What if learning could be both highly effective and a genuinely fun experience? In this episode, we explore an innovative approach to CRNA education that blends simulation, competition, and teamwork to create deeper engagement and better outcomes for students.

AANA Chief Science & Practice Officer Shayne Hauglum, PhD, CRNA, APRN, joins the show to share how “Sim Wars” is reshaping the way students learn by focusing on communication, leadership, and team dynamics instead of just technical skills.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🎮 Learning Through Competition: Gamified simulations can boost engagement and retention

🤝 Team Dynamics Matter: Communication and teamwork often matter more than technical skill

📊 Measure What Matters: Innovation without evaluation limits long-term impact

🧠 Stress Is Real: Today’s students face intense pressure

🚀 Future-Focused Training: Preparing students for real-world collaboration is critical

About our guest: https://www.aana.com/about-us/leadership/aana-executive-team/

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GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have exploded in popularity for diabetes treatment and weight loss, but their rapid rise is creating new considerations for anesthesia providers. As more patients arrive for procedures while taking these medications, CRNAs and anesthesia teams must navigate evolving guidelines, potential aspiration risks, and uncertainty about perioperative management.

In this episode, Amy Reed, Ph.D, CRNA returns to discuss the latest research and recommendations surrounding GLP-1 receptor agonists in anesthesia practice.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

💊 GLP-1 medications aren’t new but their popularity is

⚠️ Aspiration risk is still the primary anesthesia concern

📋 Guidelines are evolving and sometimes conflicting

🔍 Point-of-care gastric ultrasound is gaining traction

📊 More research is still needed

Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/

The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099

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

Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1

Today we’re taking listeners beyond technical skill and into one of the most critical yet often overlooked competencies in the operating room: emotional intelligence. In a profession defined by precision, timing, and high-stakes decision-making, the ability to understand and manage emotions can be just as vital as mastering airway management or pharmacology.

Joining the conversation is Brian Barry, who brings a powerful perspective on how emotional intelligence shapes not only individual performance but also team dynamics, leadership effectiveness, and ultimately patient outcomes.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🧠 EQ drives performance more than IQ

⚠️ Low EQ can impact patient outcomes

🔥 Stress amplifies emotional reactions

🗣️ How you communicate matters more than what you say

🔄 Emotional intelligence is learnable

Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/

The 1099 CRNA Institute: https://aana.com/1099

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

Now you can watch the show on YouTube! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCknrmkRxiwtYk7LUjSV6wmw?sub_confirmation=1