Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

One ​of ​our ​traditions ​at ​Beyond ​the ​Mask ​is​ sitting ​down ​with ​the ​new ​AANA ​President ​​to ​talk ​about ​the ​year​ ahead, their ​vision ​for ​the ​association, ​and ​the ​challenges ​and​ opportunities ​facing ​our ​profession. This year we had the chance to sit down with Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA at the Texas Association of Nurse Anesthetists Annual Convention as he steps into the role at an important time for nurse anesthesiology. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🎯 Three Pillars: Evidence, clinical excellence, and policy drive the strategy 🏠 Professional Home: AANA wants to serve CRNAs across every career stage 📣 Member Engagement: Early-career retention remains a major focus 🩺 Anesthesia Answers: New public-facing education supports patients and CRNA visibility 📈 Build Momentum: Strategic focus and unity are central to the year ahead   Join Sharon at the Nurse Anesthesia Update in the Bahamas: https://www.nurseanesthetist.com/events/nurse+anesthesia+update+2026/ Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/ Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

Significant perioperative loss can affect CRNAs deeply, even when there was no error and nothing could have been done differently. Yet many clinicians are never taught what those emotions may look like or how to process them. This episode of Airway Exchange explores the emotional impact of significant perioperative loss on CRNAs and why nurse anesthesia programs need to prepare students for those experiences before they happen. Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA, APRN, CNE, CHSE, CWP, the Vice Chair of the AANA Health and Wellness Committee, and Jennifer Stewart-Glenn, PhD, MSN, FNP discuss their qualitative research, including themes of guilt, responsibility, isolation, self-blame, and loss of confidence, and what educators can do to create more supportive, trauma-informed responses. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🧠 Name the Experience: Perioperative loss can create profound emotional distress ⚖️ Guilt Without Fault: Clinicians may feel responsible even when no error occurred 🤝 Break the Isolation: Feeling alone was a major theme in the research 🎓 Prepare Students Early: Programs should address loss before it happens 💬 Listen, Don’t Fix: Support begins with validation, not problem-solving   Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request   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

What happens when nurse anesthesia education moves beyond the traditional classroom? Recorded at the AANA Annual Congress in Boston, Sharon and guest co-host Tracy Castleman, DNP, CRNA, APN-A, FAANA, sit down with longtime CRNA educator Richard Wilson, DNAP, CRNA, FAANA to explore how virtual classrooms, simulation, podcasts, VR, AI, and new teaching strategies are changing the way future CRNAs learn. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 💻 Virtual learning can expand access without lowering standards. 🤝 Mentorship remains vital—even in a digital classroom. 🧠 Understanding matters more than memorization. 🥽 VR, podcasts, and AI are reshaping CRNA education. 🎓 Great education blends didactic learning with clinical experience.   Join Sharon at the Nurse Anesthesia Update in the Bahamas: https://www.nurseanesthetist.com/events/nurse+anesthesia+update+2026/ Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/ Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

A career in nurse anesthesia does not have to follow one path. For Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA, it certainly did not. His career has included clinical practice, entrepreneurship, business leadership, advocacy, state association leadership, national board service, and eventually the presidency of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. But one of the most interesting parts of his story is that none of it was part of one grand plan. The new AANA President joins Grade 1 View from Annual Congress in Boston to share how his path evolved from bedside nursing and anesthesia into entrepreneurship, advocacy, and national leadership.  Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🙏 Practice Gratitude: Meaningful work is worth appreciating 🤝 Lead Together: Strong boards move as one 🚀 Think Bigger: CRNA careers can extend beyond clinical care 📣 Get Involved: Advocacy often starts with one experience 🧭 Take the Next Step: Careers do not need a master plan   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

What does nurse anesthesia practice look like in Finland? That question is at the center of this episode of Beyond the Mask, recorded at the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists meeting in Australia. Sharon and guest co-host Kevin Chem sit down with Sari Pyhälä, a Finnish RN specialized in anesthesia and perioperative care, to learn more about how her profession differs from the model many U.S. CRNAs know. Sari explains Finland’s education pathway, the role of on-the-job training, and how nurse anesthetists work within a physician-supervised model while still taking on significant responsibility for preparing, maintaining, and safely transitioning anesthesia care. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🌍 Nurse anesthesia looks different around the world. 🎓 Finland relies heavily on on-the-job anesthesia training. 🤝 Teamwork and mutual respect drive anesthesia care. 🗣️ Workplace challenges cross countries and generations. ❤️ Sari calls nurse anesthesia “a wonderful life.”   Join Sharon at the Nurse Anesthesia Update in the Bahamas: https://www.nurseanesthetist.com/events/nurse+anesthesia+update+2026/   About our guest: https://wcna2026.com/speakers/sari-pyhala/ Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/ The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099 Want to get CE Credit for listening? Go here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/special-announcement-ce-credt/ Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1