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 in Nurse Anesthesia, we slow the conversation down and focus on where our profession came from, how it evolved, and why certain tensions still exist in nurse anesthesiology today. Understanding this history is essential if we want to advocate calmly, confidently, and professionally.

I’m honored to be joined by Dr. Craig Atkins, a CRNA of over 35 years, program director at Rocky Vista University’s Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice program, retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves, and a true historian of nurse anesthesiology. Together, we explore the early roots of nurse anesthesia, the remarkable outcomes achieved by pioneers like Alice Magaw, the early professionalization of our specialty, and the historical context behind ongoing policy and professional debates—including TEFRA, opt-out, autonomy, and professional titles.

We also discuss the often-overlooked military history of CRNAs, the role of outcomes reporting in shaping modern practice, and why understanding this legacy matters before you ever enter the profession. Whether you’re an ICU nurse, nursing student, or someone just beginning to explore nurse anesthesia, this episode lays a critical foundation for informed, effective advocacy.

This advocacy mini-series is intentionally timed to culminate at the AANA’s Mid-Year Assembly in Washington, D.C., and is designed to help you build advocacy literacy rooted in facts, history, and professionalism—not emotion or hostility.

If you’re serious about becoming a CRNA, this episode will change how you view our profession—and your role in it.

Join the CRNA Mentor Community: https://facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity

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Get the anesthesia facts straight with: https://www.anesthesiafacts.com/

New episodes drop every Monday. Start your week off right with CRNA Mentor!

“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 persistence, preparation, and purpose.

Ike’s path to CRNA school was anything but straightforward. He started his nursing career in the Emergency Department, worked through critical care, the operating room, PACU, pre-op, endoscopy, anesthesia nursing, and leadership roles before getting accepted to a nurse anesthesia program. Along the way, he faced GPA struggles, imposter syndrome, and difficult career pivots.

What ultimately set Ike apart wasn’t perfection—it was relentless preparation, intellectual curiosity, humility, and his ability to network with CRNAs and mentors who believed in him before he believed in himself.

In this conversation, we talk about:

• Navigating rejection and staying in the fight after being declined from a program
• How to network with CRNAs in a meaningful way
• The transition from RN to SRNA and what no one tells you about the first year
• Why Ike served and mentored others in the CRNA Mentor Community before he was ever accepted
• The daily habits, mindset, and time-management strategies that contributed to his success
• What every aspiring CRNA should start doing today

Ike is where many of you want to be: accepted into CRNA school and thriving. This episode shows you exactly how he got there.

You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be persistent.

You don’t need a flawless GPA. You need a plan, mentors, and the humility to learn.

You need to Be Like Ike.

Join the CRNA Mentor Community: https://facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity Explore additional CRNA Mentor resources: https://stan.store/CRNAmentor

New episodes drop every Monday — start your week off right with CRNA Mentor Monday.

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 Mentor, how it evolved from TikTok videos and free phone calls into a growing Facebook community, and what drives my passion for supporting the next generation of nurse anesthetists. You’ll hear about my background as a CRNA—nearly a decade in practice in various settings including an ambulatory surgery center, community hospital, and Level I trauma center—as well as my roles as a preceptor, professor, and clinical lead CRNA.

We’ll talk about the three goals of CRNA Mentor:

• Inspiration – raising awareness and visibility for our profession

• Motivation – helping you push through setbacks and self-doubt

• Mentorship – emphasizing experience, building your ICU foundation, networking, & leadership development

This platform exists to help you streamline your journey, to be intentional with every step, and to find the role models in this profession who you aspire to be like.

Thank you for tuning in. If you’re looking for mentorship, community, and real guidance, join the CRNA Mentor Community—and don’t forget to share this episode with someone who needs it. Join us in the CRNA Mentor Community: https://facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity

Check out my other CRNA Mentor resources: https://stan.store/CRNAmentor

New episodes drop every Monday - start your week off right with CRNA Mentor Monday! Welcome to CRNA Mentor Podcast!