5: Catch the Bug: Why Immersing Yourself in Nurse Anesthesia Changes Everything

This episode is part of our Advocacy Mini-Series leading up to Mid-Year Assembly - but this conversation is about something even more foundational than policy.

It’s about immersion.

In this episode, we explore why attending anesthesia conferences isn’t just something you add to your resume... it’s something that shapes your identity. When you immerse yourself in nurse anesthesia, something shifts. You begin understanding the language of anesthesia. You gain awareness of the forces shaping the profession. You build confidence. You develop perspective.
And over time, you stop feeling like someone trying to get in and start thinking like someone who belongs.

That’s identity formation.
And identity is what produces advocacy.

Today, I’m joined by Dr. Richard Wilson, the Assistant Program Director at Ursuline College’s Somnia Nurse Anesthesia Program, FAANA, AANA Social Media Ambassador, national speaker, educator, and clinician. Together, we demystify anesthesia conferences for RNs and APRNs.

If you’ve ever wondered:

“Is this space really for me?”
“What would I even do there?”
“Would I feel out of place?”

This episode is for you.

We discuss:

• What it means to “catch the bug”
• Why conferences move from optional to essential in your career
• The different types of anesthesia conferences — from AANA national meetings to state associations and specialty workshops
• How exposure to leadership changes your trajectory
• What first-time attendees should expect (what to wear, how to introduce yourself, and common mistakes to avoid)
• Why immersion fuels passion — and why you can’t fake passion in a CRNA school interview

If you’re serious about becoming a CRNA, this episode will challenge you to stop spectating and start stepping into the profession.

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