Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Culture Matters: How Everyday Behaviors Shape CRNA Well-Being (Part 1)

Workplace culture in anesthesia doesn’t just live in policies or mission statements, it shows up in hallways, handoffs, and yes, even the lounge. In Part I of this conversation, Lynn and Garry welcome guest Meri Gilman-Mays, CRNA, DNP, for an honest, thoughtful conversation about incivility in the perioperative environment and how it quietly shapes the daily experiences of nurse anesthetists.
Part I focuses on awareness as the first step toward change. By helping CRNAs recognize incivility in its many forms and understand its ripple effects on wellness, teamwork, and patient care, this conversation invites reflection rather than blame. It’s an educational yet relatable dialogue designed to validate lived experiences and encourage healthier, more respectful professional environments one interaction at a time.
Here’s some of what we’ll discuss:
⚠️ What incivility actually looks like in anesthesia practice
🏥 Power dynamics between CRNAs, physicians, and students
🧠 How unchecked behavior leads to burnout and moral distress
🗣️ Why silence, eye-rolling, and dismissal are not harmless
🧩 The leadership gap fueling toxic workplace cultures
 
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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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, E2 – Applying to CRNA School - Rejection, Reapplying, and Resilience

Applying to CRNA school can feel overwhelming—stats, GPAs, ICU experience, GRE scores, interviews, and endless comparisons to peers and strangers alike. It’s easy to talk yourself out of applying (or reapplying) so today we’re going to back the curtain on the application process and share our real, unfiltered journeys to CRNA school.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
📄 What the CRNA application process really feels like
🚫 Handling rejection, waitlists, and “not this cycle” moments
🧠 Interview formats: emotional intelligence vs. clinical knowledge
📈 How to strengthen your application when reapplying
💪 Why resilience and authenticity matter more than stats
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/grade-1-view/
Visit the AANA Resident Hub: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/ 
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CRNAs in Business: The Journey From Clinic to Entrepreneurship

More CRNAs are stepping beyond the operating room and building something entirely new, and this episode dives into what that transition truly looks like. Today, we’re sitting down with Joshua Olson DNP, CRNA, CRNA educator, and co-creator of the Ollivate app, a gamified learning platform designed to help CRNAs earn CEs and residents prepare for boards in a calmer, more effective way. Want to know what it’s like to transition to entrepreneurship, the challenges of non-clinical business, and what it takes to succeed? Join us for this candid conversation with a fellow CRNA who’s taken the bold leap.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🚀 Transitioning from clinical practice to entrepreneurship
🧠 Why gamified learning reduces anxiety and improves retention
📱 Micro-learning, spaced repetition, and modern CE engagement
🤝 The importance of not building a business alone
💡 Why CRNAs are uniquely positioned to innovate
 
Check out Ollivate here: https://ollivate.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

Airway Exchange – Ep. 9 – Lessons Learned from the Accreditation Process

As we kick off the new year, all four hosts are back for a discussion that every nurse anesthesia program will face at some point. We’re sitting down together for a candid, experience-driven conversation about what accreditation really looks like from the inside, whether you’re a program director, faculty member, or educator preparing for your first review.
Drawing from multiple accreditation cycles, on-site visits, and self-study efforts, the panel discusses what works, what surprises programs, and why accreditation should be viewed as a measure of compliance, not a judgment of educational quality. We understand how overwhelming the process can feel at times, but getting guidance and resources from peers can help alleviate some of the pressure.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
📋 Accreditation as compliance—not a measure of program quality
🗂️ Self-study strategies, timelines, and organization tips
🤝 Why accreditation must be a team sport
🏥 Clinical challenges: case numbers, regional anesthesia, and central lines
📈 How standards can drive program growth and institutional support
 
Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram
Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request
 
Be a part of EDGE: Educate. Develop. Grow. Engage. >>  https://www.aana.com/premier-event/edge/
 
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

Celebrating the Exceptional Life & Legacy of Betty Horton

Today we’re honoring the life, leadership, and lasting influence of Betty Horton, PhD, CRNA, FAAN, a woman whose impact on nurse anesthesia education spans generations. With her passing on December 27, 2025, we wanted to revisit the conversation we had with her five years prior about the evolution of education and accreditation in nurse anesthesia, something that she cared about tremendously. This conversation captures Betty’s wisdom, humility, and unwavering commitment to lifting others rather than highlighting herself.
The show originally aired July 2, 2020, and we’ve asked Jackie Rowles, DNP, MBA, MA, CRNA, ANP-BC, NSPM-C, FNAP, FAANA, FAAN, the founder and president of Our Hearts Your Hands Inc, and Sandy Ouellette, CRNA, DS (hon), Med, FAAN, vice president of Our Hearts Your Hands Inc., to share a few of their thoughts on her lasting legacy before we begin.
Listening ​now, ​her ​words ​carry ​even ​greater ​meaning. ​They ​reflect ​the ​wisdom, ​humility ​and ​steady ​leadership ​that ​defined ​her ​life's ​work. ​We ​invite ​you ​today ​to ​listen ​not ​only ​with ​your ​ears, ​​but ​with ​your ​heart. It’s an honor to share her voice once more.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🕊️ The life and legacy of Betty Horton in nurse anesthesia
📚 How accreditation standards transformed education and safety
🌍 Global impact through IFNA and the APAP program
🤝 Navigating political and professional challenges with integrity
🌱 Mentorship, service, and building pathways for future generations
 
Read the AANA’s obituary for Betty: https://www.aana.com/news/in-memoriam-betty-horton-phd-crna-faan-1936-2025/
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

Not All Hypotension Is Thirsty: Rethinking Fluids in the OR

In this episode of Anesthesia Alchemy: Lynn & Garry Unplugged, Garry dives deep into the science and strategy behind Goal-Directed Fluid Therapy (GDFT), moving beyond dogma to deliberate, physiology-driven decision-making.
Our guest, Richard Wilson, traces the evolution of perioperative fluid management from liberal “fill-the-tank” approaches to modern, data-informed strategies that respect the Frank–Starling relationship and the nuanced concept of fluid responsiveness. Along the way, they unpack essential hemodynamic variables—stroke volume, cardiac output, preload, afterload, and contractility explaining why hypotension or low output doesn’t always mean the patient needs more fluid.
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, E1 – Passing the Mic: Meet the New Voices for Season 2

Season two of Grade 1 View begins with a transition featuring new voices, new perspectives, and the same commitment to honesty, community, and growth. As we hand off the torch to a new group of future CRNAs, founding host Olivia Conn, RN, DNP introduces the new host team: Nicolas Alexander, BSN, SCRN, CCRN; Levi Davis, BSN, RN, CCRN; Mackenzie Lane, BSN, RN, CCRN; and Kelsey Muir, BSN, RN, CCCRN.
Through candid introductions and rapid-fire questions, you get to know the people behind the microphones, not just where they are in CRNA school, but the winding paths that brought them here. From non-linear career journeys and long-distance relationships to favorite comfort shows, coffee orders, and unexpected habits picked up during anesthesia training, we’ll keep things light as we kick off the new year.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
🎙️ Introducing the Season Two Hosts
🧭 Non-Linear Paths to Nurse Anesthesia
🤝 Why Community Matters in CRNA School
😂 Keeping It Human
🚀 Setting the Tone for Season Two
 
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

New Year, New Energy: Making Sense of the Evolving Anesthesia Ecosystem

We’re back once again for our annual conversation with NorthStar Anesthesia CEO Adam Spiegel and Chief Anesthetist Officer/Executive Vice President of Clinical Strategy Randy Moore, DNP, MBA, CRNA to provide us with a state of the profession as we begin 2026. They’re here to help us make sense of the ever-evolving anesthesia ecosystem by explaining what’s going on in our space right now and telling us where they think we’re headed.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
Current state situation in the anesthesia business sector
Status of CRNA supply shortage and its impact on the labor market
What’s going on with private equity supported firms?
Current state of hospital and outsourced anesthesia firms relationships
What’s going on with hospitals today?
 
Learn more about Northstar Anesthesia: https://northstaranesthesia.com/our-culture/our-leadership/ 
 
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