Imagine living in a world where all surgical procedures were done while you were completely awake. This was the reality for humanity for thousands of years. That is until the 1840s when the development of quality – and effective – anesthetic drugs, such as ether, chloroform and nitrous oxide, were first demonstrated throughout the United States as providing pain relief, and ultimately unconsciousness, for surgical procedures. After Florence Nightingale's work as a nurse during the 1850s began to grow in popularity, the profession of nurses soon boomed.
It was during the Civil War nurses began acting as anesthesia professionals as they administered anesthesia products to soldiers on the battlefield. In fact, nurses were the very first medical professionals who administered anesthesia, and since then it was classified as the very first clinical nursing specialty. Since the “Mother of Anesthesia,” Alice Magaw at the Mayo Clinic, the professional of nurse anesthetics has grown into one of the most vibrant and versatile professions within the nursing industry.
The foundation of modern anesthesia techniques was cultivated by Alice Magaw and Dr. Charles Mayo. Throughout their years of practice, hundreds of physicians and nurses traveled to their hospital in order to observe their cutting-edge techniques. However, these were not the only medical professionals practicing the art of anesthesia. In 1908, acclaimed surgeon George Crile sought out the assistance of Agatha Hodgins, who then became one of the founders of modern anesthesia techniques. In fact, the Hodgins and Crile would travel to France in 1914 to the establish hospitals to be used by Allied Forced during WWI. However, while Hodgins was abroad, she began teaching anesthesia techniques to physicians, surgeons and nurses throughout Europe. While these educational seminars were informal, upon her return to the United States she established the first school dedicated to the art of anesthesia – the Lakeside Hospital School of Anesthesia.
As World War I began to escalate, the need for proficient nurse anesthetists grew, which was satisfied by the establishment of various educational programs in universities and hospitals across the nation. Perhaps the biggest contributor to this educational growth is the Catholic church. Years ago, the majority of hospitals and health clinics were religious orders. Many catholic nuns were taught and began teaching the ways of anesthesia, which soon moved forward the establishment of the AANA, the leading organization for nurse anesthetists. Since then, the profession of nurse anesthetists has grown leaps and bounds to become one of the most dynamic – and financially rewarding – career paths for nurses across the nation. View this website for more information about how to become a CRNA.
It was during the Civil War nurses began acting as anesthesia professionals as they administered anesthesia products to soldiers on the battlefield. In fact, nurses were the very first medical professionals who administered anesthesia, and since then it was classified as the very first clinical nursing specialty. Since the “Mother of Anesthesia,” Alice Magaw at the Mayo Clinic, the professional of nurse anesthetics has grown into one of the most vibrant and versatile professions within the nursing industry.
The foundation of modern anesthesia techniques was cultivated by Alice Magaw and Dr. Charles Mayo. Throughout their years of practice, hundreds of physicians and nurses traveled to their hospital in order to observe their cutting-edge techniques. However, these were not the only medical professionals practicing the art of anesthesia. In 1908, acclaimed surgeon George Crile sought out the assistance of Agatha Hodgins, who then became one of the founders of modern anesthesia techniques. In fact, the Hodgins and Crile would travel to France in 1914 to the establish hospitals to be used by Allied Forced during WWI. However, while Hodgins was abroad, she began teaching anesthesia techniques to physicians, surgeons and nurses throughout Europe. While these educational seminars were informal, upon her return to the United States she established the first school dedicated to the art of anesthesia – the Lakeside Hospital School of Anesthesia.
As World War I began to escalate, the need for proficient nurse anesthetists grew, which was satisfied by the establishment of various educational programs in universities and hospitals across the nation. Perhaps the biggest contributor to this educational growth is the Catholic church. Years ago, the majority of hospitals and health clinics were religious orders. Many catholic nuns were taught and began teaching the ways of anesthesia, which soon moved forward the establishment of the AANA, the leading organization for nurse anesthetists. Since then, the profession of nurse anesthetists has grown leaps and bounds to become one of the most dynamic – and financially rewarding – career paths for nurses across the nation. View this website for more information about how to become a CRNA.
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