CRNA Mentor

In this episode of the CRNA Mentor Podcast, I'm joined by Dr. Jillian Moyer, a recent graduate of the University of Scranton Nurse Anesthesia Program, to discuss how one unexpected clinical experience during CRNA school ultimately became a publication in the AANA Journal. What began as a rare unilateral spinal anesthetic quickly became much more than an interesting case. Through the guidance of an...

If you've spent any time exploring nurse anesthesia online, you've probably heard people talk about locums, 1099 practice, and the freedom and flexibility they can offer. But what do those terms actually mean? And how do they differ from traditional W-2 employment? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Nijma Yusuf, CRNA—founder of Direct to Locums, entrepreneur, and national advocate for the nurse...

Most anesthesia providers assume that professional growth comes from increasingly complex cases, bigger hospitals, and higher-acuity patients. But what if growth can also come from stepping outside of what's familiar? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. T.D. Carnahan, CRNA, owner of Sandman Slumber Services, incoming Vice President of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA), and...

Many nurses aspire to become CRNAs. But long before you ever administer an anesthetic, something else has to happen first—you have to begin thinking differently. In this episode, I sit down with Brandon Brueckner, a new SRNA whose experience as a Critical Response Nurse at a Level I Trauma Center helped shape his clinical judgment, leadership skills, and provider mindset before starting CRNA schoo...

Most people think of anesthesia as something that happens inside the operating room. But what happens when anesthesia leaves the hospital? In this episode of the CRNA Mentor Podcast, I sit down with Bonjo Batoon, CRNA, a staff nurse anesthetist at the world-renowned R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Bonjo is a member of the Shock Trauma Go-Team, a hospital-based rapid resp...

This episode of the CRNA Mentor Podcast is focused on one of the most overlooked aspects of professional growth in nurse anesthesia: getting involved early. In this conversation, I sit down with Jake Bonnema, CRNA - Chair of the AANA Political Action Committee and board member for the Illinois Association of Nurse Anesthesiology - to discuss how mentorship, advocacy, and organizational involvement...

In this episode, I’m joined by Seana Lee, a first-year SRNA at Virginia Commonwealth University, to discuss a topic that many aspiring CRNAs misunderstand—networking. But this conversation goes far beyond simply introducing yourself at conferences or collecting contacts. Seana shares how intentional networking, mentorship, and relationship-building helped shape her CRNA journey long before she eve...

In this episode of the CRNA Mentor Podcast, I’m joined by Juliana Washington, a second-year nurse anesthesia resident in North Carolina, class president, and speaker at the North Carolina state anesthesia conference, to discuss her journey from Brazil to CRNA school. Juliana shares the realities of adapting to a new country, overcoming rejection, navigating self-doubt, and ultimately finding belon...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Michael Greco, CRNA, educator, and one of the key architects behind one of the first integrated dual Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) and CRNA doctoral programs. Together, we explore a model that goes far beyond adding another credential—it challenges how we think about training clinicians in an increasingly complex healthcare system. We d...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kevin Chem to talk about what it really looks like to move from focusing on “getting in” CRNA school to stepping into a role that contributes to the profession on a national level. We explore his journey from NAR to becoming actively involved in the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), his experience with the Grade 1 View Podcast, and what he’s...

In this episode, we take a deep dive into navigating the AANA Mid-Year Assembly—specifically designed to help RNs and APRNs understand how to approach the conference with clarity, confidence, and intention. This episode is part of the Advocacy Mini-Series, and it's the most important one yet! If you’re attending Mid-Year Assembly, it can feel overwhelming—a full schedule, unfamiliar terminology, a...

In this episode, we go inside CRNA school—what it actually looks like, what it demands of you, and how to make the most of the experience once you’ve been accepted. I’m joined by Madisyn Granoski, a Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist at the University of Scranton, Student Trustee with PANA, and someone who has fully immersed herself in the profession early in her training. This conversation is c...

In this episode of the CRNA Mentor Podcast, we’re diving into the RN/APRN Meet & Greet at the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Mid-Year Assembly—and more importantly, how to navigate this experience with confidence. If you’re planning to attend Mid-Year Assembly as a nurse or aspiring CRNA, it’s completely normal to feel uncertain walking into a conference centered around advocacy....

One of the biggest mistakes I see aspiring CRNAs make is applying to programs they don’t truly understand. They spend months perfecting their resume, studying for the GRE, and preparing their applications—but they’ve never taken the time to deeply learn about the programs they’re applying to. This episode is designed to change that. CRNA program information sessions and open houses are some of the...

The CRNA Mentor Community has grown into one of one of the most inclusive and diverse spaces online for aspiring nurse anesthetists — bringing together students, ICU nurses, SRNAs, CRNAs, CRNA school program faculty, and aspiring CRNAs from around the world. But joining a professional community and truly leveraging it for growth are two very different things. In this episode, I walk you through ho...

Many aspiring CRNAs interpret rejection personally. But admissions committees aren’t making emotional decisions — they’re making predictive ones. This episode was inspired by and built upon Dr. Mike MacKinnon’s Substack article: Didn’t Get Accepted to a CRNA Program? Read This First. Part 1: How Admissions Actually Work. Dr. MacKinnon is a practicing nurse anesthesiologist, educator, national poli...

What Is Your Why? There’s a moment in your CRNA school interview when everything gets quiet. You’ve talked about your ICU experience. You’ve answered the clinical questions. And then someone leans forward and asks: “Why do you want to be a CRNA?” And in that moment, you realize they’re not asking about your resume. They’re asking about who you are — and what drives you. In this episode of the CRNA...

This episode is part of our Advocacy Mini-Series leading up to Mid-Year Assembly - but this conversation is about something even more foundational than policy. It’s about immersion. In this episode, we explore why attending anesthesia conferences isn’t just something you add to your resume... it’s something that shapes your identity. When you immerse yourself in nurse anesthesia, something shifts....

The Department of Education is currently in an open public comment period, closing March 2, 2026. PLEASE, PLEASE click the link below to submit a comment to the Department of Education: https://aana.quorum.us/campaign/151823/ Today’s episode revisits a critical conversation about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed changes to federal student loan borrowin...

Welcome back to the CRNA Mentor Podcast. This episode marks the launch of something I’m especially excited about—an Advocacy Mini-Series created specifically for aspiring CRNAs who want to understand, protect, and confidently advocate for our profession. Advocacy doesn’t start with arguments, sound bites, or social media debates. It starts with understanding. In this episode, Why History Matters i...

“If you’ve ever been told no by a CRNA program… this episode is for you. If your GPA isn’t perfect… this episode is for you. If your CRNA journey hasn’t been linear… this episode is for you.” In this episode of the CRNA Mentor Podcast, I sit down with one of the most inspiring members of our CRNA Mentor Community, Ike Bartel—a SRNA who embodies what it truly means to pursue this profession with pe...

Welcome to the very first episode of the CRNA Mentor Podcast. CRNA Mentor was created to serve as a mentorship program for aspiring CRNAs to navigate their journey to become nurse anesthetists. This podcast is an extension of the CRNA Mentor brand and mentorship program, built to help you move forward with clarity, confidence, and intention. In this inaugural episode, I share why I founded CRNA Me...