From the Head of the Bed

This is the final episode of From the Head of the Bed. But wait! There’s more! We’re transitioning to an all new & improved platform & podcast: Anesthesia Guidebook! Anesthesia Guidebook is the go-to guide for anesthesia providers who want … #70 – Anesthesia Guidebook Read More »

In this episode, I have the privilege of speaking with Ben Levin, MD on the perioperative management of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for non-cardiac surgery. We discuss device function, cardiac physiology, and perioperative management and monitoring of … #69 – LVADs in non-cardiac surgery with Ben Levin, MD Read More »

Josh Lea, DNP, MBA, CRNA and Kelly Gallant, PhD, MSN, CRNA join me to discuss workplace incivility in anesthesia training. We discuss the role of precepting SRNAs and anesthesia residents, root causes and implications of incivility and processes for improving … #68 – Workplace incivility with Joshua Lea, DNP, MBA, CRNA & Kelly Gallant, PhD, MSN, CRNA Read More »

Regional anesthesia is Shane Garner’s passion and in this episode he and I talk about regional from a 10,000-foot view. We cover the fellowship programs available to CRNAs and the NBCRNA’s board certification exam in Non-Surgical Pain Management. We talk … #67 – Regional anesthesia with Shane Garner, MS, CRNA, NSPM-C Read More »

Shane Garner, MS, CRNA, NSPM-C & I discuss what he considers to be five keys for achieving financial independence. The keys are: 1. Set goals to live below your means. 2. Pay yourself first. 3. Avoid debt. 4. Invest in … #66 – The 5 Keys for Achieving Financial Independence with Shane Garner, MS, CRNA, NSPM-C Read More »

I’m joined on the show today by Kelly Gallant, PhD, SRNA and Adrienne Chavez, BSN, SRNA to talk about Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist (SRNA) wellness in light of the COVID19 pandemic. Kelly and Adrienne are the immediate past and current … #65 – SRNA Wellness with Adrienne Chavez, BSN, SRNA & Kelly Gallant, PhD, SRNA Read More »

In this post, I speak to the SRNA’s who’ve been furloughed from clinical during the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. I offer advice for how to maximize down time and stay focused on moving forward towards graduation, boards and a rewarding career in … #64 – SRNAs: moving forward when furloughed Read More »

In this podcast, Matt Zinder, MS, CRNA, CH walks us through a fifteen-minute guided relaxation session. You need this. We need this. You should try this at home or on your lunch break at work.  But not while you’re driving.  … #63 – Guided Relaxation with Matt Zinder, MS, CRNA, CH Read More »

This podcast was recorded on Saturday, 21 March 2020 and is a quick run down of the Imperial College London report that was published 16 March 2020. This report dramatically shifted the public policy of the United States and Great … #62 – Imperial College Report – the scope of COVID19 Read More »

CLICK THE LINK ON THE IMAGE FOR THE YOUTUBE VIDEO POWERPOINT PRESENTATION: In this episode I discuss the coronavirus pandemic with pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, Jonathan Meserve, MD.  The audio podcast will be Dr Meserve walking us through his powerpoint presentation … #61 – Coronavirus (COVID-19) with Jonathan Meserve, MD Read More »

Matthew Zinder, MS, CRNA, CH has worked in some level of healthcare for close to 25 years, starting as an EMT in a volunteer fire station. Matthew owns and operates the Maryland-based mobile anesthesia practice Zinder Anesthesia, LLC, that has … #60 – Peace of Mind During COVID19 Pandemic with Matt Zinder, MS, CRNA, CH Read More »

Hey yall – this episode is geared to help you think about where you are and where you’re headed. I pull in some perspectives from leading psychologists, authors and explores that have helped me triangulate where I am and were … #59 – Swing the Bat Read More »

In this episode Dr Cynthia Farina and I talk about what it means to be in the mid-to-late phase of your career as a CRNA.   Dr Farina is a CRNA from Michigan who currently serves as chair of the American … #58 – The mid-to-late career phase with Cindy Farina, DNP, CRNA, CNE Read More »

In this episode, Tracy Young, CRNA, MBA & CEO of YPS Anesthesia Services, provides a run down of the business of anesthesia. He discusses the origin and mission of his business, YPS Anesthesia Services, which manages staffing 450 anesthesia providers … #57 – The Business of Anesthesia with Tracy Young, CRNA, MBA Read More »

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr April Bourgoin recently about vaping related lung injury. Dr Bourgoin joined us on the podcast to discuss OR Fires under her maiden name, April Ritter, back in February 2019. She recently married … #56 – Vaping associated lung injury (EVALI) with April Ritter Bourgoin, DNAP, CRNA Read More »

This is a throw down for Black Friday… I’ve got 2 challenges for you: 1. Make an extra student loan payment this week. 2. Opt Outside. What’s up with these? Why is an anesthesia podcast dropping a challenge about what … #55 – Black Friday Challenge Read More »

Kate currently practices anesthesia as a CRNA in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Maine Medical Center.  Prior to nursing, Kate was an organic chemist with research and management experience in both industrial as well as pharmaceutical research … #54 – Kate Balzano-Cowan, MSN, CRNA on paying off student loan debt Read More »

The Top Drawer Run Down covers the most common medications found in the top drawer of an anesthesia cart. Developing a mastery of these medications lays the foundation to a safe and effective anesthesia practice. This podcast is a start … #53 – Top Drawer Run Down: Part 3 with Michael Mielniczeck, MSN, CRNA Read More »

The Top Drawer Run Down covers the most common medications found in the top drawer of an anesthesia cart. Developing a mastery of these medications lays the foundation to a safe and effective anesthesia practice. This podcast is a start … #52 – Top Drawer Run Down: Part 2 with Michael Mielniczek, MSN, CRNA Read More »

The Top Drawer Run Down covers the most common medications found in the top drawer of an anesthesia cart. Developing a mastery of these medications lays the foundation to a safe and effective anesthesia practice. This podcast is a start … #51 – Top Drawer Run Down: Part 1 with Michael Mielniczek, MSN, CRNA Read More »

This is a distillation of 10 key tips to help folks learning airway management to improve their skills. It’s also a framework for experienced providers to approach airway management from. This show gets straight to the point: 10 tips for … #50 – 10 Tips for Airway Management in 10 Minutes Read More »

In this episode, Skyler provides a thorough overview of local anesthetics including relevant anatomy and physiology (i.e. nerve fibers, sodium channels, pKa, etc), types of local anesthetics and factors that effect onset, potency, duration of action and absorption. We touch … #49 – Local Anesthetics – Skyler Rouhselang, BSN, SRNA Read More »

In this episode, Ashley walks us through an overview of the most common IV anesthesia induction agents. We cover propofol, ketamine, etomidate, barbiturates (e.g. methohexital), dexmedetomidine and benzodiazepines (e.g. midazolam). A run down of the mechanism of action, dosing, onset, … #48 – IV Induction Agents – Ashley Scheil, BSN, CRNA Read More »

In this episode, Skyler walks us through the pharmacodynamics of volatile anesthetics. We talk extensively about the concepts related to minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), the mechanism of action of volatile anesthetics and the physiologic response to volatiles. You don’t want … #47 – Pharmacodynamics of Volatile Anesthetics – Skyler Rouhselang, BSN, SRNA Read More »

In this episode, Skyler gives a succinct run down on the pharmacokinetics of volatile anesthetics. We talk about uptake, distribution, elimination and metabolism and unpack concepts such as blood gas solubility, oil gas solubility, Fa/Fi curves and more. You don’t … #46 – Pharmacokinetics of Volatile Anesthetics – Skyler Rouhselang, BSN, SRNA Read More »

In this episode, Ashley provides a detailed overview of the anesthesia machine, its components and key tips for using and troubleshooting it. If you want to know about or review the anesthesia machine… this is your podcast! At the time … #45 – The Anesthesia Machine – Ashley Scheil, BSN, SRNA Read More »

In this episode, Ashley and I talk through how to set up an operating room anesthesia workstation, perform preoperative patient assessment and progress through an IV induction and intubation. This is a great podcast to help SRNAs and other anesthesia … #44 – Clinical Flow: from OR set up through intubation – Ashley Scheil, BSN, SRNA Read More »

I had the distinct pleasure to talk with John Preston, DNSc, CRNA, APN and Lisa Kamen, CAE of the National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists (NBCRNA) on the Continued Professional Certification (CPC) Program. If you want to … #43 – NBCRNA CPC Program Overview – John Preston, DNSc, CRNA, ANP and Lisa Kamen, CAE Read More »

In this episode, we explore opioid free anesthesia with Tom Baribeault, MSN, CRNA and Jayme Reuter, MS, CRNA. Tom is the founder of the Society for Opioid Free Anesthesia and Jayme is the founder of Cornerstone Anesthesia Conferences. The three … #42 – Opioid Free Anesthesia – Tom Baribeault, MSN, CRNA & Jayme Reuter, MS, CRNA Read More »

I had the pleasure of speaking with Major April Ritter, DNAP, CRNA, recently on the topic of operating room fires… which is a bit of a hot topic in the perioperative world. Dr Ritter completed her Masters of Nursing Science … #41 – OR Fires – MAJ April Ritter, DNAP, CRNA, ANC, USAR Read More »

Hey folks! This podcast is about recharging. It’s a talk that touches on provider wellness and our need to find time on a weekly basis to pull back and take care of ourselves – to recharge! Below you’ll see the … #40 – Recharge – a talk on provider wellness Read More »

In this episode, I had the privilege of chatting with Michael Mielniczek, BSN, SRNA on an overview of succinylcholine. At the time of this recording, Michael was a second year Student Registered Nurse Anesthetist at the University of Scranton and … #39 – Succinylcholine Overview – Michael Mielniczek, BSN, SRNA Read More »

Tim Fitzgerald, MD is a surgical oncologist and Director of Surgical Oncology at Maine Medical Center and MaineHealth. He is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine and specializes in complex gastrointestinal surgery.  Dr Fitzgerald has … #38 – Enhanced Recovery Programs (“ERAS”) Part 3/3 – Tim Fitzgerald, MD Read More »

Tim Fitzgerald, MD is a surgical oncologist and Director of Surgical Oncology at Maine Medical Center and MaineHealth. He is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine and specializes in complex gastrointestinal surgery.  Dr Fitzgerald has … #37 – Enhanced Recovery Programs (“ERAS”) Part 2/3 – Tim Fitzgerald, MD Read More »

Tim Fitzgerald, MD is a surgical oncologist and Director of Surgical Oncology at Maine Medical Center and MaineHealth. He is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine and specializes in complex gastrointestinal surgery.  Dr Fitzgerald has … #36 – Enhanced Recovery Programs (“ERAS”) Part 1/3 – Tim Fitzgerald, MD Read More »

The September 2017 AANA News Bulletin contains an article I wrote titled:  SRNAs – Key Tips for Transitioning to Practice. The article builds on podcast #25 – Transitioning to Practice that I put out back in February 2016.  In the … #35 – AANA News Bulletin Article: Tips for Transitioning to Practice Read More »

I caught up with Christine Hein, MD recently to talk about healthcare provider wellness. Dr Hein is an emergency medicine physician and Director of the Provider Well-being and Peer Support program at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. I was … #34 – Provider Wellness – Christine Hein, MD Read More »

This is a quick overview of some continuing education opportunities coming up.  I’ll be co-instructing a NOLS Wilderness Medicine course with my good friend Sara Nelson, MD this October 20-22, 2017 near Flagstaff, Maine.  I’ll also help teach an anesthesia … #33 – NOLS Wilderness Medicine and Cornerstone Anesthesia Conference – Jon Lowrance, MSN, CRNA Read More »

In this podcast, I talk with Chuck Biddle, PhD, CRNA about iatrogenic infections related to anesthesia workstation behaviors.  This continues to be a focal point of Dr Biddle’s research on patient safety and is a topic that concerns every anesthesia … #32 – Iatrogenic infections related to anesthesia workstation behaviors – Chuck Biddle, PhD, CRNA Read More »

In this podcast, I chat with Chuck Biddle, PhD, CRNA about his and other research on at-home cardiorespiratory events following ambulatory surgery.  We discuss risk factors, screening tools and patient education that is designed to enhance patient safety and decrease … #31 – At-Home Cardiorespiratory Events Following Ambulatory Surgery – Chuck Biddle, PhD, CRNA Read More »

In 2014, Mason McDowell, DNAP, CRNA quit his job, sold most of what he owned and moved with his wife and two young daughters to Chad, Africa for a long-term commitment to provide anesthesia and education.  Here is a glimpse … #30 – Anesthesia in Chad, Africa: Part 2 – Mason McDowell, DNAP, CRNA Read More »

In 2014, Mason McDowell, DNAP, CRNA quit his job, sold most of what he owned and moved with his wife and two young daughters to Chad, Africa for a long-term commitment to provide anesthesia and education.  Here is a glimpse … #29 – Anesthesia in Chad, Africa: Part 1 – Mason McDowell, DNAP, CRNA Read More »

I talk with Denham Ward, MD, PhD on the topic of expertise in anesthesia.  Dr Ward is currently the director of the Academy at Maine Medical Center Institute for Teaching Excellence and a Professor of Anesthesiology at Tufts University School of … #28 – Expertise in Anesthesia – Denham Ward, MD, PhD Read More »

Jon provides a quick update on the publication of the article “Social media in nurse anesthesia – a model for a reproducible podcast” published in the February 2017 edition of the AANA Journal.  This article provides the literature review associated with … #27 – Social Media in Nurse Anesthesia – Jon Lowrance, MSN, CRNA Read More »

In this show I talk about hardship in anesthesia school. Yep. It is for you, actually.  It’s for you if you’re struggling.  Or even if you’re not – cause your classmate or colleague might be. This podcast is about the … #26 – Hardship in Anesthesia School – Jon Lowrance, MSN, CRNA Read More »

This episode covers advice for the last six months of anesthesia school, transitioning out of school and into the first six months of your CRNA practice! The year encompassing your last six months of anesthesia school through your first six months … #25 – Transitioning to Practice – Jon Lowrance, MSN, CRNA Read More »

Cherie Burke, DNP, CRNA discusses the concept of positive deviance in healthcare.  Highlights include how to effect change as healthcare providers and the power of focusing quality improvement proactively on what goes right in an organization verses reacting to errors and … #24 – Positive Deviance – Cherie Burke, DNP, CRNA Read More »

I sat down with Jon Bradstreet, MSN, CRNA to chat about how SRNAs and CRNAs can prepare for the job market.  Jon Bradstreet, MSN, CRNA is the Chief CRNA and Director of CRNA Services of Maine’s largest CRNA group and … #23 – Tips for the Job Hunt: How to Promote Yourself as a CRNA – Jon Bradstreet, MSN, CRNA Read More »

Jon caught up with Dr Juan Quintana, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and Kristie Hoch, president of the Maine Association of Nurse Anesthetists, to chat about the value of being a member of the American Association of … #22 – The Value of AANA Membership – Juan Quintana, CRNA, DNP, MHS & Kristie Hoch, APRN, CRNA, MSN Read More »

Dr Shawn Collins, DNP, PhD, CRNA discusses his research on Emotional Intelligence of Student Registered Nurse Anesthetists (SRNAs).  Highlights include the relevance of emotional intelligence to the practice of anesthesia, models of emotional intelligence and ways that emotional intelligence can … #21 – Emotional Intelligence of SRNAs – Shawn Collins, DNP, PhD, CRNA Read More »

Jon talks with Dr Shawn Collins, DNP, PhD, CRNA about the transition of CRNA education from a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).  We discuss the history, rationale and implications of the change … #20 – DNP: The Future of CRNA Education – Shawn Collins, DNP, PhD, CRNA Read More »