Navy nurse anesthetists at Fleet Hospital Five: the Desert Shield/Storm experience

In 1990, the United States Navy deployed its first operational fleet hospital: "Fleet Hospital Five" in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Within 2 weeks of notification, the 900 medical providers assigned to this medical facility, which was capable of providing major trauma surgery and critical care, were on their way to Al Jabayl, Saudi Arabia. This article discusses the unique characteristics of this facility and introduces the crucial role that nurse anesthetists play. The article also introduces several innovative ideas that were developed and tested to expand the capabilities of the hospital.