Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Today we’re tackling something that every single SRNA needs to understand before signing their very first employment contract, and that’s protecting our livelihood once we graduate.

In this episode of Grade 1 View, hosts Mackenzie and Nicolas sit down with Bryan Doyle, ME, RPLU, Acting Vice President of AANA Insurance Services and Lisa Kiska, RPLU+, Supervisor, Underwriting & Customer Service at AANA Insurance Servi...

Nurses are consistently ranked as the most trusted profession in America. So why aren't more nurses helping shape the conversations that influence healthcare policy, patient education, technology, and innovation?

In this episode of Beyond the Mask, Sharon and guest co-host Laura Ardizzone, MS, MBA, DNP, CRNA welcome Stroke Certified Registered Nurse, podcaster, author, and healthcare communicator Rosa Hart for a conversation about ...

CRNA education has never been more demanding.

As nurse anesthesia programs have evolved into rigorous 36-month doctoral programs, educators are seeing increasing levels of stress, anxiety, burnout, and mental health challenges among students.

So how can faculty better support students while maintaining the high standards required of the profession?

In this episode of Airway Exchange, hosts Nickie and Erin welcome Gerard Hogan, DNSc...

Every healthcare professional carries a story.

Some are inspiring. Some are heartbreaking. Some quietly shape who we become as clinicians, educators, leaders, and people.

But what happens when those stories are never told?

In this episode of Beyond the Mask, Sharon and guest co-host Laura L. Ardizzone, MS, MBA, DNP, CRNA welcome nurse educator, author, and storyteller Mary Ellen Miller, PhD, RN, PHNA-BC for a powerful conversation ...

June is Pride Month, and on this episode of Grade 1 View, Levi and Kelsey sit down with John Gianitsis, MSNA, CRNA and Carlota Izaguirre, DNP, CRNA and from the Nurse Anesthesiology Pride Foundation (NAPF) to discuss representation, belonging, mental health, and community within the nurse anesthesia profession. We’ll also explore the organization's evolution from GALA to NAPF and the important role it plays in supporting LGBT...

Could you imagine working in a rural location where access is truly a lifeline for people? Today’s guest is April Erickson, DNP, CRNA, an ​Alaska ​based ​nurse ​anesthesiologist ​and ​anesthesia ​medical ​director ​with ​more ​than ​15 ​years ​of ​experience ​in ​rural ​independent ​practice.

Sharon and guest host Jackie Rowles, DNP, MBA, MA, CRNA, ANP-BC, NSPM-C, FNAP, FAANA, FAAN, sit down with April to discuss frontier med...

What if CRNA school interviews have been measuring the wrong things all along?

In this episode of Airway Exchange, Vicente Gonzalez, DNP, CRNA and Ann Miller, DNP, CRNA, faculty from Florida International University, break down their groundbreaking new admissions interview process designed to assess what traditional interviews often miss: resilience, adaptability, teamwork, critical thinking, and emotional regulation.

Here’s ...

Most CRNAs have never heard the name Florence Boswell.

But maybe they should have.

In this fascinating historical episode of Beyond the Mask, former AANA president Debra Malina, CRNA, MBA, DNSc, and Sandy Ouellette, CRNA, uncover the remarkable story of Florence Boswell, a nurse anesthetist, aviation pioneer, charter member of the National Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and one of the earliest women pilots in America.

Here&rsqu...

What really happens after CRNA school ends?

In this episode of Grade 1 View, former host Kevin Chem, DNP, CRNA returns to the show nearly a year into practice to talk honestly about the transition from SRNA to CRNA, from the stress of boards and credentialing to the emotional reality of walking into the OR independently for the first time.

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

📚 Consistency and repetition matter mo...

What happens when anesthesia providers from around the world come together in one place?

In this special recap episode of Beyond the Mask, Sharon is joined by Erin Foley, DNAP, MSNA, CRNA, FAANA, and TxANA Vice President Jennifer Andersen, MSNA, CRNA to look back on their experience attending the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists (IFNA) Congress in Australia. Find out what we learned, what surprised us, and why these m...

What does the future of CRNA education actually look like? In this episode of Airway Exchange, hosts Nickie and Greg sit down with Hallie Evans, DNP, CRNA, APRN, CNE, FAANA, to explore some of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing CRNA education today, including faculty shortages, mentorship, innovative teaching methods, competency-based learning, and the growing role of AI in healthcare education.

Here’s some of wh...

CRNAs provide the majority of obstetric care across much of the country, especially in rural and underserved areas, the data hasn’t always reflected that reality. That disconnect is exactly what sparked the creation of the Society of Obstetric Nurse Anesthesiology and Research (SONAR), a growing movement focused on advancing nurse-led research and elevating the role of CRNAs in obstetrics.

In this episode, the team behind SON...

Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) represents one of the most complex and physiologically demanding procedures encountered in modern perioperative medicine.

In this episode of Anesthesia Alchemy: Lynn & Garry Unplugged, Garry takes listeners on a deep dive into the anesthetic management of these challenging cases. Rather than a checklist approach, this conversation walks through how to ...

What really matters when you move from being a student to stepping into your role as a CRNA? In this special crossover episode recorded at the AANA Mid-Year Assembly in Washington, D.C., Levi Davis interviews Airway Exchange hosts Nickie Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA and Greg Collins, DNP, CRNA about advocacy, their role as educators, and the transition from resident to practicing CRNA.

The future of nurse anesthesiology leadership is on the ballot.

In this special election edition of Beyond the Mask, you’ll hear directly from every candidate running in the AANA Board of Directors, including candidates for Director, Treasurer, Vice President, and President-Elect.

Each candidate shares their background, leadership experience, priorities, and vision for the future of the CRNA profession.

🗳️ Voting runs May 12...

In this episode, we sit down with mentorship program participants Jon Casto, SRNA and Abigail Poss, SRNA, to find out what surprised them, what inspired them, and what they wish every future CRNA knew before attending AANA Mid-Year Assembly

Stepping into a national conference for the first time can feel overwhelming but it can also be the moment everything clicks. You’ll hear real experiences from residents navigating their f...

Airway management hasn’t changed much in decades but that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. As more procedures move into outpatient settings and deep sedation becomes more common, the need for better oxygen delivery and reliable monitoring has never been more important.

That’s where the Aeris Airways device comes in. It’s a simple but powerful innovation designed to enhance standard airway tools, and ...

The perioperative environment is increasingly shaped by factors that extend beyond traditional pharmacology, requiring anesthesia providers to stay alert to emerging and often underrecognized influences on patient care. One such factor is the growing use of kratom, a plant-derived substance that patients frequently perceive as harmless due to its “natural” origins. However, as highlighted in today’s show, this ass...

Most SRNAs are focused on boards, clinicals, and landing their first job, but there’s another side of the profession that can shape your salary, autonomy, and long-term career more than you realize.

In this episode of Grade 1 View, AANA President Jeff Molter, MSN, MBA, CRNA, breaks down why advocacy is essential for everyone anesthesia professional. From student loan caps and full practice authority to Medicare reimbursement ...