Editorial: Impressions from Korea Sister Rosemary Donley, R.N., Ph.D.

he participants in "Clinical Schol- T arship: East Meets West" were greeted by a multi-colored banner as they approached the Shilla Hotel. The colors in the banner reflected the col- ors of Sigma Theta Tau and the Korean Nurses Academic Society and mir- rored the ,pastel tiles of the Korean rooftops. Most Americans traveling to Korea brought hopes and impressions with them. For some, "Clinical Schol- arship: East Meets West" represented their first international meeting. For others, the visit to Korea was an entry to the Orient. Many participants brought recollections of the Korean War. Some members had educated or worked with Korean nurses. Some, es-

pecially our Korean-American col- leagues, looked forward to the renew- ing of relationships with family and friends. No one anticipated the out- comes of the conference. The refresh- ing graciousness and hospitality of our Korean hostesses encompassed us. Their care in weaving their scholarly works into the program mosaic; their honesty in sharing nurse to nurse and woman to woman the tension be- tween the traditional and modern ide- ologies; their accomplishment in building not only an academic Nurs- ing Society, but also a system of uni- versity based nursing education; their pride in their heroines; the judge, the legislators, the teachers and the practi-

A Tribute to

Marie Hippensteel Lingeman Founder, Sigma Theta Tau 1900-1 984

he editors pay tribute to Mary T Hippensteel Lingeman, one of the six Founders of Sigma Theta Tau, who died September 7, 1984. She became interested in nursing during World War I when a nurse from City Hospital in Indianapolis visited her hometown of North Manchester, Indiana, to en- courage students to enroll in the nurs- ing program. At first her parents were hesitant for her to attend the Indiana University Training School for Nurses, but relented because her brother at- tended Indiana University Medical School .

When she was interviewed by Sister Rosemary Donley for the film, "Be- yond Alpha," Mrs. Lingeman recount- ed what it was like to be a nursing stu- dent in the 20's. "You didn't have much freedom. You had to observe

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the rules and regulations of your nurs- ing home and your school. In your free time you studied; in the other hours you were taking care of pa- tients."

Following graduation in 1923, Mrs. Lingeman was married "almost right out of training school," raising a fami- ly before cultivating a career that spanned from 1945 to 1974. With a major interest in maternity nursing, Mrs. Lingeman held managerial posi- tions as a head nurse and supervisor. She practiced in Rochester General Hospital and Indiana County Hospital. Her last fourteen years of employment were dedicated to being an "office nurse."

Of the early days of Sigma Theta Tau, Mrs. Lingeman recalls the excite- ment of the first installation and induc-

Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship

tioners inspired us. Many of us in the United States

labor to bring about scholarship in general and clinical scholarship in par- ticular. We struggle in a school of nursing and in the workplace with competing academic and professional priorities and a value system that ex- acts yet limits the practice of nursing. Against the backdrop of the Korean mountains, we had a chance to chart our personal and collective growth as scholars. We owe our Korean col- leagues a debt of gratitude.

Sigma Theta Tau in TaiDei, Taiwan, the Republic of China cussed in a later editorial.

tion ceremony. " . .

will be dis:

. everyone dressed in their long, black Grecian robes-it was a very impressive sight."

Mrs. Lingeman served as Sigma The- ta Tau's first treasurer. She said that their purpose in establishing the organization was to raise nursing standards by inviting nurses with high scholastic achievement, morals and aptitudes.

In the interview with Sister Donley, she states that the founders never dreamed the organization would be- come as large as it has. When asked what will happen to Sigma Theta Tau in the next 50 years, Mrs. Lingeman replied " . . . be twice as large." Sig- ma Theta Tau pays tribute to one of the founders whose vision has ad- vanced nursing scholarships.

Fall, 1984, Volume XVI, No. 4