Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Ep 232: If You’re Not At The Table, You’re On The Menu with Wisconsin Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez

Every year it seems like more and more nurses are taking an active interest in politics, both local and regional, and today’s guest is someone who’s been on the rise as a public official.  Sara Rodriguez, a nurse and community leader, won her campaign in Wisconsin to become the state’s next Lieutenant Governor and joins us today to talk about her shift from public health to policymaker.
 
Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this show:
Her background in public health and the Peace Corps. 3:13
How COVID triggered her transition into politics. 6:23
Using her background and nurse training to better communicate with the community when campaigning.   9:27
From serving in the legislature to Lt. Governor, what that jump has been like. 12:55
Does she think COVID and the pandemic would have been different if more nurses in politics. 18:14
What would she tell nurses who are considering running for a position? 24:48
The final thoughts she wants to leave for nurses. 32:49
 
About our guest:  https://www.saraforwi.com/
Visit us online: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf

Ep 231: How to Care for People with a Substance Use Disorder

Nearly all of us have been in a situation where we’ve noticed something off or not right about someone we work with or someone we know but we didn’t say anything or take action. It’s a problem across the country, but the CRNA profession has a higher rate of substance use disorders than the general public.  
So how can we do a better job identifying and helping our peers who feel isolated and suffer from a substance use disorder? Today’s guest has spent a lot of her time in recent years trying to help educate people in this area. Leigh Taylor, DNP, MS, CRNA, APRN, presented at the AANA Annual Congress, which is where we first saw her and knew it’s a topic we wanted to spend more time discussing on the podcast.
Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this show:
Background on Leigh and the topic we’re discussing. 2:36
The substance abuse disorder data within the CRNA community. 6:50
Why does she think this is so prevalent in the community? 8:10
The stats show about 10% of CRNAs have an SUD. 13:46
The signs and symptoms to be on the lookout for 20:46
Where can you go to get help for someone? Here are some of the resources that are available. 26:05
The other drugs that are most common in those with SUDs. 30:18
What can you do if you feel like you’re suffering from this but afraid to speak up. 36:25
 
Visit us online: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf

Ep 230: The Best Options for Push-Dose Vasopressors

It’s not uncommon to use push-dose vasopressors for blood pressure management in anesthesia practice. Maybe even more so now than in the past.
Jeremy and Sass talk about the various options and situations for blousing vasopressors, and perhaps most importantly which one to use. In fact, recently there was a Journal Course in the AANA Journal talking about the increased (and safe) use of push dose Norepinephrine which they review in this episode.
Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this show:
Why we’re administering push-dose vasopressors more often now. (2:18)
Different vasopressors that we use. (7:09)
Here’s our scenario for treatment for this episode. (10:45)
What the research tells us. (13:03)
Comparing phenylephrine to ephedrine. (18:03)
How effective norepinephrine is and what are the concerns? (19:26)
The best method for administering norepinephrine. (21:27)
 
About our hosts: https://www.kpsan.org/school/people/
Visit us online: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf

Ep 229: $80 Billion Going to the IRS: What Does it Mean for CRNAs?

Last year, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, and one of the items that received many of the headlines was the $80 billion allocated to the Internal Revenue Service.
This will impact every taxpayer but what does it mean specifically for CRNAs and other nurses. Your work earns a nice paycheck every year so tax changes will have an impact on you. Plus, there’s a lot to pay attention to if you’re a business owner or a 1099 worker, which is a group that many CRNAs will fall into.
 
Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this show:
Background on why we’re talking about the IRS today. 2:25
How is this money being distributed and what will it be used for? 6:58
The IRS has the fewest auditors than at any time since WWII. Let’s look at some of the current auditing data. 11:48
How can CRNAs that are 1099 plan for this legislation? 16:42
Some final advice for CRNAs from Jeremy. 20:51
 
Contact CRNA Financial Planning: https://www.crnafinancialplanning.com/
Visit us online: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf

Ep 228: Betty Lank’s Role in Boston Children’s Hospital

The 20th century was filled with advancements in nursing and anesthesia with much of the innovation coming in the world of pediatrics. One of the women who had a huge hand in improving the care for children was Betty Lank, who worked as the Chief Nurse Anesthetist at Boston Children’s Hospital for decades.
 
Today we’ll look back and her life and career with Nancy Bruton-Maree, CRNA, and Sandy Ouellette, CRNA and try to capture the impact she made on a hospital and a profession.
 
Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this episode:
The early life and childhood for Betty growing up in Canada. (3:22)
How she became passionate about nursing after World War I. (5:16)
What she accomplished during her time as the Chief Nurse Anesthetist in Boston. (8:31)
Her role in advancing pediatric anesthesia. (17:50)
The early involvement she had in state and national associations. (29:06)
Her final resting place and how she’s remembered. (34:43)
Nancy and Sandy’s final thoughts on Betty. (37:58)
 
Visit us online: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf

Ep 227: Crisis Checklist for Cardiogenic Shock

You’re quietly sitting behind the drape and all of a sudden you see significant dysrhythmias on the ECG during an operation. Now what?
In this episode Jeremy and Sass review a case of Cardiogenic Shock and go over the crisis checklist for this critical event. They also examine current diagnostic strategies and potential differential diagnoses.
Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this show:
Thinking about the cardiovascular system in three separate parts (2:18)
Here’s the case we’re facing on today’s episode. (3:19)
What are the initial thoughts on this overall picture? (4:33)
What are the goals for managing this patient? (7:13)
What happens if you see ST changes interoperatively? (9:48)
Signs, symptoms and diagnostic criteria of cardiogenic shock. (12:13)
What is prescribed? (19:50)
The primary goal for this type of patient is to get them to the Cath lab. (24:12)
Here’s a question to test your knowledge. (25:03)
 
About our hosts: https://www.kpsan.org/school/people/
Visit us online: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf

Ep 226: The Need for More State Nurse Legislators

We talk all the time about the lack of nurse representation in policy-making positions, but that doesn’t make the data any less surprising. Today we’ll have a great discussion with Darlene Curley, EdD, RN, FAAN, about a study she recently completed on state nurse legislators. She’ll share some of the details with us in this episode and we’ll also have a wide-ranging discussion on how CRNAs and other nurses can continue increasing their involvement.  
 
Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this show:
How she took an interest in community engagement and volunteering to a policy level.  (5:17)
Would the pandemic have looked different if more nurses would have been in more leadership positions? (12:21)
Background on the study and what she found. (18:08)
Why she thinks the trend is going  (24:14)
How can each of us support the nurses in these leadership positions. 26:09)
How does a policy-maker decide about an issue without a background on that issue? (30:36)
What are we losing by not having nurses representing us in all 50 states? (45:21)
 
Read the State Nurse Legislature study: https://www.nursingworld.org/~4a6c69/globalassets/practiceandpolicy/advocacy/state/9.12.22-status-report--nurse-state-legislators-2020-22.pdf 
Visit us online: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf

Ep 225: An Inside Look at Lobbying for Your State Association

During our visit to the NCANA meeting last fall, we had the opportunity to host a live podcast about lobbying for your state association and we had the pleasure of bringing NCANA lobbyists Patrick Ballantine and Tracy Kimbrell onto the panel with us.
Both of them have been tremendous assets to our association because of their passion for lobbying. We explored that role to find out what skills it takes, how to utilize a lobbyist, and what you should expect from them.  
Here are some of the things you’ll learn on this show:
Background on our guests today and how they got into lobbying for the NCANA. (2:38)
What qualities does a legislator look for in a lobbyist? (7:09)
What is the ultimate goal of lobbying? (9:50)
How should the lobbyist interact with the organization? (15:49)
How do you keep different groups and issues separated? (22:52)
The importance of Lobby Days. (39:20)
How can you evaluate the work your lobbyist is doing? (45:04)
 
About our guest:  
https://www.parkerpoe.com/attorneys/tracy-w-kimbrell
https://www.ballantinecompany.com/profile.html
Visit us online: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf