Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Nurses spend their careers advocating for patients. But what happens when they take that advocacy beyond the bedside and into the halls of government?
Recorded live at the Texas Association of Nurse Anesthesiology State Meeting, Sharon and Jeremy welcome two nurses who have made politics and public service part of their professional journeys: Texas State Representative Donna Howard and Holly Jeffreys, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC, CRHCP, a rural healthcare leader and candidate for the Texas House.
Coming from different political parties but sharing a nursing background, Donna and Holly offer a revealing look at how healthcare policy actually gets made, why relationships matter more than political talking points, and what it takes to make meaningful change.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🏛️ Nurses belong in policymaking because bedside experience reveals problems lawmakers may overlook.
🤝 Relationships drive legislation, and bipartisan cooperation is essential for meaningful change.
🩺 Scope-of-practice restrictions and workforce shortages continue to challenge Texas healthcare.
📣 CRNAs can influence policy by building relationships with legislators before issues reach a vote.
🗳️ Political involvement takes persistence, but nurses don't need to hold office to make a difference.
 
Learn more about Rep. Donna Howard: https://house.texas.gov/members/3310/biography
Learn more about Holly Jeffreys: https://www.hollyjeffreysfortexas.com/
Donate to Our Hears Your Hands: https://www.ourheartsyourhands.org/donate
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

What would nurse anesthesia students tell their educators if they could speak completely openly? In this special Airway Exchange crossover with Grade 1 View, nurse anesthesia residents Kelsey Muir and Nicolas Alexander join us for an honest, sometimes uncomfortable, and often humorous conversation about the realities of nurse anesthesia education.
This episode will provide a candid look at the realities of CRNA school, from overwhelming workloads and challenging clinical rotations to the teaching strategies and preceptors that have made the biggest difference. Find out what helped Kelsey and Nicolas succeed and what has made their journey unnecessarily difficult.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🩺 Supportive preceptors build confidence by meeting students at their current skill level.
🧠 Intimidation can undermine learning when students become more focused on avoiding mistakes than caring for patients.
📚 Teaching methods aren't one-size-fits-all, and students benefit from flexibility in how material is delivered.
❤️ Meaningful wellness support includes listening, protecting rest, and addressing unhealthy clinical environments.
🤝 Students want to feel heard, respected, and supported as they develop into independent clinicians.
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

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 patients. Today, Sharon and guest co-host Kevin Chem welcome Norwegian nurse anesthetist, professor, and researcher Ann-Chatrin Linqvist Leonardsen for a fascinating look at anesthesia practice in Norway.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🇳🇴 Norwegian nurse anesthetists can independently manage anesthesia for ASA I and II patients under defined standards.
🎓 Norway's education pathway allows practice before completing a full master's degree, a policy Ann wants changed.
🏥 Anesthesiologists collaborate on higher-risk cases, but their involvement varies by setting.
⚖️ Professional recognition and scope-of-practice restrictions remain major challenges in Norway.
🌍 IFNA promotes stronger education standards and professional recognition for nurse anesthetists worldwide.
 
Donate to Our Hears Your Hands: https://www.ourheartsyourhands.org/donate
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

realize. From airway reactivity and wound-healing concerns to unknown additives and changing drug trends, clinicians may be dealing with far more than nicotine.
In this episode, Beth Wilkes, DNAP, CRNA, CHSE, explains why CRNAs need to rethink how they screen patients and assess vaping history. The goal is to recognize emerging risks earlier and make the preoperative conversation more specific, useful, and clinically relevant.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
💨 Ask About Vaping: Smoking questions alone are not enough
🫁 Expect Airway Risk: Respiratory complications may increase
🧪 Know What’s Inside: Vapes can contain many substances
📋 Improve Screening: Frequency and duration matter
⚠️ Watch Emerging Trends: New drug-laced products are appearing
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

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 about what they wish they knew before clinicals and share guidance on how to best prepare. Whether ​you're ​heading ​into ​your ​first ​pediatric ​case ​or ​walking ​into ​a ​cardiac ​room ​wondering ​what ​you ​should ​know ​beforehand, ​knowing what to expect ​can ​make ​a ​huge ​difference ​in ​your ​confidence ​and ​clinical ​experience.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
🫁 Know the pediatric airway and review weight-based drug dosing before clinicals.
❤️ Master cardiac physiology and pharmacology to anticipate hemodynamic changes.
👀 Watch the surgery, not just the monitors, to understand what's happening.
🎯 Prioritize patient management over perfect procedures and move on from missed skills.
🤝 Build confidence through preparation, communication, and a willingness to learn.
 
Visit Confident Care Academy: https://www.confidentcareacademy.app/c/start-here
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

Clinical preceptors do far more than supervise students in the operating room. They help learners connect classroom knowledge to real patient care, develop clinical judgment, build confidence, and learn what professional practice actually looks like.
In this episode, Amy Yerdon, DNP, MNA, CRNA, CNE, CHSE, FAANA shares practical ways to make that teaching more intentional without sacrificing patient safety or learner autonomy. We hope this conversation can help preceptors communicate more clearly, give better feedback, and create the kind of clinical learning experience that can shape a CRNA for an entire career.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🎯 Set Expectations Early: Define goals before the case begins
🧠 Teach to Their Level: Adjust support as competence grows
🗣️ Make Feedback Specific: Help learners understand how to improve
👐 Give Back Autonomy: Step in when needed, then step out
🪞 Encourage Reflection: Let students evaluate themselves first
 
Check out the clinical preceptor training videos: https://ifna.org/educational-videos/ 
About our guest: https://wcna2026.com/speakers/dr-amy-yerdon/
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

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 walking away?
Becky Motykiewicz, DNAP, CRNA returns to Airway Exchange to share her true experience as a full-time CRNA educator at Drexel University in year one. Along with hosts Nickie and Louisa,  Becky offers a candid look at the realities of academic life, including the reason why she almost quit after just nine months. You’ll hear about the mentors who helped her through, what she's changing in year two, and why she would still make the transition all over again.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🎓 Teaching CRNAs is different from clinical practice—not easier.
😓 Even passionate educators can reach a breaking point.
🤝 Mentorship can make or break the transition.
⏰ Boundaries are essential for preventing burnout.
📈 Progress matters more than perfect lectures.
 
About our guest: https://drexel.edu/cnhp/faculty/profiles/MotykiewiczBecky/
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

Ultrasound has changed the way anesthesia providers assess patients, perform regional techniques, and make decisions at the bedside. But for CRNAs who trained before these tools became commonplace, adding those skills can feel intimidating.
In this episode of Beyond the Mask, recorded at the IFNA Congress in Australia, Christian Falyar, DNAP, CRNA, FAANA joins us to talk about how point-of-care ultrasound and regional anesthesia are becoming increasingly important parts of full-scope CRNA practice.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🔍 Start With POCUS: Build ultrasound comfort before advanced procedures
🧠 Understand the Anatomy: Technique follows strong foundational knowledge
💉 Practice the Needling: Hands-on repetition builds procedural confidence
🤝 Find a Mentor: Workshops alone cannot replace guided practice
📈 Don’t Settle: Full-scope practice requires continued growth
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1