Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

The opioid crisis continues to impact communities across the country, and in many overdose situations, police officers are the first people to arrive on the scene. That reality inspired a powerful community initiative led by CRNA student Krystin Jones. Her DNP project focuses on training law enforcement officers to recognize opioid overdoses and confidently administer naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose and potentially save a life. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🚨 Police are often first on the scene 💉 Narcan can mean the difference between life and death 🏥 Healthcare professionals can impact communities beyond hospitals 📊 The opioid crisis remains a serious public health challenge 🤝 Collaboration saves lives   Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246 Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

In this episode of Airway Exchange, Jiale (Gary) Hu, PhD, RN, FAAN joins the conversation to explore how AI is reshaping the way we teach, learn, and prepare future CRNAs. He’s currently ​the ​Director ​of ​Research ​and ​Global ​Outreach ​in ​the ​Department ​of ​Nurse ​Anesthesia, and his ​scholarship ​focuses ​on ​enhancing ​knowledge ​translation ​in ​healthcare ​environments, ​with ​a ​lot ​of ​his ​current ​projects ​encompassing ​AI ​integration ​in ​healthcare ​education. We’ll go beyond theory and into practical implementation of AI, like integrating AI literacy into the curriculum and building custom GPT tools for student handbooks. We also want to address the concerns many educators share: ethical use, institutional support, academic integrity, prompt engineering, and how to keep humans “in the loop.”   Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🤖 AI Literacy as a Core Skill  🧠 Prompt Engineering with the CARE Framework  📚 Integrating AI Across the Curriculum  🛠️ Custom GPT Tools for Educators  ⚖️ Ethics, Accuracy & Human Oversight   About our guest: https://nrsa.chp.vcu.edu/our-team/jiale-gary-hu-phd-rn-faan.html Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246

Today’s episode is one of courage, survival, and reclaiming your voice. Tonia Bales, CRNA and author of When You See It: How I Outsmarted and Outlasted Dirty John, shares her deeply personal story of manipulation, coercive control, and psychological abuse. While the world knows the headline-grabbing “Dirty John” narrative, this conversation takes us behind the scenes to explore how even strong, capable professionals can be targeted and trapped by someone hiding in plain sight. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🚩 Psychopaths and manipulators hide in plain sight. Charm and intelligence can mask danger. 🧠 You can be “smart in the brain and not so smart in the heart.” 💬 Silence protects abusers. Speaking up creates safety and support. 🔍 Trust your instincts, subtle red flags deserve attention. 🌱 Healing is ongoing, resilience and community make rebuilding possible.   Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/When-You-See-Outsmarted-Outlasted/dp/B0FCDDC6FL Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246 Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, this episode of Grade 1 View highlights the power, resilience, and impact of women shaping the future of nurse anesthesia. Dr. Bimpe ‘Bebe’ Adenusi shares her remarkable journey from clinical chemist to CRNA, educator, program director, national leader, and founder of the Nigerian American Nurse Anesthetist Association. With authenticity and humility, she reflects on the mentors who shaped her path, the challenges of stepping into leadership, and the responsibility of lifting the next generation. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 👩🏾‍⚕️ From Student to National Leader  💬 Listening as a Leadership Skill  🤝 The Power of Mentorship  🌍 Mission Work & Purpose  📚 Building the Next Generation    About our guest: https://nanaa.org/team/dr-bimpe-adenusi/ Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/grade-1-view/ Visit the AANA Resident Hub: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/  Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246

Becoming a CRNA isn’t just about mastering pharmacology, physiology, and airway skills. It’s about mentorship. In this episode of Beyond the Mask, Kelly Elmore, DNP, APRN-CRNA joins the show to discuss one of the most critical and often overlooked elements of nurse anesthesia education: preceptorship training. From bridging classroom theory to real-time clinical decision-making, preceptors are the link between knowledge and confidence. And when that experience goes well, it can shape a career. When it doesn’t, it can leave lasting scars. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🧑‍🏫 Preceptorship Is a Role, Not a Side Task  🤝 What Students Actually Need  ⚖️ Balancing Control & Independence  🔥 Burnout & Preceptor Fatigue  🌐 The Preceptor Resource Hub    About our guest: https://marybaldwin.edu/people/kelly-r-elmore-dnp-aprn-crna/ Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246 Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

Writing for a grade is one thing. Writing to contribute to a scientific conversation is something entirely different. In this episode of Airway Exchange, Dr. Edwin Aroke, an internationally recognized CRNA pain scientist and Editor-in-Chief of the AANA Journal, joins hosts Erin and Nickie to talk with us about scholarly writing and peer review. His ​scholarship ​has ​resulted ​in ​over ​60 ​peer-reviewed ​publications and ​many ​nationally ​and ​internationally ​presentations ​on ​pharmacogenomics, ​pain ​disparities ​and ​anesthesia ​outcomes. This conversation is a practical guide for nurse anesthesia educators who want to elevate their scholarship, as we’ll discuss developing a focused research niche to navigating peer review, grant funding, and common reasons for desk rejection. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: ✍️ From Classroom Writing to Publication  🔬 Building a Focused Research Niche  📚 Common Reasons for Journal Rejection  🤝 Grant Funding & Mentorship Strategy  🤖 AI in Scholarly Writing    About our guest: https://scholars.uab.edu/4965-edwin-aroke Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246

CRNAs are in demand. Salaries are strong. Jobs are plentiful. So why is Dr. Randy Moore sounding the alarm? In this episode, Randy joins Sharon and guest host Kevin Chem, DNP, CRNA to unpack his viral Substack article, “No One Is Coming to Save Us.” The core message is uncomfortable but clear: while anesthesia organizations remain divided over turf and titles, payers are quietly reshaping reimbursement policy in ways that could have long-term consequences for both CRNAs and anesthesiologists. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🐺 “The Wolf Is at the Door”  💰 Reimbursement Drives Practice Models  ⚖️ Fragmentation Weakens Leverage  🏛️ Multi-Front Strategy: Litigation, Legislation, PR  🔄 Cycles in Compensation & Demand    Read Randy’s Substack post here: https://randymoore.substack.com/p/no-ones-coming-to-save-us-the-anesthesia   Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246 Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

This week, Lynn and Garry sit down with guest Dru Riddle to tackle one of the most misunderstood and increasingly problematic concepts in perioperative care: the idea that patients can be “cleared” for anesthesia by non-anesthesia providers. While well-intentioned, this language blurs professional boundaries and creates real risks for patients and anesthesia teams alike. The goals for this show are to help you be able to: Differentiate between preoperative medical optimization and anesthesia clearance. Explain why anesthesia providers are uniquely qualified to determine anesthesia-related risk. Describe the appropriate role of non-anesthesia consultants in the perioperative period. Apply modern risk assessment tools, such as the DASI scale, to evaluate perioperative anesthesia risk. Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246 Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

Advocacy can feel intimidating, especially as a student. But what if your future scope of practice, reimbursement, autonomy, and even student loan access are being shaped right now? Mackenzie and Levi recently attended Lobby Day in Florida and Nicolas went to Capitol Day in Arizona. Kelsey asks them about their experiences and advice for other SRNAs. You’ll learn more about what advocacy events actually look like, how they prepared, what surprised them most, and the powerful realization that legislators often know very little about what CRNAs truly do. Showing up to advocate isn’t just crucial for policy, it’s also important for every SRNA’s professional journey.    Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🏛️ What Lobby Day & Capital Day Really Look Like 📢 Scope of Practice & Autonomy Bills 💰 Reimbursement & Legislative Barriers 🎓 Student Loan Caps & Federal Policy Threats 🔥 “If You’re Not at the Table, You’re on the Menu”   Tell the Department of Education: CRNAs are professionals - https://aana.quorum.us/campaign/151823/?utm_campaign=21808239-Letter%20from%20the%20Board%20of%20Directors%20Newsletter%20-%20MY26&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_aIux9bDYGSMnBHT8ofMd4Soboojl0igMxgnXHzvkjlNUNiJgq50f2fSPLl0FV518L46QnmodIQKlPYVGef6ShbqCNBA&_hsmi=402704119&utm_content=402704119&utm_source=hs_email Register for AANA Mid-Year Assembly: https://www.aana.com/premier-event/mid-year-assembly/   Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/grade-1-view/ Visit the AANA Resident Hub: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/  Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246

In this special episode, the conversation goes beyond anesthesia, leadership, and practice models and into something just as essential: friendship, health, and wellness. In a profession that is demanding, high‑stakes, and often isolating, the relationships CRNAs build with one another can be a powerful source of strength. Sharon is  joined by longtime friends Jackie Rowles, DNP, MBA, MA, CRNA, ANP-BC, NSPM-C, FNAP, FAANA, FAAN, Tracy Castleman,  DNP, CRNA, APN-A, FAANA, and Carole Doyscher, CRNA, BSN, MS, APRN—four CRNAs whose bond, known affectionately as the Fab Four, was forged through shared experiences, mutual respect, and plenty of laughter along the way. Together, they reflect on how authentic connection within the CRNA community supports resilience, personal well‑being, and professional longevity. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 👩‍⚕️ Each leader shares their unique leadership style and AANA experience 🤝 The power of unity, trust, and supporting one another in CRNA leadership 🧭 How policy, mentoring, and advocacy shape the future of the profession 💬 Stories from the trenches — what it's really like to lead under pressure 🚀 Encouragement for the next generation of CRNA leaders   Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Get the CE Certificate here (and directly submit to the NBCRNA): https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246 Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1