Anesthesiology and critical care involve the clinical practice of highly acute medical care, where often only a fine line separates safety from danger. Pursuing patient safety and comfort in this context is never easy, and we sometimes encounter situations that make us realize the profound limitations of what a single healthcare provider can achieve alone.

Imagine having to face a truly life or death situation, and the immense reassurance of having the support of a team of professionals equipped with outstanding knowledge, technical and communication skills. The Japanese Society for Perianesthesia Nursing and Medicine was established in 2018 to contribute to building such a team, and we have since been dedicated to advancing clinical practice, education, and research in this field.

For nurses and other professionals involved in the care of surgical patients, it is natural to seek a deeper understanding of how patients are managed, including the practice of anesthesia. The more dedicated a healthcare professional is to their work, striving to master it and further contribute to patient care, the more they will appreciate the profound art and science of medicine and seek opportunities for further training.

The foundation of our society was born from the aspirations of nurses and many other healthcare professionals who, with a keen interest in the broad and extensive field of perioperative nursing and medicine, voluntarily sought to further their education.

Under the leadership of Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara and Dr. Katsuyuki Miyasaka of St. Luke’s International University, the Graduate Program in Perianesthesia Nursing was established within the university’s Graduate School of Nursing in 2010. This created a pathway for nurses to receive a master’s level education in anesthesiology.

Two years later, the first “perianesthesia nurse” in Japan graduated from this program. Since then, they have been practicing perianesthesia medicine and nursing with the same high standards and perspectives as physician anesthesiologists, striving together toward the shared goal of patient safety and comfort.

The Japanese Society for Perianesthesia Nursing and Medicine continues to expand, providing a forum where nurses specializing in anesthesia and their collaborators can gather and further their practice.

Based on the fundamental principle that all our efforts are meant for the benefit of patients, we express our deepest gratitude for the generous support we have received. We will continue to move forward, one by one, to fulfill the many missions with which we are tasked and to contribute to society. We sincerely ask for your continued guidance and encouragement in the years to come.