I entered the nurse anesthesia profession after graduating from Creighton Memorial St Joseph's Hospital School of Anesthesia in 1955.

I entered the nurse anesthesia educational program in 1952 and then spent a few months with Uncle Sam during the Korean War. Upon graduation I accepted a positon at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. I remained there for 38 years, heading the anesthesia department for 35 years.

During this time I never worked with or under the auspices of a physician anesthetist. With the Lord's help during these years, I never lost a patient.

Our primary anesthetics when I entered the profession were sodium pentathol, ether, succinylcholine, cyclopropane, nitrous oxide, and penthrane. I was called upon to give anesthesia for 75 percent of the OBs. Most of my surgical experience for the first 5 years was with EENT, general surgery, proctology, and some urology.

I was fortunate that the physicians were all very cordial and well trained. We had a collegial relationship all of those years. I had been encouraged by my director of anesthesia to become active in professional organization. This I took seriously and would drive 200 miles on a Thursday to attend a meeting in Omaha, Nebraska.

My desire was to become president of the state organization. After first serving on the board of directors, and then as treasurer, followed by president-elect, I was able to accomplish becoming state president. We changed meetings to the weekend and ensured a larger membership involvement.

We also had regional assemblies at this time. Nebraska was a member of the Mid-West Assembly of Nurse Anesthetists. This regional organization encompassed the states of Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska. I served this organization as Board of Director, treasurer, chairman-elect and chairman.

My first national convention was in Atlantic City, N.J. I was appointed by AANA Exectuve Director, Florence McQuillen, as convention chairman. This was the era when all new or first time attendees were given green beanies.

After that, I served as regional director of AANA Region 4. I was elected regional director at the 50th anniversary of the AANA at its meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. I served for 2 years and was then elected treasurer of the AANA. I have had the pleasure over time to serve on many committees at the state, regional and national levels.

I take great pride in being a CRNA. My license plate for some 10 years in Nebraska was CRNA1.

I have great love and respect for all my fellow CRNAs, and was in DC this year to attend the most recent convention.

Anesthetics I used later in my career were local eye blocks with bupivacaine retrobulbar and Van Lint, Bier blocks, ankle blocks, spinals and epidurals for OB and for pain relief. Muscle relaxants of short and long acting, Etharane, Forane and several others.

I take pride in the fact that a fellow who has declared me his role model, Steven Wooden, was recently elected Treasurer of this great organization.

Following retirement I have been active in Red Cross Disaster Health Services. I have served in 12 national disasters, most recently for Hurricane Katrina, bringing in evacuees from New Orleans to Omaha, Nebraska.

Gerald M Messbarger, CRNA, BS
AANA Member #1041

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