CRNA School Prep Academy Podcast

Jenny Finnell

Ever wish you had a CRNA mentor plugged into the community who has helped THOUSANDS of nurses succeed? The CSPA community is committed to helping you not only gain acceptance into CRNA school but providing support all the way through graduation day! Tune in, get inspired, and get ready to discover why more than 6,000+ nurses turn to CRNA School Prep Academy for guidance regarding all things that the road to CRNA entails. From financial planning, interview styles, ICU experience, anesthesia cases, stress management, study tips, practice settings and so much more; whether you’re a nursing student who is exploring the possibility of becoming a CRNA, an ICU nurse actively pursuing this career path, or a current Nurse Anesthesia Resident looking for extra guidance while in school, each episode is designed to help you take immediate action on the most important strategies for planning, implementation, and achieving your dream of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

  1. 8h ago

    Ventilator Modes Made Simple: ICU and Anesthesia Basics for Future CRNAs with Dr. Wilson

    Want conference-level CRNA school prep from home? The CSPA Digital Pass gives you access to expert sessions, applicant guidance, and powerful takeaways from the CSPA Conference. For a limited time, Intensive students get it included with enrollment. 👉Get your Digital Pass today. 👉Join an Intensive today. The CSPA Conference experience is now available on demand. With the Digital Pass, you can access CRNA school prep sessions, expert guidance, and the encouragement you need to keep moving forward. Limited-time bonus: Join an Intensive and get the Digital Pass included. 👉Grab your Digital Pass Today! Ready for more structure and support with your CRNA school prep? Join a CSPA Intensive now and get the Digital Bundle Replay included for a limited time. You will get access to faculty guidance, application support, interview prep, and powerful conference sessions to help you move forward with confidence. 👉Enroll today. Join Us for Gassed Up: Fired Up for CRNA School The CSPA 2026 Conference  June 12th - 14th at the University of Louisville, KY Ticket and Agenda Information: https://events.crnaschoolprepacademy.com/ Get the Free CRNA School Data Sheet! Compare every CRNA program’s requirements, deadlines, and interview details—all in one organized spreadsheet. The CRNA School Data Sheet helps you filter programs by ICU experience requirements, GRE, CCRN, last 60 credit GPA, and more so you can build a smarter sc...

    31 min
  2. May 27

    How to Stand Out in Your CRNA School Interview: Clinical Prep, GPA, and ICU Experience Tips with Dr. Wilson

    Want conference-level CRNA school prep from home? The CSPA Digital Pass gives you access to expert sessions, applicant guidance, and powerful takeaways from the CSPA Conference. For a limited time, Intensive students get it included with enrollment. 👉Get your Digital Pass today. 👉Join an Intensive today. The CSPA Conference experience is now available on demand. With the Digital Pass, you can access CRNA school prep sessions, expert guidance, and the encouragement you need to keep moving forward. Limited-time bonus: Join an Intensive and get the Digital Pass included. 👉Grab your Digital Pass Today! Ready for more structure and support with your CRNA school prep? Join a CSPA Intensive now and get the Digital Bundle Replay included for a limited time. You will get access to faculty guidance, application support, interview prep, and powerful conference sessions to help you move forward with confidence. 👉Enroll today. Join Us for Gassed Up: Fired Up for CRNA School The CSPA 2026 Conference  June 12th - 14th at the University of Louisville, KY Ticket and Agenda Information: https://events.crnaschoolprepacademy.com/ Get the Free CRNA School Data Sheet! Compare every CRNA program’s requirements, deadlines, and interview details—all in one organized spreadsheet. The CRNA School Data Sheet helps you filter programs by ICU experience requirements, GRE, CCRN, last 60 credit GPA, and more so you can build a smarter sc...

    37 min
  3. May 20

    Succinylcholine Explained: Mechanism, Uses, and Key Risks for CRNA School with Dr. Ballister

    Want conference-level CRNA school prep from home? The CSPA Digital Pass gives you access to expert sessions, applicant guidance, and powerful takeaways from the CSPA Conference. For a limited time, Intensive students get it included with enrollment. 👉Get your Digital Pass today. 👉Join an Intensive today. The CSPA Conference experience is now available on demand. With the Digital Pass, you can access CRNA school prep sessions, expert guidance, and the encouragement you need to keep moving forward. Limited-time bonus: Join an Intensive and get the Digital Pass included. 👉Grab your Digital Pass Today! Ready for more structure and support with your CRNA school prep? Join a CSPA Intensive now and get the Digital Bundle Replay included for a limited time. You will get access to faculty guidance, application support, interview prep, and powerful conference sessions to help you move forward with confidence. 👉Enroll today. Join Us for Gassed Up: Fired Up for CRNA School The CSPA 2026 Conference  June 12th - 14th at the University of Louisville, KY Ticket and Agenda Information: https://events.crnaschoolprepacademy.com/ Get the Free CRNA School Data Sheet! Compare every CRNA program’s requirements, deadlines, and interview details—all in one organized spreadsheet. The CRNA School Data Sheet helps you filter programs by ICU experience requirements, GRE, CCRN, last 60 credit GPA, and more so you can build a smarter sc...

    31 min
  4. May 12

    What It Really Takes to Get Into CRNA School with Dr. Matthew Harmon

    CRNA school admissions can feel like guesswork until you hear how faculty break it down in real time. We sit down with Dr. Matthew Harmon, a CRNA educator and admissions leader (and assistant program director at the University of Evansville), for an Instagram Live Q and A packed with the kind of specifics applicants crave: what actually makes a competitive application, how to prepare for tough interview formats, and what “good ICU experience” really means when programs evaluate critical care readiness.  We talk through NursingCAS, building a resume that goes beyond the minimum, and choosing certifications that fit your unit instead of chasing random letters. Dr. Harmon shares practical interview prep anchored in ACLS-level scenarios, vasopressors, electrolyte management, and emotional intelligence questions that reveal how you handle conflict and pressure. You will also hear straight talk on references, leadership when you are not charge, rolling admissions timing, and why humility matters even if you are coming from an NP or other advanced practice path.  There is also a high-yield clinical detour into malignant hyperthermia: what triggers it, what early signs to watch for, and why succinylcholine is not the answer. If you are already accepted, the guidance is refreshingly grounded: protect your energy, avoid burnout, and keep prep simple with daily EKG practice and approachable anesthesia reading.  Subscribe for more CRNA school prep that is honest and actionable, share this with a nurse who is applying, and leave a review with the question you want us to tackle next. Want conference-level CRNA school prep from home? The CSPA Digital Pass gives you access to expert sessions, applicant guidance, and powerful takeaways from the CSPA Conference. For a limited time, Intensive students get it included with enrollment. 👉Get your Digital Pass today. 👉Join an Intensive today. The CSPA Conference experience is now available on demand. With the Digital Pass, you can access CRNA school prep sessions, expert guidance, and the encouragement you need to keep moving forward. Limited-time bonus: Join an Intensive and get the Digital Pass included. 👉Grab your Digital Pass Today! Ready for more structure and support with your CRNA school prep? Join a CSPA Intensive now and get the Digital Bundle Replay included for a limited time. You will get access to faculty guidance, application support, interview prep, and powerful conference sessions to help you move forward with confidence. 👉Enroll today. Join Us for Gassed Up: Fired Up for CRNA School The CSPA 2026 Conference  June 12th - 14th at the University of Louisville, KY Ticket and Agenda Information: https://events.crnaschoolprepacademy.com/ Get the Free CRNA School Data Sheet! Compare every CRNA program’s requirements, deadlines, and interview details—all in one organized spreadsheet. The CRNA School Data Sheet helps you filter programs by ICU experience requirements, GRE, CCRN, last 60 credit GPA, and more so you can build a smarter sc...

    51 min
  5. Apr 23

    The Difference Between Ventilation and Oxygenation with Dr. Newman

    We break down the real difference between ventilation and oxygenation and explain why mixing them up leads to bad reads on ETCO2, SpO2, and ABGs. Then we open the floor for live Q and A on CRNA admissions, interviews, prerequisites, and ways to strengthen an application.  • Ventilation as a mechanical process moving air and clearing CO2  • How we measure ventilation with tidal volume, respiratory rate, minute ventilation, and end tidal CO2  • Hypoventilation vs hyperventilation and how CO2 shifts drive acidosis or alkalosis  • Oxygenation as gas exchange from alveoli to blood and then to tissues  • How we measure oxygenation with PaO2 and oxygen saturation  • Causes of hypoxemia including diffusion defects and ventilation perfusion mismatch  • Shunt vs dead space with a pulmonary embolus example  • Why adequate ventilation is necessary but not sufficient for good oxygenation  • CRNA school questions on state vs private programs and the importance of accreditation  • Interview advice including staying genuine, avoiding scripted answers, and handling nerves gracefully  • Ventilator modes explained from an anesthesia machine perspective including volume control, pressure control, SIMV, and pressure control with volume guarantee  • Common prerequisite courses and how to approach program specific requirements  • Using graduate level coursework to help offset a borderline GPA  Want conference-level CRNA school prep from home? The CSPA Digital Pass gives you access to expert sessions, applicant guidance, and powerful takeaways from the CSPA Conference. For a limited time, Intensive students get it included with enrollment. 👉Get your Digital Pass today. 👉Join an Intensive today. The CSPA Conference experience is now available on demand. With the Digital Pass, you can access CRNA school prep sessions, expert guidance, and the encouragement you need to keep moving forward. Limited-time bonus: Join an Intensive and get the Digital Pass included. 👉Grab your Digital Pass Today! Ready for more structure and support with your CRNA school prep? Join a CSPA Intensive now and get the Digital Bundle Replay included for a limited time. You will get access to faculty guidance, application support, interview prep, and powerful conference sessions to help you move forward with confidence. 👉Enroll today. Join Us for Gassed Up: Fired Up for CRNA School The CSPA 2026 Conference  June 12th - 14th at the University of Louisville, KY Ticket and Agenda Information: https://events.crnaschoolprepacademy.com/ Get the Free CRNA School Data Sheet! Compare every CRNA program’s requirements, deadlines, and interview details—all in one organized spreadsheet. The CRNA School Data Sheet helps you filter programs by ICU experience requirements, GRE, CCRN, last 60 credit GPA, and more so you can build a smarter sc...

    23 min
  6. Apr 8

    What Really Matters When Programs Read Your Resume

    Ready for a real look inside CRNA admissions and the evolving practice of anesthesia? We invited Dr. Michelle Ballister—CRNA of 18 years, former admissions chair, and longtime educator—to share what truly moves the needle for applicants and what today’s anesthesia landscape demands from new clinicians. She pulls back the curtain on how committees segment GPAs (cumulative, science, prerequisite), why repeats aren’t an automatic dealbreaker, and how to present recent academic wins so they actually land. We walk through the resume details that matter: clear timelines for travel assignments, perfect alignment between your application and CV, and meaningful leadership that shows you take initiative—charge shifts, precepting, committee work, research data collection, and community roles all count. If your GPA feels heavy from years of credits, Michelle offers a smarter path: targeted graduate-level courses like physiology or clinical pharmacology to prove you can excel now, deepen clinical knowledge, and potentially lighten a future semester. She also explains when to retake prerequisites versus when to invest in advanced coursework, with a reminder that program requirements aren’t negotiable and your time and money should work for you. On the clinical front, we explore where anesthesia is heading: ultrasound-guided regional techniques, multimodal pain strategies, and a reduced reliance on opioids. Michelle shares how to translate that shift into interview strength—grounding answers in the autonomic nervous system, articulating GS vs GI signaling, and tying receptor talk to real drug effects and patient outcomes. Throughout, you’ll get practical scripts for contacting faculty, making the most of info sessions, and building credibility beyond the numbers. If you’re aiming for CRNA school and want a plan that’s honest, efficient, and aligned with modern practice, this conversation will sharpen your approach and your confidence. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share with a fellow ICU nurse, and leave a review telling us the one action you’ll take this week. The CSPA Conference experience is now available on demand. With the Digital Pass, you can access CRNA school prep sessions, expert guidance, and the encouragement you need to keep moving forward. Limited-time bonus: Join an Intensive and get the Digital Pass included. 👉Grab your Digital Pass Today! Ready for more structure and support with your CRNA school prep? Join a CSPA Intensive now and get the Digital Bundle Replay included for a limited time. You will get access to faculty guidance, application support, interview prep, and powerful conference sessions to help you move forward with confidence. 👉Enroll today. Join Us for Gassed Up: Fired Up for CRNA School The CSPA 2026 Conference  June 12th - 14th at the University of Louisville, KY Ticket and Agenda Information: https://events.crnaschoolprepacademy.com/ Get the Free CRNA School Data Sheet! Compare every CRNA program’s requirements, deadlines, and interview details—all in one organized spreadsheet. The CRNA School Data Sheet helps you filter programs by ICU experience requirements, GRE, CCRN, last 60 credit GPA, and more so you can build a smarter sc...

    29 min
  7. Mar 25

    Vasopressors: Choosing the Right Agent with Dr. Harmon

    Pressors save lives, but only when they match the real problem. Dr. Matthew Harmon joins us to decode how norepinephrine, phenylephrine, and vasopressin change vascular tone, cardiac output, and organ perfusion—and how to pick the right one under pressure.  We start with a crisp hemodynamic framework: MAP as the product of cardiac output and SVR, and stroke volume shaped by preload, contractility, and afterload. From there, we translate receptor pharmacology into bedside choices so you can raise pressure without stealing flow. We walk through why norepinephrine’s strong alpha-1 with modest beta-1 support often makes it a go-to for septic shock and low EF patients, delivering perfusion pressure while keeping heart rate and myocardial oxygen demand in check. Phenylephrine earns its place for anesthetic-induced hypotension and aortic stenosis by tightening vessels and slowing the heart, but we call out its hidden tax on flow when contractility lags.  Then we pivot to vasopressin’s V1 pathway, ideal for catecholamine-resistant vasodilation, ACE inhibitor–induced vasoplegia, and acidotic states where adrenergic drugs stumble—plus practical dosing that avoids gut and skin hypoperfusion. Throughout, we focus on individualizing MAP targets, honoring cerebral and renal autoregulation, and protecting patients in high-risk scenarios like sitting shoulder surgery. You’ll hear why short-acting agents beat long-acting antihypertensives intraop, how to convert ICU drip instincts to precise push-dose habits, and when to rethink nitrous, ephedrine, and ketamine.  We also share CRNA interview prep you can use today: anchor answers in ACLS and PALS, show your receptor-level reasoning, and explain not just what you’d do, but why. If you’re an ICU nurse eyeing anesthesia, or a practicing provider sharpening your pressor playbook, this session brings clarity you can use on your next case. Subscribe, share with a teammate who loves clean hemodynamics, and leave a review with your favorite pressor pearl. The CSPA Conference experience is now available on demand. With the Digital Pass, you can access CRNA school prep sessions, expert guidance, and the encouragement you need to keep moving forward. Limited-time bonus: Join an Intensive and get the Digital Pass included. 👉Grab your Digital Pass Today! Ready for more structure and support with your CRNA school prep? Join a CSPA Intensive now and get the Digital Bundle Replay included for a limited time. You will get access to faculty guidance, application support, interview prep, and powerful conference sessions to help you move forward with confidence. 👉Enroll today. Join Us for Gassed Up: Fired Up for CRNA School The CSPA 2026 Conference  June 12th - 14th at the University of Louisville, KY Ticket and Agenda Information: https://events.crnaschoolprepacademy.com/ Get the Free CRNA School Data Sheet! Compare every CRNA program’s requirements, deadlines, and interview details—all in one organized spreadsheet. The CRNA School Data Sheet helps you filter programs by ICU experience requirements, GRE, CCRN, last 60 credit GPA, and more so you can build a smarter sc...

    34 min
  8. Mar 11

    What Programs Really Want: A Candid Guide To CRNA Applications

    Ready for a clear, candid roadmap to CRNA school? Dr. Newman, a 21-year CRNA and seasoned admissions educator, takes over the mic to answer your toughest questions about applications, interviews, and the realities of nurse anesthesia training.   If you’ve wondered whether to retake sciences, how much shadowing truly matters, or why your CCRN score (not just the pass) can shift your odds, this session gives you straight answers with actionable steps. We dig into how to leverage graduate-level science courses to elevate a 3.2 science GPA, what programs read between the lines of your transcripts, and how to build a resilient plan if you’re applying while still finishing pathophysiology or pharmacology.  You’ll learn why shadowing a CRNA beats shadowing an anesthesiologist for insight and credibility, how to refresh older hours from 2022, and smart ways to break through hospital barriers—especially by tapping independent practices or your own facility. We also cover night-shift and travel nurse strategies for strong references from managers, charge nurses, intensivists, and educators who can vouch for your clinical judgment and teamwork. The conversation turns practical on workload and money: why working during school undermines success, what a residency-style week really looks like, and how to prep your finances so you can focus on patient safety and mastery. For interviews, we show you how to manage nerves, think aloud with clinical structure, and project calm authority at the head of the bed.  Considering an academic medical center? Frame that goal with research, teaching, and committee work to show range. For DNP projects, we point you to APSF to mine timely patient safety issues—med safety, airway crises, handoffs, equipment reliability—and sketch projects with measurable outcomes and real implementation potential. We wrap with tips for applying to multiple schools without quality slips, plus how to list a pending abstract without overreaching. If you’re serious about CRNA school, this is your playbook: GPA moves that matter, shadowing that counts, interviews that reveal composure, and a DNP idea that advances patient safety. Subscribe, share with a colleague who’s applying, and leave a review telling us the one step you’re taking this week. The CSPA Conference experience is now available on demand. With the Digital Pass, you can access CRNA school prep sessions, expert guidance, and the encouragement you need to keep moving forward. Limited-time bonus: Join an Intensive and get the Digital Pass included. 👉Grab your Digital Pass Today! Ready for more structure and support with your CRNA school prep? Join a CSPA Intensive now and get the Digital Bundle Replay included for a limited time. You will get access to faculty guidance, application support, interview prep, and powerful conference sessions to help you move forward with confidence. 👉Enroll today. Join Us for Gassed Up: Fired Up for CRNA School The CSPA 2026 Conference  June 12th - 14th at the University of Louisville, KY Ticket and Agenda Information: https://events.crnaschoolprepacademy.com/ Get the Free CRNA School Data Sheet! Compare every CRNA program’s requirements, deadlines, and interview details—all in one organized spreadsheet. The CRNA School Data Sheet helps you filter programs by ICU experience requirements, GRE, CCRN, last 60 credit GPA, and more so you can build a smarter sc...

    27 min
4.8
out of 5
116 Ratings

About

Ever wish you had a CRNA mentor plugged into the community who has helped THOUSANDS of nurses succeed? The CSPA community is committed to helping you not only gain acceptance into CRNA school but providing support all the way through graduation day! Tune in, get inspired, and get ready to discover why more than 6,000+ nurses turn to CRNA School Prep Academy for guidance regarding all things that the road to CRNA entails. From financial planning, interview styles, ICU experience, anesthesia cases, stress management, study tips, practice settings and so much more; whether you’re a nursing student who is exploring the possibility of becoming a CRNA, an ICU nurse actively pursuing this career path, or a current Nurse Anesthesia Resident looking for extra guidance while in school, each episode is designed to help you take immediate action on the most important strategies for planning, implementation, and achieving your dream of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

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