Her husband assumed that this was caused by her job of administering anesthesia where she was always exposed to nitrous and oxygen gases. Lamb died on September 3, 1979. Helen Lamb had been a dedicated nurse anesthetist. From the time she finished her nursing degree, she already dedicated public service to health care as well as to teaching its practice. Her friend, Joyce Kelly, another nurse anesthetist, summed her life as "one whose life was giving anesthesia and teaching"(Schwartz, 2003). Hence, she was honored by many of her health care colleagues, as well as her students, for the contributions that she brought in the study and practice of anesthesiology.

After Lamb's death, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetist established the Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator Award in honor of Lamb's achievements and contributions to nurse anesthesia.

Impact Analysis

Helen Lamb had made an impact in the practice of nurse anesthesia because of the prominent contributions that she brought to the practice. Her input to both the practice and study of nurse anesthesia cannot be undermined because it was from her hard work, dedication, and commitment that made nurse anesthesia a high standard form of study in the field of medical service. There even came a time when Helen Lamb protected the high standard that was already established for the practice. This happened when she resisted the emergence of quick nurse anesthetist training programs to support the shortage of nurse anesthetists during the war. To Lamb, this may result to a degradation of the high standard that the AANA had established to the practice of nurse anesthesia. Lee C. Fosburgh indicates this in his article "Imaginig Time," stating that Ms. Lamb's reluctance to support emergent training programs in anesthesia was from a general fear that the increase in programs would undermine the hard-won progress made by the AANA's educational program.

The prominent influences and impact that Helen Lamb had contributed to the practice of nurse anesthesia can be said to come from following works and achievements that she attained.

More than 20 years of being the personal nurse anesthetist of Dr. Evarts A. Graham at Barnes Hospital

23 years of being...

This was all because of the contributions of Helen Lamb to the practice of nurse anesthesia.
Lamb, together with the National Association of Nurse Anesthetists (now known as the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists) contributed in the establishment of standards of nurse anesthesia.

Aside from the AANA, Lamb was also among the founder of Missouri Association of nurse anesthetists, another organization for the practice of anesthesia.

Lamb was the first anesthetist in America to use endotracheal anesthesia. (Washington University School of Medicine, 2004).

Lamb received the Agatha Hodgins Award from AANA for her outstanding achievements in the practice of nurse anesthesia.

Technically, Lamb had committed a great part of her life in the practice of nurse anesthesia. And, with all the achievements that she attained, influencing and having a great impact to the practice is not questionable. In fact, she had contributed a lot of work to provide a high standard to the practice. From her contributions, nurse anesthesia had gained respect in the field of health care.

Reference

Helen Lamb. http://beckerexhibits.wustl.edu/mowihsp/bios/lamb.htm

Albany Med's Martin-Sheridan Recognized for Contributions to Education of Nurse Anesthetists

http://www.amc.edu/getnews.cfm?newsid=457

Fosburgh, L.C. 1995. Imagining in Time.

Retrieved on Sept. 05, 2005, from Online. Web site: http://www.aana.com/archives/imagine/1995/10imagine95.asp

Thomas, E. (2004). What is a Nurse Anesthetist?

Retrieved on Sept. 05, 2005, from Online.

Web site: http://www.anesthesia-nursing.com/wina2.html