The certified nurse anesthetist (CRNA), also called a nurse anesthetist, is a nurse who specializes in administering anesthesia during surgeries and other procedures, as well as monitoring vital signs and maintaining the patient's airway. A CRNA can also promote their specialty specifically for pediatric, bariatric, cardiac, etc. patients. To become a CRNA, you need extensive training, as well as experience, before you are even considered to enter the anesthesia training program. CRNAs have a variety of work environments to choose from, such as dental offices, operating rooms, and endoscopic procedure units. The salary range for a CRNA varies due to experience and subspecialty, but the profession is one of the highest-paid nursing practices. Education, working environment and conditions, salary, and job prospects all vary from place to place, but certification and recertification remain the same nationwide. To become a CRNA, you must first receive a bachelor's degree in nursing and obtain your registered nurse license. You must also have at least one year of critical care experience, obtained in areas such as the emergency room or intensive care units. Once you have your license and critical care experience, you must be accepted into an accredited anesthesia program with a typical length of two years or more. Once you successfully complete the program, you will take the national certification exam. To specialize in specific patient populations, such as pediatrics or trauma, you should work in a specialty hospital. There are currently no academic programs to obtain certification in the subspecialties. Recently there has been discussion about changing the critical focus of training courses and renewing certification. When they are considered competent enough to administer anesthesia, they must also be able to effectively deal with the daily changes and challenges that a hospital environment can create. They must also be able to “tolerate” many types of sensory stimuli. Although they are one of the highest paid nursing practices, they have to endure stress throughout their career, starting with the educational aspects. Works CitedAmerican Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Professional aspects of nursing anesthesia practice. Philadelphia: FA Davis Company, 1994. Print.Anesthetic Area. AMN Healthcare. www.anesthesiazone.com. 2007. Network. March 7, 2012. Hawkins, Robert and Greg Nezat. "Doctoral training: which degree to obtain?". AANA Journal 77.2 (2009): 92-96. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. Network. March 12. 2012.