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Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs — Health
Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

A podcast for the CRNA industry. Discussing the important issues that happen both in, and beyond, the operating room. With Sharon Pearce, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN and Jeremy Stanley, EA, CFP, AIF. Innovations & opportunities for CRNAs & APRNs. Visit our website for more great information https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ and to learn how you can get CE Credit as a CRNA just by listening to the podcast. Don’t miss our special series on CRNA History, CRNA Personal Finance & Retirement, Political Conversations, CRNA Career Issues, and our leadership series called Courage To Lead. Check out new episodes of Beyond The Mask every week with distinguished guests from the CRNA community… #anesthesiology #rn #surgery #healthcare #nurseanesthesiologist #crnaschool #nursing #srnalife #nurselife #nursingstudent #ornurse #nurseanesthesia #crnalife #nursepractitioner #medschool #anesthesialife #scrublife #icunurse #hospital #futurecrna #medical #crna #nurse #anesthesia #srna #nurseanesthetist #nurses #surgical #operatingtheatre #medicalstudent #operatingroomnurse #studentnurse #diversitycrna #ccrn #nursepractitioner #APRN #APRNchat #NPchat #midwife #NP

Copyright: © Copyright 2018 All rights reserved.

Latest Episodes:

Grade 1 View – S2, E8 – Choosing with Purpose: DNP Projects & the Future of Sustainable Anesthesia Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Choosing a DNP project can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re early in your program and still figuring out your clinical interests. Many students think they need to create something groundbreaking, but the reality is much more practical. The key isn’t reinventing the wheel, it’s finding a topic that’s meaningful, manageable, and backed by existing research.

In this episode, the team breaks down the DNP process with Kelsey’s DNP partner and fellow resident Greer Lesnieski, BSN, SRNA, from narrowing down your topic to building a strong PICO question and finding the right resources.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

📚 Build on existing research rather than trying to reinvent the wheel

🎯 Pick a topic that actually interests you (you’ll live with it for years)

🔍 The PICO framework helps narrow your focus

🌱 Small clinical changes (like low-flow anesthesia) can have big impact

🤝 Use trusted resources (AANA, APSF) to guide your topic

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

The Power of Failure and Its Impact on a Growth Mindset with Dr. Stephen Pilot Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

In a profession built on precision and high stakes, mistakes often come with shame, silence, and self-doubt. Failure is something every clinician experiences but almost no one talks about it. What if those moments are actually key to becoming a better provider?

In this episode, Stephen Pilot, DNP, CRNA, APN explains how embracing failure can transform both clinical performance and personal growth.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

💥 Failure Is Inevitable

🧠 Growth vs Fixed Mindset

🤝 Psychological Safety Matters

🔍 Reflection Drives Growth

❤️ You’re Not Alone

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

Airway Exchange – Ep 15 – Sim Wars: A New Way to Teach with Dr. Shayne Hauglum Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

What if learning could be both highly effective and a genuinely fun experience? In this episode, we explore an innovative approach to CRNA education that blends simulation, competition, and teamwork to create deeper engagement and better outcomes for students.

AANA Chief Science & Practice Officer Shayne Hauglum, PhD, CRNA, APRN, joins the show to share how “Sim Wars” is reshaping the way students learn by focusing on communication, leadership, and team dynamics instead of just technical skills.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🎮 Learning Through Competition: Gamified simulations can boost engagement and retention

🤝 Team Dynamics Matter: Communication and teamwork often matter more than technical skill

📊 Measure What Matters: Innovation without evaluation limits long-term impact

🧠 Stress Is Real: Today’s students face intense pressure

🚀 Future-Focused Training: Preparing students for real-world collaboration is critical

About our guest: https://www.aana.com/about-us/leadership/aana-executive-team/

Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram

Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request

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

How GLP-1 Medications Are Changing Anesthesia Practice Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have exploded in popularity for diabetes treatment and weight loss, but their rapid rise is creating new considerations for anesthesia providers. As more patients arrive for procedures while taking these medications, CRNAs and anesthesia teams must navigate evolving guidelines, potential aspiration risks, and uncertainty about perioperative management.

In this episode, Amy Reed, Ph.D, CRNA returns to discuss the latest research and recommendations surrounding GLP-1 receptor agonists in anesthesia practice.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

💊 GLP-1 medications aren’t new but their popularity is

⚠️ Aspiration risk is still the primary anesthesia concern

📋 Guidelines are evolving and sometimes conflicting

🔍 Point-of-care gastric ultrasound is gaining traction

📊 More research is still needed

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

Strong Skills, Weak EI: A Dangerous Combination Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

Today we’re taking listeners beyond technical skill and into one of the most critical yet often overlooked competencies in the operating room: emotional intelligence. In a profession defined by precision, timing, and high-stakes decision-making, the ability to understand and manage emotions can be just as vital as mastering airway management or pharmacology.

Joining the conversation is Brian Barry, who brings a powerful perspective on how emotional intelligence shapes not only individual performance but also team dynamics, leadership effectiveness, and ultimately patient outcomes.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🧠 EQ drives performance more than IQ

⚠️ Low EQ can impact patient outcomes

🔥 Stress amplifies emotional reactions

🗣️ How you communicate matters more than what you say

🔄 Emotional intelligence is learnable

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

Grade 1 View – S2, E7 - What to Expect in CRNA Clinicals (From Students Who’ve Done It) Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

The transition from classroom to clinical rotations can be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking as expectations, personalities, and environments vary from day to day. Knowing what to expect can help ease the anxiety and better prepare you for this critical period of training. Today, all of our hosts are back together to break down what clinicals actually look like from the student perspective.

Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:

⏰ Show up early and prepared

🧠 Know your patient inside and out

🤝 Attitude matters more than skill early on

💥 You will make mistakes and that’s expected

🧩 Every preceptor is different

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

What’s Really Happening in Healthcare Staffing Right Now with Scott Becker Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

Healthcare is evolving rapidly, and nowhere is that more evident than in the anesthesia workforce. In this episode, Sharon and Jeremy sit down with Scott Becker, founder of Becker’s Healthcare, to explore the current state of staffing, education, and economic pressures shaping the industry.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🏥 The anesthesia shortage isn’t solved

👩‍⚕️ CRNAs are critical to the system

📉 Medical education is part of the problem

⚖️ Workforce expectations are shifting

💡 Great organizations are built on people, not just strategy

Visit Becker’s Healthcare: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/

Check out his new book: https://www.amazon.com/Building-Great-Businesses-Momentum-Confidence/dp/1637635400

Read the article here: https://www.beckersasc.com/anesthesia/the-anesthesia-workforce-shortage-demystified/

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

Airway Exchange – Ep 14 - How Virtual Reality Is Transforming CRNA Training Mar 24, 2026

Show notes

What if CRNA students could practice critical anesthesia skills over and over again without limits, without pressure, and without risking patient safety?

In this episode of Airway Exchange, Louisa and Erin explore how virtual reality is transforming nurse anesthesia education. Joined by Katie Cole, DNP, CRNA, CHSE and Kelly Wiltse Nicely, PhD, CRNA from Emory University, we’ll dive into how VR simulation is being integrated into training for foundational skills like intubation, induction sequences, and anesthesia gas machine operation.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🥽 Virtual reality allows unlimited repetition of critical anesthesia skills

📉 VR reduces stress compared to high-fidelity simulation environments

💪 Confidence and preparedness improve before entering the OR

📊 Data tracking provides objective insight into student performance

👥 VR helps identify struggling students earlier

Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram

Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request

About Katie: https://www.nursing.emory.edu/faculty-staff/katie-cole

About Kelly: https://www.nursing.emory.edu/faculty-staff/kelly-wiltse-nicely

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 at a Crossroads: Reimbursement, Workforce, and Leadership with Jeff Molter Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

The nurse anesthesia profession is navigating a period of rapid change. From reimbursement cuts and workforce shortages to evolving practice models and federal policy battles, the decisions being made today will shape the future of CRNAs for decades to come. In this special live taping recorded at the West Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthesiology meeting, Sharon sits down with AANA President Jeff Molter to discuss the biggest challenges facing the profession and how CRNAs can stay engaged in protecting their future.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🩺 Reimbursement Pressures Are Rising

🎓 Student Loan Limits Threaten Workforce Growth

🏥 Demand for Anesthesia Providers Is Expanding

📣 Advocacy Is Essential for the Profession’s Future

📈 CRNAs Are Becoming the Backbone of Anesthesia Care

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

Rescue, Reduce, Prevent: The New Era of PONV Management Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we explore the Fifth Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, the latest international update designed to guide clinicians toward more effective prevention and treatment strategies. These updated recommendations reflect a growing body of research and introduce several important shifts in how anesthesia providers approach PONV. From expanded use of multimodal prophylaxis to greater emphasis on risk reduction strategies and post-discharge nausea and vomiting, the new guidelines encourage clinicians to think more proactively and systematically about managing this common complication.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🤢 PONV is still one of the most common anesthesia complications

🧩 The new guidelines emphasize multimodal prevention

📊 Risk scoring still matters—but clinical judgment matters more

💊 Combination antiemetic therapy is now encouraged

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

🏠 Think beyond the PACU

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