A brief history of nurse anesthesia practice.

Anesthetics have been administered for centuries, from opium poppy and leaches, to today's sophisticated agents and techniques. In the United States, nurses have been delivering safe, professional, cost-effective care for well over 100 years. Nurse anesthetists have weathered the storms of war and politics to become a strong force in the current health care arena. The following is a brief overview of their interesting journey.