20: From Penn to Solo CRNA Practice: The Unexpected Growth of Independent Practice

20: From Penn to Solo CRNA Practice: The Unexpected Growth of Independent Practice

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 Chair of the AANA Membership Committee. After years practicing at the University of Pennsylvania, TD took a leap of faith and transitioned into a solo CRNA practice providing anesthesia for oral surgery procedures in an office-based setting. We discuss what it means to practice independently, the responsibility that comes with owning every clinical decision, patient selection, preoperative evaluation, office-based anesthesia, and the unique anesthetic techniques he uses every day. We also explore the All-on-4 dental implant procedure, how TD approaches nasal intubation, and why he believes he is a stronger CRNA today than he was when he left one of the nation's premier academic anesthesia environments. Most importantly, we discuss a message that extends far beyond dental anesthesia: professional growth doesn't always come from higher acuity. Sometimes it comes from greater ownership, greater responsibility, and the willingness to pursue opportunities that challenge you in unexpected ways. Whether you're an aspiring CRNA, SRNA, practicing CRNA, or simply interested in the many ways nurse anesthetists impact patient care, this episode offers a fascinating look at a practice model that many people never see. Join us in the CRNA Mentor Community: https://facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity [https://facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity] Check out my other CRNA Mentor resources: https://stan.store/CRNAmentor [https://stan.store/CRNAmentor] New episodes drop every Monday—start your week off right with CRNA Mentor Monday!

19: Thinking Like a Provider Before CRNA School

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 school. Together, we explore how this unique nursing role exposes clinicians to rapid responses, deteriorating patients, high-pressure decision-making, and constant collaboration with intensivists, trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, and advanced practice providers. We discuss: • What a Critical Response Nurse actually does • How repeated exposure to unstable patients sharpens clinical instincts • Learning to anticipate interventions before providers arrive • The hidden lessons gained from observing experienced physicians during emergencies • Why developing a provider mindset matters long before CRNA school begins One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that becoming a CRNA starts long before your first day of anesthesia school. The real advantage comes from intentionally seeking experiences that challenge your thinking, expand your clinical perspective, and help you grow beyond task-oriented nursing into a clinician who understands the bigger picture. Join us in the CRNA Mentor Community: https://facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity [https://facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity] Check out my other CRNA Mentor resources: https://stan.store/CRNAmentor [https://stan.store/CRNAmentor] New episodes drop every Monday—start your week off right with CRNA Mentor Monday!

18: The Most Unique CRNA Role in America? Bonjo Batoon, Shock Trauma GO-TEAM & Austere Medicine

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 response team that delivers anesthesia, surgical, and critical care services directly to the point of injury through ground and air deployment. We explore the concept of austere medicine, the role of CRNAs in prehospital trauma care, and how Bonjo's career has taken him far beyond the traditional walls of the operating room. From helicopter deployments and prolonged extrications to disaster response and leadership, this conversation expands the imagination of what is possible within nurse anesthesia. Bonjo also shares his journey into trauma anesthesia, the importance of professional identity, and why aspiring CRNAs should think beyond simply getting accepted into school and begin considering the type of clinician they hope to become. Whether you're a trauma ICU nurse, flight nurse, EMS clinician, military-minded provider, SRNA, or aspiring CRNA, this episode offers a unique perspective on one of the most uncommon and inspiring career paths within our profession. Topics Discussed: • Shock Trauma Go-Team • Austere Medicine • Prehospital Trauma Resuscitation • CRNA Autonomy • Disaster Response & NDMS Tactical Critical Care Teams (TCCT) • Leadership & Mentorship • Professional Identity in Nurse Anesthesia • Trauma Anesthesia Learn about the GO-TEAM: https://www.ems1.com/trauma/marylands-go-team-on-the-go [https://www.ems1.com/trauma/marylands-go-team-on-the-go] https://www.ems1.com/rescue/articles/etomidate-extrication-and-etsy-VjlMwlLC1hCl7OFX/ [https://www.ems1.com/rescue/articles/etomidate-extrication-and-etsy-VjlMwlLC1hCl7OFX/] Join the CRNA Mentor Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity [https://www.facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity] Check out my CRNA Mentor resources: https://stan.store/CRNAmentor [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbW1adkRJYldqUDd3dXhya21yUkl1TmdiQWcyQXxBQ3Jtc0tuTldwS0xkVlF1U3l6SmdXQ0J2TW1lMFBoaFNVRVgzWFdNZ08xVUFzbmgya0Y5T1JjWm8tSS15Y2E2cHk0MlhRcVFYMUplaHo3dHRtQmpjYnYtc1plTk1TOEpUQ1Vna0tIRnhaTFVTRFRfZGp4d1lFdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fstan.store%2FCRNAmentor&v=LyHMd2y5lQM] Tune in to CRNA Mentor Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crna-mentor/id1871988091 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crna-mentor/id1871988091]New episodes drop every Monday — start your week off right with CRNA Mentor Monday!

17: This Is How Future CRNA Leaders Are Built - Advocacy, Mentorship & Early Involvement

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 completely changed the trajectory of his career while he was still a nurse anesthesia resident. We explore why so many nurse anesthesia residents and new CRNAs mistakenly believe they are “too new” to contribute, the mindset shift that occurs when transitioning from RN to CRNA, and why advocacy is essential to protecting and advancing the future of our profession. Jake also shares how early mentorship opportunities at Mid-Year Assembly led him into leadership roles at both the state and national level only a few years after graduation. This episode is ultimately about identity, leadership, and realizing that you do not need decades of experience before you begin making an impact in nurse anesthesia. Topics Discussed: • Getting involved early as a SRNA and new CRNA • The importance of mentorship in nurse anesthesia • Advocacy and political involvement as a CRNA • Why younger voices matter in nurse anesthesia • Leadership development within the CRNA profession Join the CRNA Mentor Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity [https://www.facebook.com/groups/crnamentorcommunity]   Check out my CRNA Mentor resources: https://stan.store/CRNAmentor [https://stan.store/CRNAmentor]   Tune in to CRNA Mentor Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crna-mentor/id1871988091 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crna-mentor/id1871988091] New episodes drop every Monday — start your week off right with CRNA Mentor Monday!

16: Networking That Actually Changes Your Outcome

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 ever submitted an application. From strategically preparing for AANA Mid-Year Assembly to developing mentors, following up with professionals, participating in classes at her top-choice program, and even leveraging advocacy experiences on Capitol Hill, Seana explains how meaningful connections can create opportunities that many applicants completely overlook. We also discuss: * Why networking is really about positioning and reputation * Why strong applicants often build connections before they apply * The importance of intentional follow-up and professionalism * How viewing others as future colleagues—not competition—can change your mindset * Why networking can become one of the most powerful parts of your professional growth If you’re an aspiring CRNA who feels intimidated by networking or unsure where to start, this episode will give you a completely different perspective on how relationships, mentorship, and intentionality can shape your future in this profession. Join us in the CRNA Mentor Community: http://www.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!