Grade 1 View – S2, E17 – Lessons From a Lifetime in Nurse Anesthesia with Sharon Pearce

Sharon Pearce, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FAAN has spent decades practicing, advocating, leading, mentoring, and telling the stories of nurse anesthesia. But behind the titles is a career shaped by formative mentors, difficult clinical days, unexpected opportunities, and a strong sense of responsibility to the profession. Nicolas and Kelsey have a great conversation with Sharon, not just a former AANA president and longtime voice in nurse anesthesia, but also a CRNA shaped by mentors, advocacy, hard clinical lessons, and a deep belief in giving back to the profession. She shares the stories behind her career, the people who helped build her confidence, what students can learn from difficult days, and why preserving the history of nurse anesthesia has become such an important part of her legacy. Here’s some of what we discuss in this episode: 🩺 Early Calling: Sharon knew she wanted to be a nurse from childhood and found anesthesia soon after 🧠 Learn From Everyone: Students have a unique opportunity to borrow the best habits from every CRNA they work with 💪 Hard Days Matter: Difficult clinical experiences often become the lessons you remember most 🤝 Mentors Leave Marks: A few words of encouragement can shape an entire career 🏛️ Know the History: Understanding where the profession came from helps future CRNAs understand where it can go   Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/grade-1-view/ Visit the AANA Resident Hub: https://www.aana.com/resident-hub/  Help us grow by leaving a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-mask-innovation-opportunities-for-crnas/id1440309246