How was anesthesia typically administered in early nursing practice, regardless of facility?

• A. A nurse or nun trained to administer by a surgeon
• B. A physician exclusively administered anesthesia
• C. Anesthesiologists were always present
• D. Laypersons could administer anesthesia unsupervised

Answer: (A)

In the early nursing era, the person delivering anesthesia was usually a nurse or a religious sister who had been trained by the surgeon to administer it during the operation. The surgeon supervised the process and relied on trusted members of the care team to handle anesthesia, rather than relying on a separate, specialized anesthesiologist who would always be present. This reflects a time when anesthesia wasn’t a distinct specialty and safety depended on the surgeon’s guidance and a trained non-physician provider within the nursing team. The other options imply exclusive physician control, constant presence of anesthesiologists, or unsupervised lay administration, none of which match the historical practice of training a nurse or nun to administer anesthesia under the surgeon’s direction.