EPISODE · Dec 2, 2025 · 40 MIN
Airway Exchange – Ep. 6 – Faculty Wellness and Work-Life Balance
from Beyond The Mask: Innovation & Opportunities For CRNAs · host Jeremy Stanley
Faculty members are the backbone of every nurse anesthesia program, yet their own wellness is often overlooked. Over the next month, we’re shining the spotlight on wellness, and the first of three episodes features two special nurse anesthesia educator guests. Today, hosts Louisa Martin, PhD, CRNA and Erin Martin, APRN, CRNA, DNP sit down with Leigh Taylor, DNP, MS, CRNA and Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA, two leaders of the AANA Wellness Committee, to discuss the real challenges facing CRNA educators today. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🩺 Faculty Wellness Is in Crisis - Strained staffing, expanded workloads, and unrealistic expectations are driving educator burnout. 🧠 Personal Stories That Sparked a Mission - Lee and Crystal share the losses and turning points that pulled them into wellness advocacy. 🧱 Boundaries Aren’t Optional - Why answering emails at 10 p.m., hiding stress, and “pushing through” is harming faculty culture. 🤝 Mentorship & Support Matter - Healthy programs have transparent communication, aligned workloads, and peer support. 🎓 AANA Wellness Microcredential - A powerful resource — and free for SRNAs — that builds campus-wide wellness awareness. Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request Wellness Resources: https://www.aana.com/membership/here-for-you/health-and-wellness/wellness-educational-resources/ Wellness Microcredential: https://ce.aana.com/proficiency/?_ga=2.96896415.1682082360.1724073777-1237658414.1717446176&_gac=1.216577636.1720721506.Cj0KCQjwhb60BhClARIsABGGtw-yYL9Nezmf5Td3FLBFijteNi6yQRbclD1ZvVrXcxRj4meAw1ULW2UaArOVEALw_wcB&_gl=1*obh08c*_ga*MTg1NTE3NDkwMi4xNzUxNTYwMzg1*_ga_N61713VJEF*czE3NjQ2NDQ3MDgkbzg2JGcxJHQxNzY0NjQ0NzY1JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..*_ga_EWGE3RE233*czE3NjQ2NDQ3MDgkbzcwJGcxJHQxNzY0NjQ0NzY1JGo2MCRsMCRoMA.. 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
What this episode covers
Faculty members are the backbone of every nurse anesthesia program, yet their own wellness is often overlooked. Over the next month, we’re shining the spotlight on wellness, and the first of three episodes features two special nurse anesthesia educator guests. Today, hosts Louisa Martin, PhD, CRNA and Erin Martin, APRN, CRNA, DNP sit down with Leigh Taylor, DNP, MS, CRNA and Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA, two leaders of the AANA Wellness Committee, to discuss the real challenges facing CRNA educators today. Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode: 🩺 Faculty Wellness Is in Crisis - Strained staffing, expanded workloads, and unrealistic expectations are driving educator burnout. 🧠 Personal Stories That Sparked a Mission - Lee and Crystal share the losses and turning points that pulled them into wellness advocacy. 🧱 Boundaries Aren’t Optional - Why answering emails at 10 p.m., hiding stress, and “pushing through” is harming faculty culture. 🤝 Mentorship & Support Matter - Healthy programs have transparent communication, aligned workloads, and peer support. 🎓 AANA Wellness Microcredential - A powerful resource — and free for SRNAs — that builds campus-wide wellness awareness. Follow @AirwayExchangePodcast on Instagram Submit a Topic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airway-exchange-podcast-request Wellness Resources: https://www.aana.com/membership/here-for-you/health-and-wellness/wellness-educational-resources/ Wellness Microcredential: https://ce.aana.com/proficiency/?_ga=2.96896415.1682082360.1724073777-1237658414.1717446176&_gac=1.216577636.1720721506.Cj0KCQjwhb60BhClARIsABGGtw-yYL9Nezmf5Td3FLBFijteNi6yQRbclD1ZvVrXcxRj4meAw1ULW2UaArOVEALw_wcB&_gl=1*obh08c*_ga*MTg1NTE3NDkwMi4xNzUxNTYwMzg1*_ga_N61713VJEF*czE3NjQ2NDQ3MDgkbzg2JGcxJHQxNzY0NjQ0NzY1JGo2MCRsMCRoMA..*_ga_EWGE3RE233*czE3NjQ2NDQ3MDgkbzcwJGcxJHQxNzY0NjQ0NzY1JGo2MCRsMCRoMA.. 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
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Airway Exchange – Ep. 6 – Faculty Wellness and Work-Life Balance
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