1970

Florence McQuillen, CRNA, retired as executive director after 22 years; she assumed the titles of Director Emeritus and Consultant to the Board of Trustees. (NB Mar 1970)

Bernice Baum, CRNA, became executive director after 13 years of employment at the AANA, including associate director and managing editor.

The executive office moved to 111 East Wacker Drive in Chicago.

1971

The first bachelors degree program in anesthesia began at Mount Marty College in Yankton, S.D. (NB Nov 1971 and Mar 1971)

The Continuing Education Committee was formed.

1972

John Garde, CRNA, became the first male president of the AANA.

The AANA NewsBulletin and the ASA Newsletter published the “Joint Statement of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Concerning Qualifications of Individuals Administering Anesthetics.” (NB Jan 1972)

The executive office employed a staff of 15. (NB Sept 1972)

The American Nurses’ Association (ANA) invited the AANA president to attend the ANA convention. (NB Nov 1972)

AANA membership passed 15,000. (NB Nov 1972)

1973

The AANA became a charter member of the Federation of Specialty Nursing Organizations, later the National Federation for Specialty Nursing Organizations.

Computers arrived at the executive office for maintenance of membership records, dues processing, and addressing services.

Douglas Reimer was retained as General Counsel. (NB July 1973)

Kenneth Williamson was hired as Washington Consultant for Health Affairs and began AANA’s first attempt at legislation at the national level. (NB Nov 73)

Region 7 was established

A public relations survey was undertaken to determine how the AANA could be more responsive to its membership.

The last State Night Dinner was held.

Goldie Brangman, CRNA, was the first president to give a theme to her presidential year: “Year of Communication.”

1974

Standards for Nurse Anesthesia Practice were adopted.

The Journal of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists was renamed the AANA Journal.

The Ad Hoc Council on Practice held its first meeting.

A new logo, consisting of a stylized Caduceus and the association’s initials, was introduced. (NB Nov 1974)

“Public Relations Primer” was distributed to state presidents and program directors.

“AANA Fact Book,” designed to provide basic information about the AANA and CRNAs, was published.

The NewsBulletin began running a Computer Corner column.

Green beanies were handed out to first-time Annual Meeting attendees for the last time. (NB Sept 1974)

Liability coverage for members was offered through Marsh & McLennan. (NB Nov 1974)

The Legal Briefs column debuted in the AANA Journal (J Feb 1974)

1975

The Ad Hoc Council on Practice became the Council on Practice, and would become the Council for Public Interest in Anesthesia in 1988.

The Council on Certification of Nurse Anesthetists (CCNA) and the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA) were created, and the credentialing functions of the AANA were transferred to these autonomous councils.

The Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment was first presented to Ruth Satterfield, CRNA.

The ASA formally challenged the AANA’s right to accredit nurse anesthesia programs. (NB Mar 1975)

AANA representatives first presented testimony before a Congressional Committee, on the subject of national health insurance. (NB Jan 1976)

The Board of Trustees was renamed the Board of Directors.

1976

The Annual Meeting was held independent of the American Hospital Association (AHA), after being held in conjunction with the AHA’s meeting for 43 years (1933-1976).

An Annual Meeting registration fee is charged for the first time since 1941: $20 for pre-registration and $25 on site. (NB Jan 1976)

Nancy Fevold, CRNA, was named acting executive director upon Bernice Baum’s retirement. (NB Nov76)

The format of the business meeting changed so that only resolutions formally prepared and presented by the Resolutions Committee would be open for discussion; exceptions would be made for emergency resolutions. (NB July 1976)

An effort to have a presidential resolution declaring a National Nurse Anesthetists Week failed to gather enough Congressional signatures to proceed through the resolution process. (NB July 1976)

The Council Conference was changed to the (Spring) Assembly of States. (NB Mar 1976)

1977

AANA members approved mandatory continuing education for CRNAs, which became effective in 1978.

J. Martin Stone, MHA, became executive director; he was the AANA’s only non-CRNA executive director.

The AANA Journal Editorial Advisory Board was created. (J Aug 1977)

The first presidential stipend given.

The first student luncheon was held at the Annual Meeting.

Membership passed 20,000. (NB Sept 1977)

A resolution passed to have Board meetings open to active membership, unless a closed meeting is voted upon.

The director of Continuing Education position was created. (NB masthead)

1978

The Council on Recertification of Nurse Anesthetists was established.

The AANA purchased the office building at 216 Higgins in Park Ridge, Ill., and staff moved in the next year.

The Annual Meeting was extended by one day, starting on Saturday instead of Sunday. (NB Jan 1978)

A 60-second TV spot including a segment on CRNAs was part of the ANA’s Year of the Nurse campaign. (NB Jan 1978)

A legislative aide position was added to the executive office, which would have full responsibility for the AANA’s government relations program. (NB May 1978)

The first Student Representative to the Education Committee was selected. (NB July 1978)

Richard Verville was retained as the Washington consultant.
(NB Nov 1978)

The AANA’s nondiscrimination policy was formalized and began to appear in the bylaws. (NB Nov 1978)

The AANA Statement of Policy on the Provision of Anesthesia Services, which was on reimbursement, was adopted. (NB May 1978)

Position Statement 2.6: Administration of Regional Anesthesia by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists was adopted.

The first master’s of science degree in nurse anesthesia was granted from the Kaiser Permanente nurse anesthesia clinical program by the Department of Nursing at California State University in Long Beach.  (Bankert p 203)   

1979

The first student column was published in the NewsBulletin. (NB Jan 1979)

The Nurse Training Act that specifically included Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships was signed into federal law, but funding would not be received until 1983.

A bylaw amendment passed approving an all-mail ballot; previously members voted at the Annual Meeting or mailed in absentee ballots.

The f irst Government Relations Workshop was held in Washington, D.C. (NB July 1979)

Nancy Fevold, CRNA, MBA, was named executive director upon J. Martin Stone’s resignation.

The Assembly of School Faculty voted to support the concept of a baccalaureate level of education for the professional nurse. (NB May 1979)

A resolution was passed that the executive director must be a CRNA and an active member.

The first Fall Assembly of States took place; the assembly had previously been held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. (NB Sept 1979, Nov)

The first State President’s Luncheon was held at the Annual Meeting. (NB suppl 1980)

The director of Membership position was created. (NB masthead)

The first Annual Meeting supplement appeared in the NewsBulletin.