A group of nurses in Dallas held a one day recovery room seminar at Methodist Hospital in 1973 under the guidance of Chairperson Mary Lou Ruffner. Later, in 1975, recovery room nurses met in Galveston to discuss forming an association to meet the needs of post anesthesia nurses. Unfortunately, the group was unable to generate enough force to become an official organization. It was not until May 11th, 1976 that 53 members held the first official meeting in Dallas. At this meeting, officers were elected and Mary Lou Ruffner became Texas Association of Post Anesthesia Nurse (TAPAN), President. TAPAN met monthly, holding short educational programs with speakers for the first year. The first half day seminar was held Oct. 1977. Bylaws were adopted and nine directors were designated throughout the state.
TAPAN continued to grow and flourish. An election was held and Mary Lou Ruffner was elected President and Hazel Ritter was President-Elect. In June of 1979 the annual state seminar was held at Six Flags in Dallas and officers for the next year 1980-81 were elected: Hazel Ritter President and Clara Conn Vice-President.
The executive board was very active and met quarterly. During this period, the TAPAN Logo was presented, "Wake up with a Texas Recovery Room Nurse," designed by Hazel and her daughter Kelli. It had a rose in the middle and TAPAN in the background.
On the national level, in 1979 Anita Kubin was appointed as a delegate to a newly formed American Association of Post Anesthesia Nurses (ASPAN). The next year in 1980, (ASPAN), was recognized as the National Organization of Post Anesthesia Nurses. Seven TAPAN members became charter members, including Hazel and Clara. Clara was elected Texas Director to ASPAN serving a 3 year term.
The state seminars were held in Dallas until the following year June 1981 when it was held in San Antonio. Clara, with the help of her daughter, presented an educational style show called "Nursing History through Style." She was asked to present the show at the next National meeting held in Washington in 1982.
Some important events:
- Clara became ASPAN's 5th President 1985-1986
- June 1985 ASPAN produced a video "ASPAN Guidelines for Standards of Care."
- ASPAN Awareness Day: PACU nurses and hospital administrators in four San Antonio facilities conducted a pilot study with planned exhibits inviting other hospital departments to visit the PACU. This was to validate Post Anesthesia appreciation. White balloons imprinted with “I support ASPAN" were given away and the anesthesiologists were asked to wear “I Support ASPAN” buttons. This was the forerunner to today’s "Post Anesthesia Nurse Awareness Day," proclaimed by ASPAN President Meg Stroud (1986-1987).