Shows / Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
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…
Episodes
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
How Norwegian Nurse Anesthetists Became Advanced Practice Leaders
One of the most valuable parts of IFNA is learning how providers around the world approach the same mission, delivering safe, high-quality anesthesia care to…
Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAsVaping and Anesthesia: The Risks You Can’t Ignore
realize. From airway reactivity and wound-healing concerns to unknown additives and changing drug trends, clinicians may be dealing with far more than…
Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAsGrade 1 View – S2, E22 – Preparing for Pediatric & Cardiac Anesthesia Rotations
In this episode of Grade 1 View, hosts Kelsey and Levi welcome Chrissy Massaro, CRNA, MSN and Kate Freedman, CRNA, MSN from Confident Care Academy to talk…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
What Makes a Great CRNA Preceptor?
Clinical preceptors do far more than supervise students in the operating room. They help learners connect classroom knowledge to real patient care, develop…
Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAsAirway Exchange – Ep 29 – One Year Into CRNA Academia: Was It Worth It?
Moving from clinical anesthesia to the classroom sounds like a natural next step. But what happens when the workload becomes so overwhelming that you consider…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Incorporating POCUS and Regional Anesthesia into Clinical Practice
Ultrasound has changed the way anesthesia providers assess patients, perform regional techniques, and make decisions at the bedside. But for CRNAs who trained…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
How to Use AI Without Losing Clinical Judgment
AI is already changing healthcare, but that does not mean every answer it gives should be trusted. For CRNAs, the challenge is learning how to use these tools…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E21 – The Military CRNA Path: Autonomy, Leadership & Service
In this episode recorded at AANA Congress in Boston, Levi and Mackenzie explore the military CRNA careers of Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, and…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
“We’ve Always Done It This Way” - Breaking Clinical Habits in Deep Sedation
Experienced clinicians often develop techniques that work and that can make change difficult. But “we’ve always done it this way” can also keep better tools…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep 28 – Making Time for Scholarship in Nurse Anesthesia
Scholarship can feel like one more impossible responsibility for busy nurse anesthesia educators, but it often begins with something much simpler: a question…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
A Day in the Life of a Nurse Anesthetist in Spain
What does the nurse anesthesia profession look like outside the United States? At the IFNA Congress in Australia, Sharon and guest co-host Kevin Chem sit down…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Welcome to Beyond the Ether – The Future of Anesthesia Starts Here
Beyond the Ether is the new clinical series from Beyond the Mask, bringing together four experienced CRNAs to talk about the science, judgment, technology, and…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E20 – How NARA is Building Community for Future CRNAs
Nurse anesthesia school can be demanding, isolating, and humbling, but it does not have to be experienced alone. The Nurse Anesthesiology Resident Association…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
AANA President Tracy Young on the Year Ahead
One of our traditions at Beyond the Mask is sitting down with the new AANA President to talk about the year ahead, their vision for…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep 27 – Preparing Students for the Emotional Impact of Perioperative Loss
Significant perioperative loss can affect CRNAs deeply, even when there was no error and nothing could have been done differently. Yet many clinicians are…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
The Digital Didactic: Reimagining How We Teach Anesthesia with Richard Wilson
What happens when nurse anesthesia education moves beyond the traditional classroom? Recorded at the AANA Annual Congress in Boston, Sharon and guest co-host…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E19 – CRNA Leadership, Advocacy & Entrepreneurship with AANA President Tracy Young
A career in nurse anesthesia does not have to follow one path. For Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA, it certainly did not. His career has included clinical…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
What Nurse Anesthesia Looks Like in Finland
What does nurse anesthesia practice look like in Finland? That question is at the center of this episode of Beyond the Mask, recorded at the International…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep 26 - How to Build Better CRNA Simulation Training
Think great simulation training requires a massive budget and a high-fidelity mannequin? Jennifer McLeod, DNAP, APRN, CRNA, would disagree. In this episode of…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Inside AANA's New Strategy With CEO Bill Bruce
What does the future of the AANA and the CRNA profession look like? Recorded live at the 2026 AANA Annual Congress in Boston, Sharon and Jeremy sit down with…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E18 – AANA Annual Congress from the Resident Perspective
What is the AANA Annual Congress actually like for student and resident attendees? The Grade 1 View team takes listeners inside the 2026 meeting in Boston to…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Closing the Airway Gap in Deep Sedation
Deep sedation often leaves anesthesia providers working in the space between simple oxygen delivery and a fully advanced airway. That gap can mean poor…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep. 25 – What Makes a Great CRNA Applicant?
What separates a strong nurse anesthesia applicant from someone who simply looks impressive on paper? In this episode of Airway Exchange, Erin and Louisa sit…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Inside the World of Hyperbaric Medicine & the Intersection with Anesthesia
Recorded live from the IFNA World Congress in Australia, Sharon and special co-host Kevin Chem sat down with Associate Professor Susannah Sherlock to offer a…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E17 – Lessons From a Lifetime in Nurse Anesthesia with Sharon Pearce
Sharon Pearce, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN has spent decades practicing, advocating, leading, mentoring, and telling the stories of nurse anesthesia. But behind the…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
From CRNA to Shark Tank Entrepreneur
Mike O’Dell, CRNA never planned on becoming a quilting entrepreneur, but a love of art, a willingness to experiment, and a push from the right mentor changed…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep. 24 – Training Future CRNA Educators
Many nurse anesthesia students enter their programs with an interest in teaching, but that interest can fade without formal guidance or hands-on opportunities…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Why Onco-Anesthesia Still Has Big Questions
Adam Flowe, MSN, CRNA returns to Beyond the Mask for a follow-up conversation on onco-anesthesia, cancer research, and the rapidly changing tools that may…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E16 – Opportunities for Future CRNAs at AANA Annual Congress
One of the biggest events in our profession is coming up in a few weeks, and the AANA Annual Congress in Boston will provide countless opportunities for RNs…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Unlocking Opportunities for CRNAs Beyond Clinical Practice with Aurnova CEO Linda Caccamo
In this episode, Sharon and Jeremy welcome President and CEO of Aurnova University Linda Caccamo, CRNA, DNP, MS, MBA, MHA, to discuss why advanced business…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep 23 - Incivility in Clinical Education: Creating Better Learning Environments for Future CRNAs
How much does the clinical learning environment shape the future of nurse anesthesia? In this episode of Airway Exchange, Greg and Erin welcome Richard Wilson…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
The Global Registry That Could Transform Anesthesia Care
Recorded live from the IFNA World Congress in Australia, Sharon and special co-host Kevin Chem welcome Richard Henker, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN, whose work with…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E15 – Surviving Clinicals: Lessons from Future CRNAs
Every nurse anesthesia student loses sleep over clinicals, wondering whether they’re prepared enough to keep up. The truth? Everyone struggles in the…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
The Three Legal Battles That Shaped the CRNA Profession
In this episode of Beyond the Mask, former AANA presidents Sandy Ouellette, CRNA and Dick Ouellette, CRNA join Sharon and Jeremy explore the only three amicus…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep. 22 – Improving Anesthesia Education Through Item Analysis
Item analysis can sound intimidating, especially for educators who were trained as clinicians first and teachers second. But when used well, it can become one…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
5 Things Every CRNA Should Consider Selling Before Retirement
Retirement for CRNAs is much more than just reaching a savings goal. It's about deciding what kind of life you want to live, and that often means asking…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E14 - Beyond the Salary: Finding Your First CRNA Position
Graduation is in sight, boards are on the horizon, and one of the biggest decisions of your career is quickly approaching: choosing your first CRNA job. With…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
When Systems Fail: The Fungal Meningitis Outbreak in Mexico
Recorded live from the IFNA World Congress in Australia, we sat down with physician and Dr. Jonathan Chejfec of the Mexican Federation of Colleges of…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep. 21 - The Science Behind Fair Testing with Dr. Yasmine Campbell
In this episode of Airway Exchange, Erin and Greg sit down with Yasmine Campbell, DNP, CRNA, APRN, CNE, CHSE, FAANA, a clinical associate professor at Florida…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
AANA Hackathon: Innovation Isn’t Just for Tech Companies
Healthcare innovation is often associated with software developers, startup founders, and technology companies. But what if some of the most important…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E13 – Navigating Malpractice Insurance: A Must for Future 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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Stories That Can Heal with Rosa Hart
Nurses are consistently ranked as the most trusted profession in America. So why aren't more nurses helping shape the conversations that influence healthcare…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep. 20 – Teaching Resilience in Nurse Anesthesia
CRNA education has never been more demanding. As nurse anesthesia programs have evolved into rigorous 36-month doctoral programs, educators are seeing…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
The Power of Storytelling in Healthcare with Mary Ellen Miller
Every healthcare professional carries a story. Some are inspiring. Some are heartbreaking. Some quietly shape who we become as clinicians, educators, leaders…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E12 - Building Community, Belonging, and Pride in Nurse Anesthesiology
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Life as an Anesthesia Director in Rural Alaska with Dr. April Erickson
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep 19 - CRNA Admissions: A New Approach to Candidate Assessment
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Florence Boswell: The Forgotten CRNA Pioneer Who Took to the Skies
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E11 – The Truth About Your First Year as a CRNA
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
What We Learned at the IFNA Congress in Australia
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep 18 - The Next Era of CRNA Education with Dr. Hallie Evans
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Why CRNAs Are Leading OB Care (And No One’s Talking About It)
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…
Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAsInside the Heat: A Complete Anesthetic Deep Dive into HIPEC
Cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) represents one of the most complex and physiologically demanding procedures…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E10 – Advocacy, Education & the Transition to Becoming a CRNA
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Meet the AANA Board of Directors Candidates for 2026-2027
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Airway Exchange – Ep 17 – Advocacy & Mentorship Insights from Future CRNAs at Mid-Year Assembly
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
The Device That Could Change Airway Management Forever
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Kratom in the OR – The Hidden Herbal Challenge
The perioperative environment is increasingly shaped by factors that extend beyond traditional pharmacology, requiring anesthesia providers to stay alert to…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Grade 1 View – S2, E9 – Why CRNA Advocacy Matters More Than You Think
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…
- Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs
Can Cosmetic Procedures Complicate Anesthesia?
Aesthetic treatments like Botox and dermal fillers are more common than ever, but they may be creating hidden risks in the operating room. While these…