Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

The Anesthesia Crisis We Need to Address with Dr. Randy Moore

CRNAs are in demand. Salaries are strong. Jobs are plentiful. So why is Dr. Randy Moore sounding the alarm?
In this episode, Randy joins Sharon and guest host Kevin Chem, DNP, CRNA to unpack his viral Substack article, “No One Is Coming to Save Us.” The core message is uncomfortable but clear: while anesthesia organizations remain divided over turf and titles, payers are quietly reshaping reimbursement policy in ways that could have long-term consequences for both CRNAs and anesthesiologists.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🐺 “The Wolf Is at the Door” 
💰 Reimbursement Drives Practice Models 
⚖️ Fragmentation Weakens Leverage 
🏛️ Multi-Front Strategy: Litigation, Legislation, PR 
🔄 Cycles in Compensation & Demand 
 
Read Randy’s Substack post here: https://randymoore.substack.com/p/no-ones-coming-to-save-us-the-anesthesia
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
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
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Optimization ≠ Clearance: Setting the Record Straight in Anesthesia

This week, Lynn and Garry sit down with guest Dru Riddle to tackle one of the most misunderstood and increasingly problematic concepts in perioperative care: the idea that patients can be “cleared” for anesthesia by non-anesthesia providers. While well-intentioned, this language blurs professional boundaries and creates real risks for patients and anesthesia teams alike.
The goals for this show are to help you be able to:
Differentiate between preoperative medical optimization and anesthesia clearance.
Explain why anesthesia providers are uniquely qualified to determine anesthesia-related risk.
Describe the appropriate role of non-anesthesia consultants in the perioperative period.
Apply modern risk assessment tools, such as the DASI scale, to evaluate perioperative anesthesia risk.
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
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
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

Grade 1 View – S2, E4 – Advocacy in Action: Why SRNAs Must Show Up

Advocacy can feel intimidating, especially as a student. But what if your future scope of practice, reimbursement, autonomy, and even student loan access are being shaped right now?
Mackenzie and Levi recently attended Lobby Day in Florida and Nicolas went to Capitol Day in Arizona. Kelsey asks them about their experiences and advice for other SRNAs. You’ll learn more about what advocacy events actually look like, how they prepared, what surprised them most, and the powerful realization that legislators often know very little about what CRNAs truly do. Showing up to advocate isn’t just crucial for policy, it’s also important for every SRNA’s professional journey.   
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
🏛️ What Lobby Day & Capital Day Really Look Like
📢 Scope of Practice & Autonomy Bills
💰 Reimbursement & Legislative Barriers
🎓 Student Loan Caps & Federal Policy Threats
🔥 “If You’re Not at the Table, You’re on the Menu”
 
Tell the Department of Education: CRNAs are professionals - https://aana.quorum.us/campaign/151823/?utm_campaign=21808239-Letter%20from%20the%20Board%20of%20Directors%20Newsletter%20-%20MY26&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_aIux9bDYGSMnBHT8ofMd4Soboojl0igMxgnXHzvkjlNUNiJgq50f2fSPLl0FV518L46QnmodIQKlPYVGef6ShbqCNBA&_hsmi=402704119&utm_content=402704119&utm_source=hs_email
Register for AANA Mid-Year Assembly: https://www.aana.com/premier-event/mid-year-assembly/
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/grade-1-view/
Visit the AANA Resident Hub: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/ 
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The Fab 4 & the Power of Relationships in the CRNA Community

In this special episode, the conversation goes beyond anesthesia, leadership, and practice models and into something just as essential: friendship, health, and wellness. In a profession that is demanding, high‑stakes, and often isolating, the relationships CRNAs build with one another can be a powerful source of strength.
Sharon is  joined by longtime friends Jackie Rowles, DNP, MBA, MA, CRNA, ANP-BC, NSPM-C, FNAP, FAANA, FAAN, Tracy Castleman,  DNP, CRNA, APN-A, FAANA, and Carole Doyscher, CRNA, BSN, MS, APRN—four CRNAs whose bond, known affectionately as the Fab Four, was forged through shared experiences, mutual respect, and plenty of laughter along the way. Together, they reflect on how authentic connection within the CRNA community supports resilience, personal well‑being, and professional longevity.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
👩‍⚕️ Each leader shares their unique leadership style and AANA experience
🤝 The power of unity, trust, and supporting one another in CRNA leadership
🧭 How policy, mentoring, and advocacy shape the future of the profession
💬 Stories from the trenches — what it's really like to lead under pressure
🚀 Encouragement for the next generation of CRNA leaders
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
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
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1 

Airway Exchange – Ep. 11 - Inside EDGE: The Conversations Shaping Nurse Anesthesia Education

Recorded live at the EDGE Conference, this special episode brings all four hosts together for an honest, reflective conversation about what makes this meeting so meaningful for CRNA educators, and why it continues to matter more than ever.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🎓 The Value of EDGE for Educators - Why this conference remains a cornerstone for faculty connection and growth.
🤝 Mentorship, Networking, and Community - How relationships shape educator confidence and career paths.
📚 Supporting Early & Mid-Career Educators - Bridging gaps in training, expectations, and professional development.
🧠 Innovation, AI, and Educational Change - Adapting to rapid shifts while maintaining academic rigor.
🧭 Leadership, Longevity, and Faculty Wellness - Navigating burnout, administrative pressure, and long-term sustainability.
 
Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram
Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request
 
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

Reimagining the Oral Airway: Innovation Born in the OR

Oral airways have looked basically the same for nearly a century despite dramatic changes in patient populations, sedation practices, and monitoring standards. What if a simple design change could bring significant improvements to safety and efficacy? In this episode, CRNA John Brown and entrepreneur Jason Keen of Arete Medical Devices share the story behind a newly designed oral airway that aims to solve problems anesthesia providers have quietly worked around for decades.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🫁 Why traditional oral airways no longer meet modern sedation needs
🔧 Designing an adjustable airway to reduce waste and mis-sizing
📉 Improving end-tidal CO₂ accuracy while lowering oxygen flow rates
🏥 Clinical testing across hospitals and surgery centers
🌱 Cost savings, plastic reduction, and sustainability in anesthesia tools
 
Learn more about Arete Medical Devices: https://aretemedicaldevices.com/ 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
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
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

Authority Without Aggression: Leadership Skills Every CRNA Needs (Part 2)

Incivility doesn’t always announce itself loudly—it often creeps in quietly, becoming normalized in high-stress clinical environments. In this episode, Lynn and Garry are joined by leadership veteran Meri Gilman-Mays, CRNA, DNP to continue a candid conversation on addressing incivility in nurse anesthesia.
Part two of this conversation shifts from recognizing incivility to actively addressing it through leadership. We’ll challenge the notion that leadership requires a title, highlighting how CRNAs lead daily at the bedside, in the operating room, and through committee work. Listeners are invited to consider the impact of silence versus intervention and how modeling professionalism under pressure influences team culture.
After listening to this episode, participants will be able to:
Identify leadership behaviors that CRNAs can demonstrate regardless of formal title or position.
Apply real-time de-escalation strategies to address incivility while maintaining professionalism and authority.
Utilize a structured framework for conducting difficult follow-up conversations and ensuring accountability.
Describe strategies for fostering a culture of respect and psychological safety within anesthesia and perioperative teams.
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/
The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099
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
Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

Grade 1 View – S2, E3 - Culturally Competent Care and the Importance of Representation

Representation in nurse anesthesia is about access, excellence, and belonging. It’s the responsibility of every CRNA to help shape the future of the profession in a way that affords opportunity and access to anyone who wants to pursue that goal. In this episode, hosts Nicolas and Kelsey are joined by two influential leaders in nurse anesthesia advocacy, Lena Gould, EdD, CRNA, FADLN, FAANA, FAAN and Vincent Ford, DNAP, CRNA, to talk candidly about diversity, mentorship, and responsibility.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
🎓 Why representation in textbooks, faculty, and leadership matters
🧠 Mentorship as the bridge between access and opportunity
🌍 Diversity of thought and experience drives better decisions at the institutional level.
🏫 Barriers in admissions and the push for holistic review
🌱 Paying it forward and shaping the next generation of CRNAs
 
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