant is to encourage qualified nurses to  contribute to the advancement of occupational health through nursing  research. Proposals for pilot and/or development research may be  submitted for this grant. Funds for this grant are provided jointly by the Sigma Foundation for Nursing and American Board for Occupational Health Nurses.

Sigma/Western Institute of Nursing Research Grant - This grant of up to $10,000 is given to one recipient. Its purpose is to encourage qualified nurses to contribute to the advancement of  occupational health through nursing research. Proposals for pilot and/or  development research may be submitted for this grant. Proposals for pilot and/or developmental research may be submitted for the grant. Funds for this grant are provided jointly by the Sigma Foundation for Nursing and Western Institute of Nursing.

For more information on these individual grants and their eligibility criteria, please visit sigmanursing.org/grants.

Welcome to the Abstract Submissions Center for the 38th International Nursing Research Congress

Event Theme: Evidence that Connects: Advancing Nursing Research for a Changing World

Event Dates: 16-18 July 2027 in Dublin, Ireland

• Submission begins 31 July 2026, at 8:00 a.m. EST
• Submission ends 13 September 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST

Notifications of acceptance will be emailed by the end of October 2026. If you have questions, please contacts abstracts@sigmanursing.org

General Information:

• Note: Peer reviewers will be using a rubric to review and grade each abstract submission. See the conference rubric for more information. The rubric for Sigma’s International Nursing Research Congress has been updated for 2027 abstract submissions.
• Completed work or projects may be submitted for oral podium presentation, poster, or PechaKucha presentations. If the work or project is not yet complete at the time of submission, the abstract may only be submitted as a poster or PechaKucha presentation. 
• If successfully reviewed, final abstract acceptance will be conditional upon the presenting author having a paid registration for the event. 
• Presenters assume all costs related to travel, accommodations, and other expenses related to their presentation. 
• The submitter will receive all communication unless you choose someone else as the main presenter. 
• Please remember to include any and all members of your team or anyone who you may wish to give credit to for the work you are submitting under the section entitled “Additional Authors”. Once the abstract submission deadline has passed, you may not be able to add authors/presenters to the abstract.
• Abstracts, presentation slides, and author information will be uploaded to the Sigma Repository with the author's permission.
• Sigma is committed to worldwide collaboration. Please include global implications as relevant to your work.

Submission Process:

• Abstracts and references should only be submitted in English.
• Sigma will not accept or review abstracts in which generative artificial intelligence tools, such as ChatGPT, were used to create or substantially develop the scientific content, including the research question, methodology, analysis, results, or conclusions. Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all submitted content. The use of AI tools for limited language editing, grammar, or readability may be permitted, provided the tool does not generate or alter the scientific substance of the abstract.
• The title, presenter information, and references should not be included in the body of the abstract. In-text citations, however, are appropriate. These citations will be included in the overall word count. Full references are required in the Reference field. There are character limits on the title (100), the summary (500), and the abstract itself (3,000) but not on the references.
• The use of a word processing program, rather than the submission form, is recommended for composing the abstract. Please check spelling, character count, and conformation to the guidelines prior to copying the abstract onto the submission form.
• All abstract and presentation materials must be in compliance with international copyright laws.
• Abstract title, abstract, and presentation focus should be original (not previously published or presented). We recognize that a study, project, or work may yield multiple findings and subsequently several original publications or presentations. To be eligible to present, submissions must contain an original title, abstract text, and subsequent presentation content (i.e., different view, perspective, or focus).
• Submission Due Date: Submit all abstracts no later than 11:59 p.m. (2359) Eastern Time on 13 September 2026.
• An email with your abstract ID and abstract title will be emailed to you after your email is submitted to the system. The email will include the submitter’s User ID. Please keep this email for reference.
• An individual may submit more than one abstract; however, if successfully reviewed, only one oral podium, one poster, and one PechaKucha submission will be accepted for presentation.
• Abstract submissions that are incomplete after the submission deadline will not be eligible for presentation and will no longer be accessible by the authors.
• Email notification of abstract acceptance will be sent to the presenting author only by the end of October 2026.
• The intent to present form is required to maintain the submission as part of the presentation schedule. Only the primary presenting author is required to complete this form. The authors’ failure to return the “intent to present” information by the designated deadline will disqualify the abstract from presentation.
• Final presentations must be uploaded by the identified deadline. No audiovisual (A/V) capability will be available for any presentation that is not uploaded by the deadline.

Scheduling conflicts:

Due to the high volume of presentations, we are unable to accommodate general scheduling preferences. However, if you require a specific date due to a religious observance or another documented accommodation, please indicate that in your form, and we will make every effort to honor your request.

Welcome to Sigma's new awards nomination system.

Please be sure to read all instructions carefully.

Nomination Deadline: 11:59pm US EST, Friday, 11 December 2026.

Note: Nominations that do not meet the specific award criteria and/or requirements will not be judged.  Incomplete nominations will also not be judged. 

International Nurse Researcher Awards

Recognizes Sigma members who are nurse researchers; who have achieved significant and sustained broad national and/or international recognition for their work; and whose research has impacted the profession and the people it serves through the following Call for Nominations:

Sigma/DAISY Nurse Scientist Leadership Award - recognizes a licensed registered nurse who has demonstrated excellence in research, compassionate care, and leadership.

Emerging Nurse Researcher/Scholar Award - recognizes an early-career nurse researcher (completed and earned a master's or doctoral degree within the last 5 years (1 December 2021 - 1 December 2026) from each of Sigma's global regions whose research has influenced the profession and the people it serves.

International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame - recognizes nurse researchers who have achieved significant and sustained national  and/or international recognition for their work; and whose research has  impacted the profession and the people it serves.

General Online Instructions

The online submission process sends email notifications. Sometimes universities and/or institutions block these confirmation emails, mistaking them for spam. We encourage you to add notfications@email.submittable.com and laurab@sigmanursing.org to your address book to ensure you receive communication regarding your submission.

Submission Information and Guidelines:

Award Criteria and Deadlines for Entries

Please visit Sigma's 2027 International Nurse Researcher Awards site and Sigma/DAISY Nurse Scientist Leadership Award site for award criteria, scoring rubric and past recipients. For more information about the International Awards for Nursing Excellence, including eligibility and award criteria, please contact the Sigma Awards at 888.634.7575 US/Canada, +1.317.634.8171 International or awards@sigmanursing.org

• Sigma/DAISY Nurse Scientist Leadership Award Criteria
• International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Criteria
• Emerging Nurse Researcher/Scholar Award Criteria

Submission Requirements

• All award entries and supporting materials must be submitted via this online submission system. (Follow the hyperlinks on this page). Hard copies sent through the mail will NOT be accepted.

• Submissions may be uploaded in the following file types:

• Word document (*.doc/*.docx)

• PDF document (*.pdf)

• GIF, JPG, PNG, TIFF format (*.gif/*.jpg/*.png/*.tif/)

• WMV, WMA, MOV, WAV, AIFF format (*.wmv/*.wma/*.mov/*.aif/)

• Click Here for supporting document definitions

• Submissions should NOT exceed 10 MB.

• Award entries must be in English.

• All communication regarding the award nomination will be sent to a designated primary contact. A valid e-mail address is required for all submitters.

Notification

Nominees and nominators will be notified by letter of the judges' decisions by February 2027. For questions/concerns regarding notifications, please contact awards@sigmanursing.org.

Welcome to Sigma's new awards nomination system.

Please be sure to read all instructions carefully.

Nomination Deadline: 11:59pm US EST, Friday, 11 December 2026.

Note: Nominations that do not meet the specific award criteria and/or requirements will not be judged.  Incomplete nominations will also not be judged. 

Honorary Membership 

Bestows honorary membership upon individual with national or global influence who have furthered the course of healthcare.

Honorary Membership is granted to non-nurses throughout the world who are not eligible for regular membership but have demonstrated sustained superior achievements that have contributed to the advancement of  nursing and healthcare at the national or global levels.

General Online Instructions

The online submission process sends email notifications. Sometimes universities and/or institutions block these confirmation emails, mistaking them for spam. We encourage you to add notfications@email.submittable.com and awards@sigmanursing.org to your address book to ensure you receive communication regarding your submission.

Submission Information and Guidelines:

Award Criteria and Deadlines for Entries

Please visit Sigma's 2027 Honorary Membership site for award criteria, scoring rubric and past recipients. For more information about the International Awards for Nursing Excellence, including eligibility and award criteria, please contact the Sigma Awards at 888.634.7575 US/Canada, +1.317.634.8171 International or awards@sigmanursing.org

ELIGIBILITY 

Honorary membership is granted to individuals throughout the world who are not eligible for regular membership but have demonstrated sustained superior achievements that have contributed to the advancement of nursing and healthcare at the national or global levels. Any active Sigma member or chapter may nominate a person for honorary membership.  

CRITERIA 

A nomination should address a majority of the following criteria: 

1. Demonstrates a commitment to the mission and vision of Sigma 

2. Makes a sustained national or global impact on nursing and healthcare 

3. Demonstrates superior achievement and leadership in their field of work SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

Submission Requirements

Documents required below should address a majority of the above criteria. Entries that do not meet the requirements below will be disqualified. 

A complete nomination consists of: 

• Online entry form

• Supporting narrative, from the nominator (1-2 pages) 

• Two letters of support from diverse sources supporting the criteria (interprofessional colleague, supervisor, coworker, etc.―excluding nominator) 

• Nominee’s curriculum vitae 

• Supporting documentation as evidence of nominee’s contribution as outlined in the criteria above (not to exceed 10 pages)

All award entries and supporting materials must be submitted via this online submission system. (Follow the hyperlinks on this page). Hard copies sent through the mail will NOT be accepted.

• Submissions may be uploaded in the following file types:

• Word document (*.doc/*.docx)

• PDF document (*.pdf)

• GIF, JPG, PNG, TIFF format (*.gif/*.jpg/*.png/*.tif/)

• WMV, WMA, MOV, WAV, AIFF format (*.wmv/*.wma/*.mov/*.aif/)

• Click Here for supporting document definitions

• Submissions should NOT exceed 10 MB.

• Award entries must be in English.

• All communication regarding the award nomination will be sent to a designated primary contact. A valid e-mail address is required for all submitters.

Notification

Nominees and nominators will be notified by letter of the judges' decisions by February 2027. For questions/concerns regarding notifications, please contact awards@sigmanursing.org.