Alana Smith, MSN ‘13, a graduate from Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing, combined her nurse anesthesia training and experience as a mother to publish Magic Air, a children’s book designed to help kids prepare for surgery.
"I realized there were no books about nurse anesthetists that adequately prepared kids for surgery," Smith said. "I took what I did for a living in nurse anesthesia and set out to publish a children’s book."
Surgery can be scary for children, but books help make complex topics easier to understand. Magic Air guides young readers through the surgical process from the perspective of a child whose sibling is preparing for surgery. It covers everything from meeting the care team to breathing the magic air.
"Nurse anesthetists have embraced Magic Air beyond my expectations," Smith said. "In many pediatric settings, the term ‘magic air’ now refers to our anesthesia gas."
Magic Air is used in hospital pre-op areas and clinics across the country. Smith’s decision to write the book reflects Moffett & Sanders School of Nursing’s mission to have the courage to care.
“Courage to care means going beyond standard steps and focusing on emotional health, support systems, and the whole picture,” Smith said.