Nurse Anesthetists

PBBHSoN Grad Photo--Gertrude Gerrard_1915.jpg

Gertrude Gerrard's Peter Bent Brigham Hospital School of Nursing Graduation Picture, 1915  (Donated by the Gerrard family) Brigham and Women's Hospital collection, Center for the History of Medicine in the Francis A. Countway Library, Harvard University

PBBH_Gerrard in OR_c1920.jpg

Gerrard in the OR with Dr. Foley,  circa 1920 (Note the Connell Anaesthetometer, next to Gerrard.) Brigham and Women's Hospital collection, Center for the History of Medicine in the Francis A. Countway Library, Harvard University

Gertrude Gerrard, RN, Chief Anesthetist,
Peter Bent Brigham Hospital 1919–1947

 “Miss Gerrard, one of Dr. Boothby's pupils, has become our chief anaesthetist…” —Harvey Cushing, Surgeon-in-Chief, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital Annual Report, 1919.

In the first half of the 20th century the administration of anesthetics was largely entrusted to specially trained nurses. Gertrude M. Gerrard received her nursing training at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital School of Nursing, graduating with its first class in 1915. She subsequently served with Surgeon-in-Chief, Harvey Cushing, at Base Hospital #5 in France during WWI, then returned to the PBBH. She was trained in anesthesia by the hospital’s first official anesthetist, Dr. Walter Boothby. When Dr. Boothby left in 1919 Gerrard became the Brigham’s Chief of Anesthesia, serving until 1947.

“The Brigham at that time started its long career as a surgical service with a nurse-led and a nurse-operated department of anaesthesia. Miss Gerrard was an exceptional woman and an outstanding personality… At that time she taught the students the anaesthetization of animals in association with the surgical technique course, and did so with an expertness and skill which it would be difficult to match.”—Francis D. Moore, Surgeon-in-Chief, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital Annual Report, 1954.

In 1948, acknowledging the trend towards specializations in the field of surgery, the hospital chose to establish a permanent chief physician-anesthetist position. Nurse anesthetists continued at the hospital as anesthesia department team members.

Nurse Anesthetists