Since 1989 when the IFNA was founded many objectives have been achieved. The IFNA is the recognized international voice for Nurse Anesthesia and wider for all non-physician anesthesia providers. Even if historically nurses were the first anesthesia providers in many countries, it took years for having this international recognition.
The history Book describes the long journey since the beginning till today. It is an important witness of the long history of nurse anesthetists, their education and practice.
The book also contains the IFNA Standards for Education and Practice, as well as the ICN Guidelines for Advanced Practice Nursing: Nurse Anesthetist. This book is a great resource to educate and advocate for the global role of the Nurse Anesthetist.
History Book Task Force
The IFNA was founded in 1989, but the history started in 1978 when Hermi Löhnert, a Swiss Nurse Anesthetist attended the AANA annual meeting and met with John Garde the AANA Executive Director and the AANA president, Ronald Caulk. They decided to initiate an international network for nurse anesthetists, with the first International Symposium in Luzern, Switzerland in 1985. At the second International Symposium in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in 1988, it was decided to launch an International Organization for Nurse Anesthetists, what was made in June 1989. It is important for an organization that is now recognized as the official voice for nurse anesthetists worldwide to keep written the different steps that built the international collaboration. This is the history of the globalization and organization of nurse anesthesia by the IFNA History Book Task Force with the collaboration of all member countries.
Task Force Committee
Co-Chairs:
Mrs. Betty Horton, USA (3rd on the left) Past Chair of the IFNA Education Committee, Past APAP manager.
Mrs. Sandra Ouellette, USA ( Middle in blue) AANA President in 1989 for the founding of the IFNA, Past Chair of the IFNA Education Committee, Past IFNA President, Past Chair of the IFNA Practice Committee.
Members:
Mrs. Jackie Rowles USA, (2nd on the left) IFNA Current President
Mrs. Susan Caulk, USA ( 3rd on the right) Wife of Mr. Ron Caulk, Founder of the IFNA, Past IFNA President, Past IFNA Executive Director who passed in 2016.
Mr. Hermi Löhnert, Switzerland ( 1st on left) Founder of the IFNA, Past IFNA President.
Mr. Pascal Rod, France (2nd on left) Past IFNA President, current Executive Director.
The IFNA Archives are stored at the AANA archives department managed by Hathaway Hester.