Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Rescue, Reduce, Prevent: The New Era of PONV Management

In this episode, we explore the Fifth Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting, the latest international update designed to guide clinicians toward more effective prevention and treatment strategies. These updated recommendations reflect a growing body of research and introduce several important shifts in how anesthesia providers approach PONV. From expanded use of multimodal prophylaxis to greater emphasis on risk reduction strategies and post-discharge nausea and vomiting, the new guidelines encourage clinicians to think more proactively and systematically about managing this common complication.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🤢 PONV is still one of the most common anesthesia complications
🧩 The new guidelines emphasize multimodal prevention
📊 Risk scoring still matters—but clinical judgment matters more
💊 Combination antiemetic therapy is now encouraged
 
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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🏠 Think beyond the PACU

Grade 1 View – S2, E6 - An International Nurse’s Path to CRNA School with Tarcisio Gois dos Santos, BSN, RN, SRNA

In this episode, Nicolas and Kelsey sit down with Tarcisio Gois dos Santos, BSN, RN, SRNA an internationally educated nurse from Brazil who is now an SRNA at the Mayo Clinic. As workforce shortages persist, the profession is evolving and hospitals are hiring more nurses educated outside of the United States. We’ll explore the realities of applying to CRNA school as an international nurse and discuss the differences in nursing education across countries.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
🌎 International nurses face unique challenges
🎯 Long-term vision matters
📚 Academic rigor differs globally
💪 Resilience is essential
🤝 Mentorship and community help along the way
 
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/grade-1-view/
Visit the AANA Resident Hub: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/ 
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Empowering First Responders Through a Naloxone Training Initiative in North Carolina

The opioid crisis continues to impact communities across the country, and in many overdose situations, police officers are the first people to arrive on the scene. That reality inspired a powerful community initiative led by CRNA student Krystin Jones. Her DNP project focuses on training law enforcement officers to recognize opioid overdoses and confidently administer naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an overdose and potentially save a life.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🚨 Police are often first on the scene
💉 Narcan can mean the difference between life and death
🏥 Healthcare professionals can impact communities beyond hospitals
📊 The opioid crisis remains a serious public health challenge
🤝 Collaboration saves lives
 
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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Airway Exchange – Ep. 13 – Preparing CRNA Educators for the AI Era

In this episode of Airway Exchange, Jiale (Gary) Hu, PhD, RN, FAAN joins the conversation to explore how AI is reshaping the way we teach, learn, and prepare future CRNAs. He’s currently ​the ​Director ​of ​Research ​and ​Global ​Outreach ​in ​the ​Department ​of ​Nurse ​Anesthesia, and his ​scholarship ​focuses ​on ​enhancing ​knowledge ​translation ​in ​healthcare ​environments, ​with ​a ​lot ​of ​his ​current ​projects ​encompassing ​AI ​integration ​in ​healthcare ​education.
We’ll go beyond theory and into practical implementation of AI, like integrating AI literacy into the curriculum and building custom GPT tools for student handbooks. We also want to address the concerns many educators share: ethical use, institutional support, academic integrity, prompt engineering, and how to keep humans “in the loop.”
 
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🤖 AI Literacy as a Core Skill 
🧠 Prompt Engineering with the CARE Framework 
📚 Integrating AI Across the Curriculum 
🛠️ Custom GPT Tools for Educators 
⚖️ Ethics, Accuracy & Human Oversight
 
About our guest: https://nrsa.chp.vcu.edu/our-team/jiale-gary-hu-phd-rn-faan.html
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

Surviving Dirty John: Lessons from a CRNA Survivor

Today’s episode is one of courage, survival, and reclaiming your voice. Tonia Bales, CRNA and author of When You See It: How I Outsmarted and Outlasted Dirty John, shares her deeply personal story of manipulation, coercive control, and psychological abuse. While the world knows the headline-grabbing “Dirty John” narrative, this conversation takes us behind the scenes to explore how even strong, capable professionals can be targeted and trapped by someone hiding in plain sight.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🚩 Psychopaths and manipulators hide in plain sight. Charm and intelligence can mask danger.
🧠 You can be “smart in the brain and not so smart in the heart.”
💬 Silence protects abusers. Speaking up creates safety and support.
🔍 Trust your instincts, subtle red flags deserve attention.
🌱 Healing is ongoing, resilience and community make rebuilding possible.
 
Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/When-You-See-Outsmarted-Outlasted/dp/B0FCDDC6FL
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, E5 – Impactful Leadership From Women in Nurse Anesthesia

In honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, this episode of Grade 1 View highlights the power, resilience, and impact of women shaping the future of nurse anesthesia.
Dr. Bimpe ‘Bebe’ Adenusi shares her remarkable journey from clinical chemist to CRNA, educator, program director, national leader, and founder of the Nigerian American Nurse Anesthetist Association. With authenticity and humility, she reflects on the mentors who shaped her path, the challenges of stepping into leadership, and the responsibility of lifting the next generation.
Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode:
👩🏾‍⚕️ From Student to National Leader 
💬 Listening as a Leadership Skill 
🤝 The Power of Mentorship 
🌍 Mission Work & Purpose 
📚 Building the Next Generation 
 
About our guest: https://nanaa.org/team/dr-bimpe-adenusi/
Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/grade-1-view/
Visit the AANA Resident Hub: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/ 
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Mentorship Matters: The Impact of Effective Preceptorship

Becoming a CRNA isn’t just about mastering pharmacology, physiology, and airway skills. It’s about mentorship.
In this episode of Beyond the Mask, Kelly Elmore, DNP, APRN-CRNA joins the show to discuss one of the most critical and often overlooked elements of nurse anesthesia education: preceptorship training. From bridging classroom theory to real-time clinical decision-making, preceptors are the link between knowledge and confidence. And when that experience goes well, it can shape a career. When it doesn’t, it can leave lasting scars.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🧑‍🏫 Preceptorship Is a Role, Not a Side Task 
🤝 What Students Actually Need 
⚖️ Balancing Control & Independence 
🔥 Burnout & Preceptor Fatigue 
🌐 The Preceptor Resource Hub 
 
About our guest: https://marybaldwin.edu/people/kelly-r-elmore-dnp-aprn-crna/
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. 12 – Scholarly Writing & Peer Review as a CRNA Educator with Dr. Edwin Aroke

Writing for a grade is one thing. Writing to contribute to a scientific conversation is something entirely different.
In this episode of Airway Exchange, Dr. Edwin Aroke, an internationally recognized CRNA pain scientist and Editor-in-Chief of the AANA Journal, joins hosts Erin and Nickie to talk with us about scholarly writing and peer review. His ​scholarship ​has ​resulted ​in ​over ​60 ​peer-reviewed ​publications and ​many ​nationally ​and ​internationally ​presentations ​on ​pharmacogenomics, ​pain ​disparities ​and ​anesthesia ​outcomes.
This conversation is a practical guide for nurse anesthesia educators who want to elevate their scholarship, as we’ll discuss developing a focused research niche to navigating peer review, grant funding, and common reasons for desk rejection.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
✍️ From Classroom Writing to Publication 
🔬 Building a Focused Research Niche 
📚 Common Reasons for Journal Rejection 
🤝 Grant Funding & Mentorship Strategy 
🤖 AI in Scholarly Writing 
 
About our guest: https://scholars.uab.edu/4965-edwin-aroke
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