Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

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  

With the rise in methamphetamine use across the country, CRNAs need to be prepared to provide anesthesia to a substance use disorder patient. Jenny Krogh, CRNA, has noticed several misconceptions and conflicting management of patients who have used methamphetamines through her time working and researching. Today she joins us to explain the effects of methamphetamines on the body and clarifies some of the inaccuracies.    Read her research: https://www.apsf.org/article/practice-considerations-for-the-anesthesia-professional-for-methamphetamine-substance-use-disorder-patients/    Learn more about financial planning: https://www.crnafinancialplanning.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:  2:39 – Introducing our guest 5:28 – Why we are talking about this 7:14 – The use of meth in patients 8:52 –  Why words are important 10:21 – Neurochemistry 14:39 – Chasing the high 17:59 – How meth use changes anesthesia 20:44 – Treating hypertension  23:01 – How it affects work in the OB 28:09 – Use of Ketamine 30:20 – Her research 34:04 – Final thoughts 37:21 – Lightning Round 

When planning for retirement, many CRNAs end up guessing at some of the most important questions. You’d never enter an operating room unprepared so why risk everyone you’ve worked so hard for throughout your career by not having a plan in place? Today we’ll get answers to these key financial questions so you don’t have to play the guessing game.   Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com    Learn more about financial planning: https://www.crnafinancialplanning.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:  3:10 – What we’re talking about today 5:25 – How much monthly income will you need? 7:07 – Trying to determine lifespans 8:22 – Underestimating your needs  10:32 – Monthly average income needs  12:53 – Planning for major purchases  15:16 – Millennials are savers 16:48 – Inflation  18:03 – Interest rates 21:38 – Healthcare costs 26:35 – Final thoughts

In November of 2021, the AANA lost a great man in Patrick Downey. This former president and patriarch of the Diamond Club served as a CRNA for more than 50 years and impacted many lives along the way. It’s fitting that this St. Patrick’s Day episode is a look back at his incredible life and the work he did for nurse anesthesia.    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:  3:47 – The loss of Patrick Downey in 2021 4:45 – The AANA Diamond Club 8:01 – Role Patrick played in the club  9:45 – Patrick’s early life 11:50 – Education and marriage 13:56 – Anesthesia highlights  16:35 – Time as AANA president  22:23 – Goals and challenges 29:50 – Outreach away from operating room 32:29 – Viable public relations program 34:15 – The money in anesthesia 42:50 – His message to anesthesia 47:27 – His passing in 2021 52:08 – Patrick Downey Montage

Long hours and high stress is typically a recipe for poor health, which is why it’s always good to get a reminder to put ourselves and our bodies first. That can be difficult for CRNAs, who are trained to prioritize the needs of others. That’s why we wanted to bring on master nutritionist Donnell Carter, MBA, MS, CRNA to give us the information and motivation we need to take steps towards a healthier lifestyle.   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:  3:20 – Welcome in Donnell 5:18 – Time in the Navy  7:11 – Event that changed his life 12:18 – Going to anesthesia school 14:25 – How CRNAs can integrate health and wellness  19:04 – Master nutritionist  21:33 – His services  22:40 – Coaching  29:53 – Fighting depression 36:59 – Obesity’s role in the pandemic  43:33 – Final thoughts 45:20 – Lightning round

Forty years have passed since the Tax, Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) became law and this piece of federal legislation changed the way payment and reimbursement was tracked. Today we’ll look back on the history of TEFRA with Nancy Bruton-Maree, CRNA, and Sandy Ouellette, CRNA, to learn more about the reasons behind it, how the AANA responded, and what revisions have been made through the years.   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:  3:00 – What we’re talking about today 5:05 – Why was TEFRA implemented? 8:04 – Quality of care standard 9:33 – What the practice used to look like? 14:27 – Preparing practitioners 15:36 – What the original rules said 20:32 – Medical supervision and direction 26:56 – 7 conditions of payment 28:49 – AANA’s reaction to TEFRA 31:23 – Concerns between 1993 to 1998 34:32 – Proposed revisions 37:45 – What is immediately available 40:44 – Current TEFRA rules 44:20 – Any updated revisions? 47:15 – Physicians starting schools 51:15 – A book recommendation 52:02 – Final thoughts

Today we want to shine the advocacy spotlight on the work being done by CRNAs in Pennsylvania, who have helped drive some significant changes in their state. Laura Wiggins, DNP, CRNA and Jessica Poole, DNAP, CRNA are two of the nurses involved in shaping the legislation and they join us to share the details on what’s happening in the Keystone State and what it means for all of us in the profession.   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:  3:05 – Welcome Jessica and Laura   4:32 – Background on Jessica 6:29 – Background on Laura 7:59 – Legislation they’ve been working on 11:11 – The opposition to it 13:03 – Board of Nursing’s position  14:52 – Who makes these designations?  18:38 – Other changes they’ve gotten enacted 22:15 – The physician requirement of Act 60 23:38 – Getting students involved in legislative issues 25:29 – Relationship with lobbyists   27:03 – Developing relationships with legislators 30:07 – Compensating CRNAs to advocate 32:41 – Networking support from other groups 39:06 – CRNA practice during COVID in PA 41:12 – Getting involved in advocacy

Time is of the essence in the operating room, and it’s important that you’re able to track down the information you need as quickly as possible. Thanks to technology, this process is becoming much more efficient. Today we’ll introduce you to Matthew Willis, DNP, CRNA, the person who developed, coded and maintains the educational app Master Anesthesia. Find out how this app is changing the way nurse anesthetists are able to track down information and make instant calculations right from their phones.     Get the app: https://masteranesthesia.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:  2:35 – What we’re talking about 3:53 – Matthew’s background   5:26 – What the app does   9:25 – Developing the app 12:50 – Why provide all this for free? 19:38 – How long did the coding take 23:45 – Capabilities of the app 25:49 – The calculator   29:22 – The future of the app 31:49 – His costs 33:42 – How can CRNAs get involved

The history of the nurse anesthesia profession is a bit murky as records weren’t kept well through the years as medicine and healthcare progressed, but there are opinions on who the first anesthetist was. Today we’ll examine the most likely candidates with our historians Nancy Bruton-Maree, CRNA, and Sandy Ouellette, CRNA, and try to determine who can claim the title of the real first anesthetist.   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:  3:00 – Background on this topic 6:36 – History books on anesthesia 10:21 – Historical information 15:08 – Humphry Davy 16:16 – Crawford Long   17:51 – Horace Wells   19:27 – William Morton 22:35 – James Simpson 23:06 – John Snow 28:39 – The real first anesthetist according to AANA 33:56 – Who was in the earliest American hospitals?   38:08 – Disputes   40:44 – The role nuns played 42:58 – The evolution of names for anesthetists 46:32 – Sandy’s opinion on first anesthetists 48:21 – Final thoughts   Resources mentioned on the show:  The Wondrous Story of Anesthesia The Etherist Podcast The Global Voice for Nurse Anesthesia - IFNA (1989-2021)  

It’s something outside people might never think about but ambient noise can have a direct impact on the health of CRNAs and the safety of the patients. Many people working in operating rooms don’t realize the effect that elevated noise levels can have and there might be different reasons for that. But we wanted to bring Marianne Cosgrove, CRNA, DNAP, APRN, PhD, onto the show to tell us more about the research she’s done in this area and what she’s found.   Read more: http://beyondthemaskpodcast.com    About our guest: https://medicine.yale.edu/profile/marianne_cosgrove/    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: 2:06 – Welcome in our guest today 4:15 – Where did this interest come from?  6:45 – Sharon’s background in this subject  7:56 – Her study 13:27– Sound levels in the OR 15:43 – Return on the surveys 18:35 – Other survey findings 20:00 – Other contributors to the noise  22:42 – CRNAs reaction to this 26:41 – Patient safety 29:54 – How to mitigate the noise  34:44 – Lightning Round