Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs

Healthcare innovation is often associated with software developers, startup founders, and technology companies. But what if some of the most important solutions to healthcare's biggest challenges are sitting inside operating rooms, classrooms, and clinical settings every day? CRNAs and nurses see problems firsthand, yet they are rarely invited into the rooms where solutions are created. In this episode, Sharon and Jeremy welcome nurse entrepreneur Rebecca Love, RN, MSN, FIEL and AANA Senior Innovation Specialist Cherissa Jackson to discuss the upcoming AANA Hackathon at the AANA Annual Congress. This event creates a space for clinicians, educators, students, and innovators to collaborate and develop solutions for the daily challenges CRNAs see firsthand. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 💡 Innovation Mindset – Learning to think beyond the status quo 🤝 Collaboration – Solving problems through teamwork 🚀 Hackathon Experience – What participants can expect 🎤 Finding Your Voice – Empowering CRNAs to lead change 🏥 Future Solutions – Improving healthcare through innovation Reserve your spot at the 2026 AANA Hackathon: https://share.hsforms.com/1IVEbc-ymRGejiLnE8eRmuw4rpz6?utm_campaign=Congress26&utm_source=aana_com&utm_medium=congress_events_page 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

Nurses are consistently ranked as the most trusted profession in America. So why aren't more nurses helping shape the conversations that influence healthcare policy, patient education, technology, and innovation? In this episode of Beyond the Mask, Sharon and guest co-host Laura Ardizzone, MS, MBA, DNP, CRNA welcome Stroke Certified Registered Nurse, podcaster, author, and healthcare communicator Rosa Hart for a conversation about the power of storytelling, communication, and advocacy in modern healthcare. Drawing from her experiences in stroke care, podcasting, and healthcare media, Rosa explains why nurses possess a unique ability to translate complex medical information into meaningful conversations that patients and families can understand. She shares how witnessing remarkable stroke recoveries inspired her passion for education and discusses how communication may be one of the most overlooked clinical skills in healthcare. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🗣️ Nurses have a unique ability to translate complex healthcare information. 🧠 Most strokes are preventable through better health management and blood pressure control. 🎙️ Storytelling and media can educate far more people than one-on-one interactions alone. 💡 Healthcare professionals shouldn't wait for permission to share their expertise. 🚀 Small voices can create big change when focused on solving problems. About our guest: https://nurserosaspeaks.com/ 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

What really matters when you move from being a student to stepping into your role as a CRNA? In this special crossover episode recorded at the AANA Mid-Year Assembly in Washington, D.C., Levi Davis interviews Airway Exchange hosts Nickie Damico, PhD, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA and Greg Collins, DNP, CRNA about advocacy, their role as educators, and the transition from resident to practicing CRNA. Mid-Year Assembly brings together CRNAs, residents, and nursing students to discuss important topics in the field of nurse anesthesia. It serves as a platform for networking, advocacy, and education, creating an atmosphere unlike any other. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🏛️ Advocacy shapes your future career 🤝 Networking builds long-term opportunities 🎓 The transition to CRNA is a mindset shift ⚠️ Confidence and vigilance must balance 🧠 Culture matters in your first job 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