Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

When we finally make it through the worst of the COVID-19 outbreak, there will be stories from across the country about heroes on the front lines that saved lives and prevented disasters. Nurses everywhere are battling the virus, and one millenial SRNA is giving them a voice now through an anonymous platform.   Read more and get additional resources here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2370    See the Mission for Masks form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqX7mNJv4cZtJTAsyb9ZEf-9VOxlXk9xwVehO8sy0h5XKbbg/viewform    Today's rundown:  2:56 – Welcome in our guest Sonja Schwartzbach, BSN, RN, CCRN 3:45 – Sonja explains what her book is all about.   5:02 – Sharon found out about Sonja just recently and the impact she’s been making.   6:16 – How she started her Instagram account and found a way to use it to build the nursing community. 8:38 – She’s been doing a lot of work involving COVID-19 right in a hard hit area and describes where the biggest needs are. 9:48 – She started the Mission for Masks Google Form template to anonymously collect stories and got a lot of feedback immediately. 11:29 – These strains are happening across the country, not just in CA, NY, and WA. 12:59 – This is giving nurses a platform to speak out and share info from the frontlines. 15:10 – The history of retaliation in the nursing profession. 18:16 – What else has happened since the article came out in the The New York Times? 19:44 – Sonja shares some of the stories she’s hearing around the country right now. 21:33 – ‘There’s a sense of such helplessness.’ 23:45 – Hopefully we come out of this and are much more prepared for an outbreak like this. 27:28 – Wrapping up the conversation with a final message from Sonja.   

When we talk about COVID-19, our attention goes immediately to our own cities and states, but the US is one of more than 150 countries dealing with the pandemic right now. To get an update on how CRNAs around the globe are being impacted, we talk with IFNA President Jackie Rowles, MBA, CRNA, ANP-BC, FAAN.   Read more and get additional resources here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2363    Today's rundown:  1:42– Jackie Rowles updates us on some of the headlines globally, which countries are being impacted, and how students are being called to help. 7:06– Jackie details her visit to Brussels before returning back to the US. 8:27– How is everyone holding up around the world? 11:32– We’re all going to deal with a learning curve through this ordeal but we also have to do an in-depth analysis after to become more prepared. 12:40 – Do countries have the personal protective equipment that they need? 13:49– Why was the US so underprepared? 20:28– The bottomline is there’s just so much uncertainty with this and it’s impacting employment. 23:16– Teamwork rises above the politics and we’re all having to come together. 25:26– There’s a demand for healthcare and the elective procedures will come back strong. 28:04– We need to take more precautions when we’re traveling. 32:07 – Jackie’s final message about being blessed to serve the IFNA on behalf of our country.

No one could have predicted the outbreak we’ve seen from COVID-19, and it’s served as a wake up call for many people. We’ve all been impacted financially or emotionally or both, and now we’re getting a lot of questions about how we can manage finances when income is up in the air. On this bonus episode, we’ll look at the options you have during this uncertain time.     Read more and get additional resources here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/bonus-episode-covid-19-has-impacted-my-income-what-are-my-options/2358/    Contact CRNA Financial Planning here: https://www.crnafinancialplanning.com/    Today's rundown: 1:32 – Everyone is being impacted financially and emotionally right now. 4:08 – Things can change in an instant, like employment status, so you need to have an emergency fund. 7:19 – Roles and responsibilities for CRNAs are even changing during this pandemic. 10:09 – A lot of CRNAs are worried right now about income.   14:30 – Can I file for unemployment? 16:47 – What if you work for a company/hospital and get reduced hours? 18:09 – Options for hospital-employed CRNAs 22:03 – How is the unemployment amount calculated? 24:27 – Hopefully we all learn a lot from this experience once it passes.   26:32 – Basic financial steps you need to be taking everyday. 30:32 – Don’t forget that tax deadlines have been pushed back. 32:50 – Jeremy’s final message for everyone.

Nursing continues to grow its presence in politics and no one represents those achievements better than Bethany Hall-Long. The Lt. Governor of Delaware became the first nurse in the country to hold that esteemed position and she joins the show today to talk about the importance of being involved and having a voice in policy-making.   About our guest: https://ltgov.delaware.gov/    Read more and get additional resources here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2353    Today's rundown:  1:44 – We’re excited to welcome Bethany Hall-Long on the show. 2:19 – Bethany gives us a little background on herself and career.   4:15 – The Coronavirus shows why it’s so important to having the calming voices of nurses in the policy-making world. 5:30 – Sharon begins the conversation with a story about connecting with Bethany. 6:44 – Where did Bethany’s interest in a political career come from? 9:32 – Take us back to your first election and what lessons you learned from that? 14:09 – Why should nurses be involved in policy? 16:11 – What are some of the risks when nurses aren’t at the table? 19:02 – If no one is speaking for nurses, who will? 20:04 – We’re seeing examples of this with COVID-19.   21:44 – Nurses seem to have the makeup to be strong leaders. Why don’t they run very often? 25:31 – Bethany will be joining the candidate school for nurses at Yale. 29:08 – If you could choose another profession, what would it be? 32:19 – Bethany leaves us with one final message.

Have you ever aspired to be the association president in your state but aren’t completely sure how to get there? We brought together four former state presidents for a roundtable discussion on the path to reach that position. We’ll talk about the traits you need, the importance of getting involved, and what everyone gained from the experience.     Read more and get additional CRNA resources: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2323    Today's show rundown:  2:25 – A Facebook message sparked the idea for this episode. 2:58 – Former presidents Jackie Rowles, Tracy Castleman & Carole Doyscher join us today. 4:03 – What’s the first step on that path to presidency? 5:48 – Carole feels finding a mentor is very important.   6:36 – Tracy was a big part of the AANA’s mentorship program getting started. 8:19 – Jackie shares her perspective on what it takes to rise up. 9:51 – If a young CRNA wants to get involved, what should that first step be? 11:41 – The women discus character traits they’ve seen from leaders. 15:48 – You have to be able to identify someone that can come up behind you and be your replacement.   17:04 – There’s a sacrifice to be made when you take a leadership position.   19:22 – What resources do we have at the AANA level? 23:06 – How do you prepare for issues? 25:04 – Carole shares her point of view working in a small state like South Dakota. 27:44 – Teamwork is important and finding a great lobbyist is crucial 28:45 – As a president in a state, what exactly do you do?   30:56 – Remember that you are a representative the entire profession. 32:04 – Summarizing what everyone feels about the role of the president. 33:37 – What did each woman get out of taking the president role in their state?

We continue our ‘Courage to Lead’ series by bringing Nancy Bruton-Maree, CRNA, MS, into the studio to look back on her time as AANA President. Join us as we discuss the accomplishments, the lessons learned, and what message she wants to get across to the next generation of CRNAs.   Read more about Nancy and get additional resources here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2319    Today's show rundown:  2:12 – Nancy Bruton-Maree joins us in studio today. 2:28 – Summarize some of the things that happened during your AANA presidency. 4:26 – The office based guidelines began during her time on the board. She explains how it came to be. 6:50 – Mentoring program for doctorate-level students was a new concept 25 years ago. 9:56 – This progression of education has taken place over a short period of time. Why is that?   11:34 – Nancy remembers the new program director’s orientation workshop that was in place. 13:31 – The AANA was an early adopter of the dedication of the Women in Military Service Memorial. 14:47 – Were there a lot more women than men in the 80s and 90s? 16:00 – The first CRNA boat cruise was held during her year. 16:45 – HCFA and the deferral to states on supervision of CRNA Medicare cases. 21:30 – Nancy talks about the strong board that she had. 23:45 – Board meetings were very organized and efficient. 25:16 – Here are some of the lessons Nancy learned as president. 28:16 – What would you tell the new generation of CRNAs about the profession? 31:42 – If she couldn’t be a CRNA, Nancy would be a veterinarian.

Choosing to become a CRNA requires a lot of hard work or dedication but the time has never been better to enter this profession. We wanted to get a better sense of the challenges and opportunities for anesthesia school students in 2020 and Dr. Kristie Hoch, DNP, CRNA, MS, RRT, from the University of Arizona’s College of Nursing will help us gain that perspective.   About the guest: Dr. Kristie Hoch, DNP, CRNA, MS, RRT is the Program Administrator for the University of Arizona's DNP-Nurse Anesthesia program. She chose to become a CRNA after serving with them in Desert Storm.  Kristie has years of experience as a CRNA in every practice model and setting, to include office based, critical access, academic teaching hospital and trauma centers   Check out the show notes and get additional resources here: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2309    ***CE CREDIT ALERT: Did you know you can get continuing education credit from the AANA for listening to this episode? Go to AANACKN.com to get the details and get your credit today! And see a list of other episodes that qualify for CE credit here. Note, some episodes are pending CE approval and may have an expiration date.   Today's show rundown:  2:08 – Welcome in our guest Dr. Kristie Hoch, DNP, CRNA, MS, RRT  2:33 – Today we’re focusing on students and their perspectives as they learn in anesthesia school. 3:57 – This is an important topic because these students are our future and we need to provide all the tools they need. 4:29 – What are the advantages of being a nurse anesthesia student in 2020? 6:17 – Online classes today allow Kristie to provide students the lecture ahead of time and use class for discussion. 7:24 – Anesthesia class is such a challenge so we want to make sure each student has a support system. 7:50 – Students are able to find mentorships through social media and other online sites. 9:00 – How has the demand for CRNAs affected Kristie’s work? 10:22 – How is the DNP changing opportunities for students and CRNAs? 12:20 – Dr. Hoch shares an ‘aha moment’ 13:25 – The prospects for these graduating students is very bright in 2020.   14:42 – One of the big challenges still is how costly the education process has become. 16:48 – Financial education needs to be a conversation for students throughout the process. 19:12 – We tell students to live like they did on a nurse salary for a few years to pay off debt and gain control of finances. 21:24 – Another thing students are completely unaware of is that they move up a tax bracket. 21:49 – A popular conversation we have with students is W-2 vs 1099 work. 22:38 – What are some of the other challenges are students are facing right now? 26:29 – Social media has its advantages, but it can also be very disruptive to students and their careers.   30:25 – There’s so much negativity on social media with people tearing each other down. Why is that? 31:48 – How Dr. Hoch got into education. She shares the story of saying no to the job and why her mind changed. 33:50 – Dr. Hoch explains the unique way that she picks her travel.             35:09 – Her last trip was to Santa Fe. 35:46 – Dr. Hoch’s final message to students about how challenging school is but how rewarding it will ultimate be.

The three women behind the Scrub Caps & Sippy Cups podcast joins us to talk about the personal side of the profession. Being a mother is such a difficult job on its own but then you add in a CRNA career and it can be a struggle at times. You’re not alone! Let’s speak candidly about the challenges and how we can lean on each other for support.   Full show notes and additional resources: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2292    Today's rundown:  1:33 – Jeremy and Sharon use Facebook Live today.  1:55 – Sharon is excited about this topic. She’s been talking about this for months. 2:38 – Welcome CRNAs Crystal, Ellen, and Laci from the Scrub Caps & Sippy Cups podcast. 2:49 – Laci shares her background as a CRNA.    3:50 – Ellen tells us about growing up in the Ukraine, her career, and family.  4:54 – Crystal shares her background.   7:28 – Why is this subject so important and what made you start this podcast?  8:23 – Social media has allowed moms from all over the country to connect with each and support one another.  9:52 – All three ladies live in different states and time zones. Have they been able to meet face to face yet? 12:56 – What was your biggest misconception about parenting?  13:52 – What was Crystal most unprepared for when becoming a parent? 14:33 – The difficulty of breastfeeding explained to Jeremy.  16:52 – Jeremy stirs it up with another question about breastfeeding.   18:34 – There’s so much external guilt placed upon moms to breastfeed.  20:13 – Mom-judging goes both ways, too.  21:26 – Let’s talk about the difficulty of making a marriage work on top of everything else.  24:38 – Crystal talks about the issues and challenges of marriage with kids and a career. 25:20 – The subject of love language comes up and some of us share ours.  27:19 – The discussion of laundry and husbands takes over.  29:40 – What do you make time for to take care of yourself? 33:06 – It’s important to maintain your own identity.  35:28 – Here’s where you can find the ladies and connect with them.  36:10 – Final thoughts from the ladies.    Come join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beyondthemaskpodcast/?modal=admin_todo_tour 

The state of North Carolina is fortunate enough to have Cathy Briggs, CRNA, documenting the history of the organization as well as the profession for the NCANA. She joins us today to look back on the lessons learned through the years, the important legal battles, and the people who have influenced the most.   Show notes and additional resources: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2279    Today's rundown:  1:33 – We’re recording at the NCANA meeting in Wilmington. 2:16 – Today we’re joined by Cathy Briggs, historian for NCANA.   2:38 – How did you get involved in this role? 3:49 – Kathy being given the lifetime achievement award from the NCANA. 4:24 – What are some of the important things in our history that we can learn from? 6:21 – 50% of all CRNAs are going to retire in the next 10 years. 6:50 – How strong is the NCANA? 7:33 – Looking back on some of the legal battles North Carolina has faced. 9:11 – North Carolina has used strong advertising efforts to create awareness for the industry. 11:37 – Who has influenced the history of the NCANA the most? 12:48 – Cathy is seeing a trend that current students aren’t as aware of the association as past generations. 15:18 – Has there been much collaboration between other advanced nursing professionals? 16:22 – What can we do to encourage SRNAs? 21:16 – Tell us more about what’s happening with legislation.   22:42 – Some history on when the NCANA was formed. 24:44 – What would Cathy be doing if she wasn’t a CRNA? 26:14 – Final message from Cathy on staying involved.   29:09 – Cathy recalls a message she heard years ago that sticks with her today.

Our latest installment of the ‘Courage to Lead’ series features Sandy Ouellette, CRNA, who was president of the AANA in 1989. We go back in time to reflect on her long list of accomplishments from that year and beyond. Sandy played a key role in Medicare reimbursement, the IFNA’s creation, and AANA insurance and she looks back on each of these and more.     Show notes and additional resources: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2270    Today's Rundown:  2:18 – One of our favorites is in studio with us today, Sandy Ouellette. 2:47 – Sandy takes us back through her year as AANA president. 3:42 – A list of achievements in 1989. 6:52 – ‘Sandyisms’ 7:45 – What was the role of the board of directors and Medicare reimbursement that year? 9:51 – It takes a village to make these changes.   10:28 – TEFRA and how ratios were agreed upon. 12:18 – Some history on the formation of IFNA 16:03 – AANA insurance celebrated 30 years in 2019. Why was it formed and what was the purpose of that?   18:53 – The insurance has also created some additional benefits.   19:21 – Sandy describes the replica dividend check she received which shows how much has been given back to the AANA. 21:17 – The College Bowl has become a special event. 23:16 – Sandy shares the trade publications that have made a big impact on the industry and how history will be documented moving forward. 27:58 – What are the most valuable leadership lessons Sandy learned during her year in office? 30:05 – As this new generation of CRNAs takes over, what message would you like to get across to them? 32:05 – We need to use the power of social media for good. 34:10 – Sandy wouldn’t change her career path if given another opportunity. 36:00 – One final message from Sandy.