Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Healthcare is evolving rapidly, and nowhere is that more evident than in the anesthesia workforce. In this episode, Sharon and Jeremy sit down with Scott Becker, founder of Becker’s Healthcare, to explore the current state of staffing, education, and economic pressures shaping the industry.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🏥 The anesthesia shortage isn’t solved 
👩‍⚕️ CRNAs are critical to the system 
📉 Medical education is part of the problem 
⚖️ Workforce expectations are shifting
💡 Great organizations are built on people, not just strategy 
 
Visit Becker’s Healthcare: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/
Check out his new book: https://www.amazon.com/Building-Great-Businesses-Momentum-Confidence/dp/1637635400
Read the article here: https://www.beckersasc.com/anesthesia/the-anesthesia-workforce-shortage-demystified/
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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What if CRNA students could practice critical anesthesia skills over and over again without limits, without pressure, and without risking patient safety?
In this episode of Airway Exchange, Louisa and Erin explore how virtual reality is transforming nurse anesthesia education. Joined by Katie Cole, DNP, CRNA, CHSE and Kelly Wiltse Nicely, PhD, CRNA from Emory University, we’ll dive into how VR simulation is being integrated into training for foundational skills like intubation, induction sequences, and anesthesia gas machine operation.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🥽 Virtual reality allows unlimited repetition of critical anesthesia skills
📉 VR reduces stress compared to high-fidelity simulation environments
💪 Confidence and preparedness improve before entering the OR
📊 Data tracking provides objective insight into student performance
👥 VR helps identify struggling students earlier
 
Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram
Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request
 
About Katie: https://www.nursing.emory.edu/faculty-staff/katie-cole
About Kelly: https://www.nursing.emory.edu/faculty-staff/kelly-wiltse-nicely
 
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

The nurse anesthesia profession is navigating a period of rapid change. From reimbursement cuts and workforce shortages to evolving practice models and federal policy battles, the decisions being made today will shape the future of CRNAs for decades to come. In this special live taping recorded at the West Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthesiology meeting, Sharon sits down with AANA President Jeff Molter to discuss the biggest challenges facing the profession and how CRNAs can stay engaged in protecting their future.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
🩺 Reimbursement Pressures Are Rising 
🎓 Student Loan Limits Threaten Workforce Growth 
🏥 Demand for Anesthesia Providers Is Expanding 
📣 Advocacy Is Essential for the Profession’s Future 
📈 CRNAs Are Becoming the Backbone of Anesthesia Care 
 
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

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
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
🏠 Think beyond the PACU

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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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
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

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

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