Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Hematoma or Hemostasis: Anticoagulants’ Influence on Anesthetic Outcomes

16 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we want to unravel the intricate relationship between anticoagulants and regional anesthesia. Join Garry and Terry as they navigate through the ...

Engaging the Late Career CRNA with Cindy Farina

11 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Examples of ageism can be found in just about any profession but is this something that CRNAs should be concerned about? This episode, with the help o...

Captain, We Have a Problem! Medical Emergencies at 30,000 Feet

04 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Imagine being woken up in the middle of a transatlantic flight by a flight attendant asking for your assistance in a medical emergency. That’s the s...

Unmasking PTSD: A Candid Conversation with Jim Reed, a Special Operations CRNA

02 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we’re excited to welcome in LTC(ret) Jim Reed, DNP, MSNA, CRNA to shed some light on diversion and substance use disorder. They beg...

The Future of Anesthesia Heading Into 2024

28 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re closing out the year with what’s becoming an annual conversation on the podcast. Today we’ve invited back NorthStar Anesthesia CEO Adam Sp...

A CRNA’s Move to State Politics After Four Decades in Healthcare

21 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes opportunities arise where you least expect them and that’s the situation Keith Denning, CRNA found himself in last year when he became a m...

From Struggle to Strength: A CRNA’s Journey Through Diversion and Recovery

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re looking forward to sharing a deep and insightful conversation with Anita Bertrand, a seasoned CRNA, about the challenging topic of nurse...

Doctoral Project Review: Non-Cognitive Needs Assessment for Nurse Anesthesia Candidates

14 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re excited to welcome DNP candidates Morgan Mahle, CRNA and Rachael Ellis, CRNA to present their doctoral project on the show, which proposes the...

Lessons Learned from a CRNA Campaign for PA State Senate

07 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We learned years ago that failing doesn’t mean you are a loser, it means you are a learner. Today’s guest unsuccessfully ran for office but that e...

From Crisis to Recovery: Anesthesia Professionals’ Journey with PTSD & SUD

05 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today, we embark on a journey into the heart of some very challenging and critical issues within the anesthesia profession. Our goal is to shed light ...

The Legacy of Florence McQuillen, the AANA’s First Executive Director

30 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our historical series continues today with a detailed look back on the life and career of Florence ‘Mack’ McQuillen, the first executive director ...

Nurturing Knowledge with Thanks

23 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

As we celebrate another Thanksgiving, we want to show our appreciation for an organization that does so much for CRNAs. Many people don’t know about...

The Block Stops Here: A Deep Dive into Neuromuscular Blockades

21 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Anesthesia Alchemy, Garry and Terry briefly discuss the history, physiology, and pharmacology of using non-depolarizing neuromuscul...

Advocacy in Nurse Anesthesiology Training with Dr. Kristie Hoch

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We pose the question to guests all the time about how to get more CRNAs involved on the advocacy side of the profession, but today’s guest is taking...

A Movement to Enhance Obstetric Anesthesia with Suzie Newell

09 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re joined by Suzie Newell, DNP, CRNA, FAANA once again, but this time we will focus on an area of anesthesia that has become outdated: obst...

The Glucagon-Like Podcast: Navigating GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Anesthesia

07 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Terry and Garry dive into the fascinating world of GLP-1 receptor agonists, those tiny molecules that can be both a blessing and a potential risk fact...

Strengthening the Future of CRNAs Through Mentorship with Richard Wilson

02 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

How do we make the next generation of CRNAs better than the previous generation? This is the question that led today’s guest, Richard Wilson, DNAP, ...

Dr. Jorge Valdés - The Trifecta of a School Nurse Dean

26 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re excited to get the opportunity to sit down with someone who holds an incredibly unique position in our industry. Jorge Valdés, DNP, CRNA, APR...

A-OK for Amniotic Fluid Embolism

24 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

An amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) remains one of the most devastating conditions in obstetric practice. In today’s episode, Sass and Jeremy review th...

First Advanced Practice Nurse in the NC Legislature Speaks Out

19 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a nurse who’s impacted her state like our guest today has done in North Carolina. Gale Adcock is serving her term i...

Influence in Anesthesia with Kevin Smith, CRNA

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we are going to discuss the uncertainties surrounding healthcare restructuring and why it’s critical for anesthesia to play an influential rol...

Crisis Management on Demand

10 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This is a super fun episode where we welcome Mark Gabot, DNP, CRNA, FAANA on the show as a cohost. Mark and Jeremy presented at the 2023 AANA Annual C...

CRNA Financial Planning: Navigating Finances in Marriage

05 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re going to turn our attention back to the financial side of our CRNA discussions and focus on the issues that can creep into a marriage wh...

What We Gain When We Sacrifice with Yana Krmic, CRNA

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Sacrifice is part of the job when you’re a nurse. We all understand that comes with the territory. But there’s an even greater level of sacrifice ...

Q&A for the CPCA

27 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We all have the current requirement to take the CPC Assessment for recertification, and many of our colleagues are asking us “How can I prepare?”....

Fighting for Inclusivity: How a CRNA Changed Her Community with Maureen McCartney Anderson

21 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Our guest today has quite the story to tell about advocacy but it’s not the same advocacy we normally discuss on the show. Maureen McCartney Anderso...

Discovering the Healing Power of Battlefield Acupuncture with Angel Jaap, CRNA

14 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) is rapidly gaining recognition for its effectiveness in alleviating acute and chronic pain, as well as anxiety. When we ...

PCN Allergy…Why Not Give Ancef?

12 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Caring for surgical patients who have an associated penicillin allergy is relatively common. Should we avoid cefazolin (Ancef) in these patients? In t...

Crafting Your Elevator Speech for Professional Confidence with Julie Gauderman, CRNA

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever been caught off guard when asked to explain who you are or what’s important to you? That's a conundrum our guest Julie Gauderman, MS, ...

Courage to Lead: 2010-11 AANA President Paul Santoro, CRNA, MS

31 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It has been more than a decade since Paul Santoro, CRNA, MS, served as the president of the AANA, but his impact on the organization can still be seen...

AANA Launches Rm8 Initiative to Support CRNAs & Healthcare Innovation

24 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this week, the AANA presented a new initiative called Rm8 to members in a business meeting with Bill Bruce. As you can imagine, there are a lo...

Video-Laryngoscopy Including Flexible Intubation (VIFI)

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever managed an airway with both a video-laryngoscope and a flexible intubating (fiberoptic) scope? Wait…what??? Yep, in this episode Jerem...

Doctoral Project Review – Peripheral Nerve Catheter Insertion

17 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we welcome in two more guests as part of our doctoral series, and we're looking forward to talking with Annie Brademeyer, CRNA and Amanda Jansse...

Perioperative Cannabis Implications for Anesthesia Providers with Dr. Daniel King

10 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The rate of cannabis use has exploded exponentially in the past 10 years and the widespread consumption demands us to be knowledgeable on the topic. D...

Demystifying Awake Intubation

08 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Awake tracheal intubation is a procedure that many of us rarely perform. In this episode, Jeremy and Sass focus on the indications for awake intubatio...

Lessons Learned in the State Legislature with Taylor Rehfeldt, CRNA, and Sydney Davis, CRNA

03 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back with another great interview from our trip to the mid-year assembly in Washington D.C. as Sharon and Tracy Castleman, DNP, CRNA, APN-A, F...

The Cartelization of Heathcare: The Alarming Statistics Behind Healthcare Profits

27 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The healthcare industry is at a crossroads financially as Americans struggle to cover medical costs and profits soar following the COVID pandemic. Th...

“Cric It While It’s Hot” - Surgical Cricothyrotomy

25 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cricothyrotomy is what’s known as a High Acuity Low Occurrence (HALO) procedure. Meaning anesthesia providers do not often perform this procedure, b...

The Incomplete CRNA Financial Plan

20 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're excited to share that Beyond The Mask has been recognized in the 18th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards. We're nominated in two prestigious ...

CRNAs and Law Enforcement: The Parallels of Managing Pain and Having Compassion

13 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We're excited to share that Beyond The Mask has been recognized in the 18th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards. We're nominated in two prestigious ...

Topical Thunder: An Awake Intubation Technique That Works

11 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Even though awake intubations are rare, this procedure is still relevant. In fact, this is an anesthesia airway management technique that continues to...

A Conversation with AANA Daniel D. Vigness FPD Award Winner Kris Rohde

06 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we bring you another wonderful conversation from our trip to the mid-year assembly in Washington D.C. Sharon and Tracy Castleman, DNP, CRNA, APN...

How Does the AANA Attract More Young Members? Let’s Ask Two Students

29 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

During our trip to the mid-year assembly recently, Sharon and Tracy Castleman, CRNA were having a conversation about declining student membership at t...

Awake Flexible Intubation: The Down & Dirty

27 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode Jeremy & Sass talk about the flexible intubation technique and some troubleshooting tips that may help you while placing an E...

Early Anesthesia: Dagmar Nelson and Nurse Anesthesia After the Trial (Part 2)

22 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In part two, we'll go on an exploration to uncover the untold chapters of Dagmar’s post trial years and witness how her victory reshaped the landsca...

Early Anesthesia: The Life and Trial of Dagmar Nelson (Part 1)

15 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Most people know about Dagmar Nelson in terms of her being involved in the only court trial ever to test the legality of nurses administering anesthes...

Managing Perioperative Crises With a Cognitive Template

13 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Jeremy and Sass review the high points of an article published in the April 2023 AANA Journal by Barry Swerdlow, MD and Lisa Osborne-...

Meet Lokum: A New Tech Company Designed to Connect CRNAs to Employers

08 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The nursing industry is filled with so many bright and talented people and today’s guest is just another example of that. Ayoade (Joy) Ademuyewo, DN...

Overcoming Physical Limitations: Brett Fadgen’s Road to Anesthesia

01 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Jeremy and Sharon were up in Hershey for the PANA Spring Symposium and hosted a live taping of the podcast with Brett Fadgen, MSN, CFRN, CRNA. If you ...

Strengthening Advocacy Efforts with the AANA’s New Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer Ingrida Lusis

25 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We had a chance to spend some time with the new AANA Deputy Chief Advocacy Officer Ingrida Lusis during our time at the mid-year assembly to learn mor...

Ep 249: Anesthesia Considerations for Cannabis

23 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cannabis has several medicinal uses and is legal in several states. More and more patients are using cannabis as a medication for anxiety, pain manage...

Ep 248: Hear from the Candidates for 2023-24 AANA Board of Directors

18 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Voting started this week for the next round of AANA Board of Directors elections, and we want to help you get to know your candidates a little better....

Ep 247: The Commission for Nurse Reimbursement with Rebecca Love

11 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The issue of reimbursement is one that we’ve covered from many different perspectives on this show but now it’s time to take the problem into our ...

Ep 246: POCUS of the Cricothyroid Membrane

09 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Emergency cricothyrotomy is a rare, but incredibly important procedure that can be lifesaving. A primary step when performing a cricothyrotomy is corr...

Ep 245: Your Bank Account Might Be Ready for Retirement, But Are You?

04 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One of the things you find out about CRNAs as they approach retirement is that their bank account might be ready for retirement but they might not be....

Ep 244: Military CRNAs – Lessons Learned & Lives Well Lived

27 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The military isn’t a career path for everyone but those that choose that life get an experience and training that can’t be found anywhere else. To...

Ep 243: A Crisis of Malignant Proportions

25 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Malignant Hyperthermia (MH) is a rare and dreaded complication specific to anesthesia. It’s a systemic hypermetabolic syndrome that can result in se...

Ep 242: The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Creating a Preferred Workplace for CRNAs

20 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re excited to dive into a topic we’ve been very curious about with a guest we’ve had the pleasure of interviewing previously. Tom Davi...

Ep 241: Top Retirement Planning Mistakes CRNAs Need to Avoid

13 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Are you a CRNA who feels lost in the complicated world of retirement planning? With many different accounts and investment options, it’s easy to mak...

Ep 240: The Anatomy of Acute Stress & Strategies to Manage It

11 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We all experience acute stress. Sometimes on a daily basis. In this episode Jeremy breaks down acute stress and talks about the anatomy and physiology...

Ep 239: What Can Be Done to Solve the Nursing Shortage?

06 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

More nurses are leaving the bedside every year and it has created a shortage nationally. If you’re listening to this podcast, you probably already k...

Ep 238: Having a Plan B – Why CRNAs Should Consider a Side Hustle

30 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The CRNA profession continues to be a strong career path that allows you to comfortably save for retirement, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t a...

Ep 237: To DNP or Not To DNP

23 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Many CRNAs are returning to school to earn their Post-Master’s Doctor of Nursing Practice but is it worth it to spend the time and money to earn ano...

Ep 236: 3 Updated Guidelines for Neuromuscular Blocking Agents

21 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Even in 2023, residual paralysis from neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) is still a problem. Recently a task force developed by the ASA released gui...

Ep 235: 2023 AANA Update with CEO, Bill Bruce

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Bill Bruce, MBA, CAE, took over as the CEO of the AANA last summer so we caught up with him to get an update on how the organization has progressed ov...

Ep 234: The State of Nursing Today with Becky Patton

09 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We focus quite a bit on specific people or issues in nursing, but it’s always great to take a few steps back and take a high-level view of the profe...

Ep 233: The Treatment for Hypovolemic Shock

07 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hypovolemic shock is the final shock state in this series of episodes that focuses on the identification, management, and differential diagnosis of di...

Ep 232: If You’re Not At The Table, You’re On The Menu with Wisconsin Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez

02 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Every year it seems like more and more nurses are taking an active interest in politics, both local and regional, and today’s guest is someone who’...

Ep 231: How to Care for People with a Substance Use Disorder

23 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly all of us have been in a situation where we’ve noticed something off or not right about someone we work with or someone we know but we didn’...

Ep 230: The Best Options for Push-Dose Vasopressors

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not uncommon to use push-dose vasopressors for blood pressure management in anesthesia practice. Maybe even more so now than in the past. Jerem...

Ep 229: $80 Billion Going to the IRS: What Does it Mean for CRNAs?

16 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Last year, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, and one of the items that received many of the headlines was the $80 billion a...

Ep 228: Betty Lank’s Role in Boston Children’s Hospital

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The 20th century was filled with advancements in nursing and anesthesia with much of the innovation coming in the world of pediatrics. One of the wom...

Ep 227: Crisis Checklist for Cardiogenic Shock

07 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

You’re quietly sitting behind the drape and all of a sudden you see significant dysrhythmias on the ECG during an operation. Now what? In this episo...

Ep 226: The Need for More State Nurse Legislators

02 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We talk all the time about the lack of nurse representation in policy-making positions, but that doesn’t make the data any less surprising. Today we...

Ep 225: An Inside Look at Lobbying for Your State Association

26 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

During our visit to the NCANA meeting last fall, we had the opportunity to host a live podcast about lobbying for your state association and we had th...

Ep 224: ASA 2022 Difficult Airway Algorithm Update

24 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The latest update to the ASA Difficult Airway Algorithm has a number of key changes that Jeremy and Sass will take you through in this episode of the ...

Ep 223: Starting Your Own Aesthetic Injectables Practice

19 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Necessity is the mother of invention and today’s guest is a living example of that. Suzanne Jagger, DNP, CRNA, APRN, was on vacation in Fiji when sh...

Ep 222: The Experience of a WWII Nurse Anesthetist & the Lessons Learned

12 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you look back over the history of nurse anesthesia, the most forgotten group of nurses might have been those that served the country during World...

Ep 221: Name That Shock State

10 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Before a CRNA ever gets to the operating room to perform anesthesia, they need to be thoroughly prepared for what they might face. Having checklists t...

Ep 220: Financial Therapy for CRNAs

05 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

CRNAs face stressful situations every day but that doesn’t always prepare them to deal with the obstacles that life can throw your way, especially w...

Ep 219: The Future of Healthcare & Anesthesia with Scott Becker

29 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we put the finishing touches on another year, we didn’t want to use this time looking backward. Instead, we want to zoom out and get a better ide...

Ep 218: Respiratory Q&A Test Prep

27 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’re shifting gears a bit in this episode by focusing on the examination side of anesthesia and hosting our first ever Q&A episode. Since ...

Ep 217: Doctoral Project Review – Optimizing Transition from SRNA to CRNA

22 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we bring on our first DNAP candidate, Gerald Murphy, MS, CRNA, APRN, to share his Doctoral Scholarly Project and use this platform as the diss...

Ep 216: Identifying & Treating Imposter Phenomenon as a CRNA

15 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s not something people openly talk about but feeling like you’re professionally inadequate happens to a lot of people. This is known as imposte...

Ep 215: Anesthesia Management for Septic Shock

13 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today Jeremy and Sass talk about the third type of distributive shock, septic shock. They review the need-to-know info for this shock state based on...

Ep 214: Where is VA CRNA Practice Headed?

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The VA CRNA practice has been a topic of importance for a while because the VA hospital is the largest healthcare system in the country and currently ...

Ep 213: Moral Injury and Nurse Anesthesia

01 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With the increased distress and rationing of care that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic, the topic of Moral Injury (MI) has started to garner much m...

Ep 212: Thankful for the AANA and Its Ongoing Efforts for CRNAs

24 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It hasn’t been the easiest year for a lot of people, but we know there’s still plenty to be grateful for as we approach another Thanksgiving. Spec...

Ep 211: Anesthesia Management for a Pheochromocytoma

22 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CRNAs and SRNAs/RRNAs have asked us to give them the essential information needed to manage different OR cases. Episodes they can listen to while on t...

Ep 210: The Dangers of Button Batteries & the Immediate Care Required

17 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When Sharon visited the NCANA meeting in Wilmington, she sat through a lecture full of people with children and grandchildren that were panicked lis...

Ep 209: Tips for Getting the Right CRNA Job with Lt. Col. (ret) Tom Davis

10 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

CRNAs continue to be in high demand so finding a job isn’t always the challenge, but how do you go about identifying and landing the right job? Thom...

Ep 208: Crisis Checklist for Neurogenic Shock

08 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we’re going to continue discussing our crisis checklists and the ones that relate to distributive shock specifically. Let’s talk ...

Ep 207: Normalization of Deviance and Production Pressure for CRNAs

03 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When you look at how critical mistakes happen in the workplace, the normalization of deviance is often the culprit. You can find examples of this in a...

Ep 206: From the OR to the C-Suite with Randy Moore

27 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Randy Moore, DNP, MBA, CRNA, left his role as the AANA CEO about a year ago to take over as Chief Anesthetist Officer at NorthStar Anesthesia. It was ...

Ep 205: Case Management for Thyroidectomy

25 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we continue our case series on these clinical episodes, we’re going to start out by talking about surgical procedures and pathology related to th...

Ep 204: CRNA Strong – Inspirational Stories from Four CRNAs

20 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our profession is filled with incredible individuals who are resourceful and know how to make the most out of whatever comes their way in the operatin...

Ep 203: The Future of Anesthesia with NorthStar CEO & CAO

13 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s been a huge strain put on the anesthesia business in recent years due to the way that hospitals and surgeries have changed, and there’s so...

Ep 202: Case Management and Crisis Management – Anaphylactic Shock State (Part 1)

11 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we begin our new clinical episodes of Beyond the Mask, we’re kicking things off with a case management and crisis management series on the differ...

Ep 201: Why Member Engagement from Everyday CRNAs Is Vital to the Health of the AANA

06 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Every member of the AANA is taking an active approach by paying dues and being a part of the organization, but the success of the AANA relies on parti...

Ep 200: Exploring the Power of Nursing and Its Future Impact on Healthcare

29 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we celebrate the release of our 200th episode, it seemed fitting to shine the spotlight on the profession as a whole and the people who devote the...