Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Ep 182: The Push for Full Practice Authority for VA CRNAs

More than 1,000 CRNAs work with the Veterans Health Administration and they can’t operate with full practice authority like their counterparts serving in every branch of the military. The Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists is working to change that despite significant pushback, and former president Diane Boettger, CRNA, joins the show to talk about her time on the board and the work the organization is doing to push CRNAs forward.
 
About the AVANA: https://www.vacrna.com/
 
Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
 
Today's Key Topics: 
2:17 – Background on this topic
3:18 – Why this is important
4:25 – How AVANA is structured
8:59 – Establishing full practice authority
13:33 – Different standards while serving
16:20 – How veterans have been affected
20:15 – What changed during COVID
22:57 – Why the huge pushback
25:55 – What can CRNAs do to help?
29:41 – Opioid crisis
31:37 – How to help AVANA
31:57 – Closing message

Ep 181: The CRNA Coroner – Another Avenue to Serve

As more and more CRNAs are trying to find their place in the political setting, Jennifer Banek, CRNA found her own path to serving. In 2020, Banek was elected Coroner in Lake County, Illinois, and she’s currently holding that position alongside her job as a nurse anesthetist. She joins the show today to share her unique story and pull back the curtain on the campaign and election process for those aspiring to run for office in the future.
 
About our guest: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/450/Coroners-Office
 
Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
 
Today's Key Topics: 
2:27 – Welcome in Jennifer
3:28 – What we’re talking about today
4:45 – Her path to politics
10:26 – Getting signatures
13:35 – The campaigning process  
20:25 – How many states did she fundraise from
22:04 – Election and challenges
24:00 – Husband deployed during the election
25:14 – What does Coroner’s Office do?
28:30 – How nurse anesthetist training benefits this position
30:51 – Balancing Coroner and CRNA roles
32:03 – How running for office changed her perspective
35:59 – Her future in politics
37:20 – Final thoughts

Ep 180: Lobbying for CRNAs – How to Influence State Legislatures and Agencies

If you want an eye-opening perspective on lobbying and what it takes to influence lawmakers, this will be an episode you don’t want to miss. Bob Guyer of The Lobby School gives us a master class on how to be successful in convincing legislators to align with your goals, which is essential for CRNAs as we continue to fight to protect our industry and our paycheck.
 
Get The Lobby School's free resources here: https://lobbyschool.com/free-resources/ 
 
Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
 
Today's Key Topics: 
3:18 – Introducing our guest
5:35 – His organization
7:37 – Why this topic is important
8:46 – What groups influence legislation
10:53 – Convincing legislators of your goal
13:23 – Motivating special interest groups  
15:00 – Legislative staff
19:15 – Agency officials
21:00 – Bobisms
23:46 – Motivating legislators to vote
26:43 – What CRNAs can do to help
28:51 – Simplifying things for lawmakers
31:57 – Hiring consultants
34:07 – Managing and evaluating lobbyists
38:30 – Do campaign donations help?
43:01 – CRNAs running for office
45:47 – Final thoughts

Ep 179: Ukranian Born to New York State President – Meet Yana Krmic, CRNA

Few people in our profession represent what it means to be a CRNA more than Yana Krmic, MSN, CRNA, APRN. Born in Ukraine and raised in Siberia before moving to the United States 25 years ago, Krmic overcame many challenges to become a CRNA and eventually rise to the position of president of the New York State Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Her story is an inspiration to us all and one we’ll share on the podcast today along with her feelings on what’s happening in her home country.
 
Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
 
Today's Key Topics: 
4:02 – Introducing our guest
5:24 – Yana’s professional background
6:58 – Growing up in Ukraine
10:22 – Mom moves to New York
12:21 – Yana moves to Siberia
15:43 – Getting into healthcare
17:50 – Green card lottery 
19:21 – Determination and assertiveness
20:18 – Her mother’s upbringing
22:08 – Arriving in America 
24:56 – Adjusting to a new world
28:08 – Getting a degree and moving into healthcare
35:21 – Experience during COVID
39:53 – Driving more advocacy
46:00 – Her perspective on Ukraine
52:24 – Ukrainian resilience
57:17 – Her identity became clear
1:02:15 – Final thoughts

Ep 178: How Cochrane Collaborates to Promote Evidence-Based Decision Making

The healthcare industry has always depended on collaboration to advance medicine and improve care for patients. Much of that collaboration comes in the form of sharing findings from studies and research, which is what the Cochrane Network tries to compile into thorough and systemic reviews. By working with clinicians, policymakers, providers, and even CRNAs like Dru Riddle, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAAN, Cochrane promotes evidence-based decision making across healthcare, and today we’ll learn more about the US Network and the role it plays for CRNAs.
 
Learn more about Cochrane: https://us.cochrane.org/cochrane-us-network
 
Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
 
What we discuss in this episode: 
3:28 – Introducing our guests
4:30 – Introducing our topic
8:05 – Who is involved
10:16 – Financial support
12:19 – Building credibility
13:42 – Reviews in US and UK 
15:37 – Why he got involved 
18:56 – Reviewing anesthesiologists efficiency
21:33 – Cochrane’s new strategy  
23:16 – Why isn’t this research being applied to CRNAs?
25:40 – Generating a topic review
29:52 – How Cochrane worked for Sharon recently 
34:42 – Why they need CRNA influence
36:23 – Micro-volunteerism 
38:13 – Final thoughts

Ep 177: The Path to Full Practice Authority in the Air Force

The fight to give CRNAs full practice authority continues in states across the country but there have been some important victories along the way. All you need to do is look to our military to find a model that many people would like to see across the profession as the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force have all removed restrictions on CRNAs. Today we’ll talk with Air Force Colonel Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, who was one of the key people involved in helping the Air Force gain that authority and she’ll share the story of how it all happened.    
 
Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
 
What we discuss in this episode: 
2:53 – Jan’s background in the Air Force
7:07 – ASA and military CRNAs
9:53 – Battling against restrictions
14:27 – Calling Deb Molina
17:04 – Details from the meeting
20:55 – How they reached an outcome
24:21 – Different rules
27:18 – Advocating
29:23 – VA rules in different states
33:38 – Final thoughts
34:50 – Where she was on 9/11

Ep 176: Meet Candidates in the 2022 AANA Elections

The AANA Elections to appoint 2022-2023 board and elected committees will open on April 19 and members will have two weeks to cast their votes. We had the opportunity to go to the mid-year assembly in Washington D.C earlier this month and give candidates the chance to speak directly to you about their views and goals to help you make a more informed decision. Today you’ll hear from 13 CRNAs who will be on the ballot this month.
 
Meet the candidates: https://www.aana.com/governance/election-center/aana-election-slate-announced 
 
Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
 
Candidates for President
2:52 – Heather Rankin, DNP, MBA, CRNA, FAANA - Alabama
7:13 – Dru Riddle, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAAN – Texas
 
Candidates for Vice President
11:15 – Kristie Hoch, DNP, MS, CRNA - Arizona
15:18 – Debra Diaz, DNP, CRNA, APRN, CDR - Florida
17:26 – Janet Setnor, MSN, CRNA – Virginia
 
Candidates for Treasurer
18:19 – Jeffrey Molter, MBA, MSN, CRNA - Ohio
 
Candidates for Directors
19:53 – Jill Mason, EdD, DNAP, MSN, CRNA, COI - Indiana
23:03 – Paul Packard, DNAP, CRNA, CPPS - North Carolina
24:33 – Jennifer Banek, MSN, CRNA - Illinois
26:39 – Cathy Harrison, DNAP, MSN, CRNA, CAPT - Virginia
27:47 – Andrea Roberts, DNAP, CRNA - Minnesota
31:12 – Randy Cornelius, DNP, CRNA, ARNP - Iowa
33:49 – Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA – Louisiana

Ep 175: Why More Nurses Need to Be Elected to Congress

As we approach another round of midterm elections, we wanted to introduce you to one of the few nurses around the country that hopes to represent her state in Congress. Renee Ellmers is running again in North Carolina after previously serving three terms and she’s doing so with the goal of improving access to healthcare in our country. We’ll also discuss why it matters to have nurses representing our profession as elected leaders and how it might have made a difference in a recent ruling in Tennessee. 
 
How to help Renee's campaign: https://www.reneeellmers.com/ 
 
Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com 
 
Get the CE certificate here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Beyond-the-Mask-CE-Cert-FILLABLE.pdf
 
What we discuss in this episode: 
2:18 – Renee’s view of healthcare and why she’s running  
5:45 – Why nurses make good elected officials
7:06 – Getting full practice authority
9:08 – Quality of care
11:57 – Restrictions lifted during COVID
13:59 – What can be done?  
16:57 – Current nurses in politics
19:03 – Why are nurses elected more?
21:58 – Surprises in Washington
23:24 – Nurse in Tennessee convicted
27:54 – Did the lack of representation impact the ruling?
29:35 – The precedent it set
32:05 – How nurses can help her
35:23 – Advice for nurses
37:09 – Lightning Round