Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Ep 199: Olive Berger, CRNA – Founding Member of the AANA

22 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The early years of anesthesia were a time when nurses proved just how valuable they were as this new world was being explored. Olive Berger, CRNA was ...

BONUS: We Have an Exciting Show Announcement to Make

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve been waiting for a little while to let the cat out of the bag but it’s finally time to make an exciting announcement about the future of the...

Ep 198: An Upcoming Opportunity for All Doctoral Students

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Earlier this year we spoke to Marianne Cosgrove, CRNA, DNAP, APRN, PhD, on the podcast and she emailed us later about a student that would like to com...

Ep 197: Healthcare Provider Wellness and Self-Care

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If COVID taught us anything, it’s that it’s just as important for healthcare workers to take care of their own health as it is to take care of oth...

Ep 196: Trying to Solve the Healthcare Credentialing Problem

01 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Any CRNA who’s gone through the credentialing process knows how inefficient and frustrating it can be. There’s got to be a better way right? Andi ...

Ep 195: Meet the New AANA CEO, Bill Bruce

25 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The AANA introduced its new CEO earlier this summer and Bill Bruce, MBA, CAE has already hit the ground running. So what does a non-CRNA bring to the ...

Ep 194: Norwegian Anesthetist’s Story of Saving a Drowning Infant

18 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time, but even more than that, it’s about taking action to help a fellow human when the...

Ep 193: A Nurse for Sheriff? History Could Be Made

11 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nurses are uniquely qualified for the responsibilities that come with holding a public office, which is why we’re seeing more and more campaigning. ...

Ep 192: Effective Federal Advocacy Starts at Home

04 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The great thing about being an advocate for nurse anesthetists is that anyone can have an impact no matter where they live. Many federal legislators s...

Ep 191: Decreasing Healthcare Disparity Through Improved Diversity

28 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve probably already noticed that most of our colleagues in nurse anesthesia look pretty similar. Through innovation and educational pipelines, t...

Ep 190: Using Neuroscience for Daily Direction and Coping Mechanisms

21 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Each of us faces our own battles every day, some of which are much more difficult than others. No matter what mental health challenges you’re dealin...

Ep 189: Catherine Lawrence, First Nurse to Administer Anesthesia

14 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this look back through the history of nurse anesthesia, we’ll tell you the story of Catherine Lawrence. This Civil War nurse became the first to ...

Ep 188: How Innovation is Changing Nursing

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The nursing profession has always been the backbone of the healthcare system but it’s time to start thinking bigger. The talent and determination fo...

Ep 187: Panel on Incivility and Bullying with the Nebraska State Association

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jeremy and Sharon took part in a panel discussion on incivility and bullying within the CRNA workplace and educational system. Speaking alongside memb...

Ep 186: Empowered Women Empower Women

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

None of us get to where we are without the help and guidance of other people. We rely on mentorship from our peers to lift us up and empower us to acc...

Ep 185: 9 Tax Saving Strategies for CRNAs with an S Corporation

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With more and more CRNAs shifting to 1099, it’s time to start thinking about how to best position yourself from a tax standpoint as your finances ch...

Ep 184: CRNA Manpower – Trends from the Past Decade & a Look Into the Future (Part 2)

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we’re continuing the conversation with Nancy Bruton-Maree, CRNA, and Sandy Ouellette, CRNA, on the history of CRNAs in the workforce. In part ...

Ep 183: CRNA Manpower – The History of Shortages and the Studies That Followed (Part 1)

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Over the past five decades, quite a bit of attention has been paid to the challenges facing the CRNA workforce, especially when numbers dropped signif...

Ep 182: The Push for Full Practice Authority for VA CRNAs

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

More than 1,000 CRNAs work with the Veterans Health Administration and they can’t operate with full practice authority like their counterparts servi...

Ep 181: The CRNA Coroner – Another Avenue to Serve

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As more and more CRNAs are trying to find their place in the political setting, Jennifer Banek, CRNA found her own path to serving. In 2020, Banek was...

Ep 180: Lobbying for CRNAs – How to Influence State Legislatures and Agencies

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you want an eye-opening perspective on lobbying and what it takes to influence lawmakers, this will be an episode you don’t want to miss. Bob Guy...

Ep 179: Ukranian Born to New York State President – Meet Yana Krmic, CRNA

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Few people in our profession represent what it means to be a CRNA more than Yana Krmic, MSN, CRNA, APRN. Born in Ukraine and raised in Siberia before ...

Ep 178: How Cochrane Collaborates to Promote Evidence-Based Decision Making

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The healthcare industry has always depended on collaboration to advance medicine and improve care for patients. Much of that collaboration comes in th...

Ep 177: The Path to Full Practice Authority in the Air Force

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The fight to give CRNAs full practice authority continues in states across the country but there have been some important victories along the way. All...

Ep 176: Meet Candidates in the 2022 AANA Elections

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The AANA Elections to appoint 2022-2023 board and elected committees will open on April 19 and members will have two weeks to cast their votes. We had...

Ep 175: Why More Nurses Need to Be Elected to Congress

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As we approach another round of midterm elections, we wanted to introduce you to one of the few nurses around the country that hopes to represent her ...

Ep 174: Anesthesia Practice Considerations When Dealing with a Methamphetamine Patient

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With the rise in methamphetamine use across the country, CRNAs need to be prepared to provide anesthesia to a substance use disorder patient. Jenny Kr...

Ep 173: When Guessing Goes Wrong for CRNAs in Retirement

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When planning for retirement, many CRNAs end up guessing at some of the most important questions. You’d never enter an operating room unprepared so ...

Ep 172: Remembering the True Leadership of Patrick Downey

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In November of 2021, the AANA lost a great man in Patrick Downey. This former president and patriarch of the Diamond Club served as a CRNA for more th...

Ep 171: Health and Wellness for the CRNA

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Long hours and high stress is typically a recipe for poor health, which is why it’s always good to get a reminder to put ourselves and our bodies fi...

Ep 170: The History of TEFRA and How It Changed Anesthesia

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Forty years have passed since the Tax, Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) became law and this piece of federal legislation changed the way p...

Ep 169: CRNA Advocacy in Pennsylvania and the Lessons Learned

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today we want to shine the advocacy spotlight on the work being done by CRNAs in Pennsylvania, who have helped drive some significant changes in their...

Ep 168: A Free App Created to Improve Anesthesia

17 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Time is of the essence in the operating room, and it’s important that you’re able to track down the information you need as quickly as possible. T...

Ep 167: In Search of the First Anesthetists

10 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The history of the nurse anesthesia profession is a bit murky as records weren’t kept well through the years as medicine and healthcare progressed, ...

Ep 166: How Elevated Ambient Noise in the OR Impacts Health & Safety

03 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s something outside people might never think about but ambient noise can have a direct impact on the health of CRNAs and the safety of the patien...

Ep 165: Incivility and Bullying by Healthcare Providers in the Clinical Setting

27 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Incivility and bullying can be found in all types of environments in our society and that’s unfortunately true with the academic and clinical settin...

Ep 164: CRNA Entrepreneurship in Aesthetics and Wellness

20 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you’ve ever considered being your own boss and building a business that can supplement or replace your CRNA income, there are paths out there tha...

Ep 163: How to Negotiate & Review CRNA Contracts

13 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Talking about money isn’t an easy thing for most people to do. That’s why conversations around CRNA contracts can get uncomfortable and eventually...

Ep 162: A Lifetime of Advocacy & Volunteerism with Linda Moore, CRNA, BS

06 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Being a CRNA means caring for and about people and you won’t find many people that are better examples of that than Linda Moore, CRNA, BS. The forme...

Ep 161: 22 Life & Money Resolutions for 2022

30 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As we prepare to turn the page to the new year, it’s time to start thinking about our goals and laying out the resolutions we want to achieve in 202...

Ep 160: Remembering Helen Vos, The Mother of Continuing Education

21 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our historical series wouldn’t be complete without an episode dedicated to the life and accomplishments of former AANA president Helen P Vos. What b...

Ep 159: Tracking Surgeon Quality to Improve Cost & Care for Patients

16 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Patients trust that their healthcare providers are sending them to the best surgeon possible when the need arrives, but that’s not always the case. ...

Ep 158: How to Protect Your License from Litigation

09 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Although you never go into a patient’s room with the expectation that anything will go wrong, sometimes it does. It’s important for nurses to be p...

Ep 157: Why Having Nurse Anesthesia Academic Leadership Matters

02 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve stressed the importance of having CRNAs in clinical leadership positions as well as local government positions, but it’s equally valuable to...

Ep 156: How the Economics of Healthcare Could Change Anesthesia

23 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Money drives many of the decisions industries have to make and healthcare is no exception. As things become more expensive and less efficient, people ...

Ep 155: Proving the Quality and Cost Efficiency of CRNAs

18 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Research is crucial to pushing the CRNA profession forward and that’s something that the AANA Foundation has dedicated its efforts to. To help us un...

Ep 154: Anne Penland’s Story - Nursing on the Frontlines of World War I and Early 20th Century Medicine

11 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You won’t find Anne Penland’s name mentioned very often in the early history books about nursing, but this North Carolina nurse anesthetist served...

Ep 153: The Business Side of Anesthesia

04 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s no doubt that anesthesia is a big business but not every CRNA pays attention to that side of the profession. It might not be something you’...

Ep 152: The Growth of Computerized Surgical Implants

28 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Technology has been changing the healthcare industry for many years now but we’ve reached a point where computers have gone from outside the body to...

Ep 151: Tips & Techniques for Maintaining Strong Relationships During the Pandemic

21 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Long-term relationships, whether they be personal or professional, have been under tremendous stress since the start of the pandemic. The same dynamic...

Ep 150: Expanding Role of CRNAs in Disaster Response

14 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

With the resources and skills that CRNAs possess, they are trained to succeed in crisis situations, which is why more and more of our peers are assist...

Ep 149: Quality of Care Studies in Anesthesia – Fact vs Myth

07 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For the past 50+ years, numerous quality of care studies have been published that evaluated outcomes based on the anesthesia provider. These studies h...

Ep 148: Mental Health Awareness for Healthcare Workers and Trainees

30 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The rate of mental health illness has already been on the rise among young adults and these past two years have added even more stress to our lives. W...

Ep 147: APRN Regulation and Independent Practice with Ronald Castaldo, PhD, MBA, MS, CRNA, APRN

23 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

One positive that’s emerged from the pandemic is the reality that nurses are extremely good at their job and can thrive in an independent setting. T...

Ep 146: Leading Up – How CRNAs Can Lead Without Being in Charge

16 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Being a great leader doesn’t require a person to be in a position of power. Every CRNA has the opportunity to make a difference each day by leading ...

Ep 145: Why Regulatory Reform Strengthens the CRNA Profession

09 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You might have noticed a surge in articles and stories about the nurse anesthesia profession in recent days and weeks, and that’s because of the pus...

Ep 144: Cultural Humility in the Nurse Anesthesia Profession

02 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The issue of diversity isn’t one that’s limited to certain areas of the country or specific professions. It’s a problem that people everywhere a...

Ep 143: A Complete Look Into the AANA Doctoral Task Force with Sandy Ouellette, CRNA

26 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Back in 2006, the AANA Board of Directors appointed a Doctoral Task Force to explore the future direction in nurse anesthesia education. Sandy Ouellet...

Ep 142: Promoting CRNAs & Anesthesia Through Social Media

19 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

As CRNAs continue to push for more awareness and understanding of the profession, social media has emerged as one of the great tools for accomplishing...

Ep 141: 5 Things CRNAs Must Know About Decumulation to Retire Successfully

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to saving and investing during your working career, CRNAs can find plenty of help and resources to get them to retirement. Unfortunately...

Ep 140: Free Open Access MEDucation: Leveraging Social Media & Podcasting for Learning

05 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The beauty of technology is that information is accessible to anyone, anywhere, and the ability to learn is right there at our fingertips. Thanks to F...

Ep 139: Nursing, Politics, and the Future of Our Country with Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN

29 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Many issues are facing our country right now and nurses will play a key role in helping communities move forward. As the most trusted profession, nurs...

Ep 138: The Highs & Lows of Sharon’s Journey to a DNP

22 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Before we share anything, please note that this is an emotional episode. Not only was the journey to a DNP a long and arduous one for Sharon with plen...

Ep 137: Balancing Motherhood with a CRNA Career with the Smart Mamas (Re-release)

15 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On this episode, we’re going back to a previous conversation with the three women behind the Scrub Caps & Sippy Cups podcast. This trio does great w...

Ep 136: APEX Live Anesthesia Helping CRNAs Prepare for CPC Assessment

08 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Testing is never a relaxing experience and that’s why the upcoming CPC Assessment has created some anxiety for CRNAs. Thankfully, the duo behind APE...

Ep 135: Closed Claims Involving CRNAs and SRNAs

01 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

No matter how closely you follow standard of care, mistakes can be made in the operating room. CRNAs often get named in claims, even if they did every...

Ep 134: The State of the US Housing Market: Crash or Opportunity?

24 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Home values continue to rise all across the country and it has many people thinking back to the crash of 2008. Are there parallels or is this time dif...

Ep 133: How Geographic Information Systems Are Being Used to Identify Veteran Suicide Risk

17 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The rate of suicides among our veteran population continues to rise and the number is probably higher than most people realize. The good news is peopl...

Ep 132: The Silent Epidemic in Healthcare – Second Victim Phenomenon

10 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a relatively new concept in the healthcare industry that many of its professionals are facing and might not even realize it. The ‘Second V...

Ep 131: PTSD and Suicide Prevention for CRNAs and SRNAs

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A significant number of people in our country are dealing with the effects of PTSD and it often goes overlooked or ignored. With the amount of added p...

Ep 130: Generational Challenges and Opportunities in SRNA Education

27 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Generational differences can often be the source of disagreements and misunderstandings. It happens in every profession and nurse anesthesia is no dif...

Ep 129: Given 6 Months to Live: Healthcare Policy from the Patient’s Perspective

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You won’t find many people on this planet that have a story to tell like Nick Zerwas. Born with congenital heart defect, Zerwas has been given six m...

Ep 128: How CRNAs Can Protect Their Greatest Asset: Yourself

13 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s easy to assume that your employer insurance coverage will protect you during a catastrophic event, but that’s not necessarily the case. To tr...

Ep 127: A CRNA’s Experience Being Deployed to Afghanistan

06 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Most people buy an expensive car or go on an outlandish spending spree when they’re in their late-40s, but Michael Rieker, CRNA, DNP, FAAN, isn’t ...

Ep 126: Gertrude Fife’s Lasting Impact on Education and the AANA

29 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Agatha Hodgins earned notoriety as the founder of the AANA but a person right behind her often gets overlooked. That’s Gertrude Fife, the second pre...

Ep 125: What Retirement Lifestyle Will You Choose?

22 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Once you decide to step away from your CRNA career, have you thought about how you want to spend retirement? As you get closer to that next chapter, i...

Ep 124: AANA Foundation Leading CRNAs Into the Future

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Advocacy is the driving force behind elevating our profession and continuing to push nurse anesthetists and CRNAs forward. One of the key people advoc...

Ep 123: Remembering Steve Mund with a Past Conversation

08 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The AANA and CRNA community suffered a great loss in March with the passing of Steve Mund, DNP, CRNA, CENP, FACHE. To help remember him and his legacy...

Ep 122: How Goldie Brangman, CRNA, Broke Barriers Throughout Her Life

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Goldie Brangman, CRNA, might be known best for becoming the AANA’s first African-American president, but there’s so much more to know about her li...

Ep 121: Begin Your Path to a CRNA Non-Surgical Pain Management Practice

25 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a growing need for pain management solutions in our country and it could be the next great opportunity for CRNAs. Cheryl Schosky, DNAP, MSN,...

Ep 120: The Secret Middle East Mission CRNAs Took Part In

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

It’s like a story right out of a Hollywood blockbuster. One that involves predawn flights, heavy military ammunitions, and a Crown Prince from the U...

Ep 119: Advocating for CRNAs Using YouTube and Social Media with Jason Bolt, CRNA

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

You might know him as Bolt CRNA on social media. This new-age advocate for the profession has built a strong following through YouTube, Facebook, Inst...

Ep 118: A CRNA’s Light In the Darkness featuring Steve James, CRNA

04 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The loss of a child can be the greatest weight a parent can carry through life, but Steve James, CRNA, and his wife turned a tragedy into a world-chan...

Ep 117: A Hand Up! How Dr. Lena Gould, EdD, CRNA, FAAN is Improving Diversity in Nurse Anesthesia

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you look at areas of the nurse anesthesia profession that need improvement, diversity would be near the top of that list. Thanks to Dr. Lena Goul...

Ep 116: Importance of Mentoring in CRNA Leadership Development

18 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For more than 20 years, the AANA Mentorship Program has played an integral role in the development of young CRNAs thanks to both the mentors and mente...

Ep 115: Summit Your Everest – A CRNA’s Story of Peaks, Valleys, and World Records

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re in the need for inspiration, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better story than the one that Jeanne Stawiecki, CRNA, will tell on this e...

Ep 114: Crucibles of Leadership – Overcoming Fear, Doubt, and Uncertainty to Find Your Voice with AANA CEO Dr. Randall Moore

04 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Being the lead of an organization like the AANA takes a special set of leadership skills, but reaching that point doesn’t come without obstacles lik...

Ep 113: Life in a 50-50 World - What Financial Impact Will It Have on CRNAs?

28 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After watching another historic Inauguration Day, we can’t help but notice that the country has mixed feelings about where we’re headed. You can s...

Ep 112: Courage to Lead – Two-Term AANA President Peggy McFadden, CRNA, BS

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The next installment of our Presidential Leadership Series features Peggy McFadden, CRNA, BS, who actually served two terms as the AANA president. Joi...

Ep 111: Finally! Two South Dakota CRNAs Elected to State Legislatures

14 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

While there’s plenty we want to forget about 2020, there was also a bit of history we want to spotlight. Sydney Davis, CRNA, and Taylor Rehfeldt, CR...

Ep 110: A Conversation with Powerful Women

07 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In recent years, we’ve watched women rise to levels of power previously never seen. While it’s been an amazing evolution to watch, there’s still...

Ep 109: Goodbye 2020 – How to Financially Prepare for 2021 and Beyond

31 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve finally reached the end of 2020 and everyone is looking forward to turning the page to a new year. These past ten months have been a financial...

Ep 108: Honoring the Legacy of John Garde, CRNA, MS, FAAN

24 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When you think back on the history of the AANA, few people left a legacy like John Garde, CRNA, MS, FAAN. A former President, Education Director, and ...

Ep 107: Mrs. Georgia American Using Her Platform for CRNA Awareness and Support for Healthcare Workers

17 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

None of us will soon forget this year, but 2020 has been especially life-changing for Christen Roberts, CRNA. Over the past year she’s created Bambu...

Ep 106: The Impact of COVID 19 on Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs with Erin Martin, CRNA, DNP

10 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The wide-ranging effects of COVID on the healthcare system have been well-documented, but what impact is this pandemic having on nurse anesthesia stud...

Ep 105: Nursing, Policy and Politics with Minnesota State Senator Erin Murphy, RN

03 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As we’ve learned in 2020, having more nurses in leadership and decision-making positions would benefit the entire country greatly. One nurse that’...

Ep 104: How Ira Gunn Shaped Nurse Anesthesia Through Service, Education & Advocacy

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Few people had an impact on nursing and the nurse anesthesia profession like Ira P. Gunn, CRNA, MLN, FAAN. Widely regarded as a visionary in the profe...

Ep 103: Courage to Lead – 2018-19 AANA President Garry Brydges, PhD, DNP, MBA, CRNA, ACNP-BC, FAAN

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We don’t have to go very far back to find the guest on the latest installment in our Presidential Leadership Series. Garry Brydges PhD, DNP, MBA, CR...

Ep 102: What Does Gen X, Y, and Me Believe is the Future of Nurse Anesthesia Profession?

12 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

While the CRNA profession continues to remain steady and strong, we’re at a critical point in time if things are going to stay that way. What can be...

Ep 101: How Ketamine Infusion Therapy is Treating Mental Health

05 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The dynamic field of psychotropic medication has seen groundbreaking results with the introduction of dissociative therapies. This episode hopes to sh...