On This Episode:
Healthcare innovation is often associated with software developers, startup founders, and technology companies. But what if some of the most important solutions to healthcare's biggest challenges are sitting inside operating rooms, classrooms, and clinical settings every day? CRNAs and nurses see problems firsthand, yet they are rarely invited into the rooms where solutions are created.
In this episode, Sharon and Jeremy welcome nurse entrepreneur Rebecca Love, RN, MSN, FIEL and AANA Senior Innovation Specialist Cherissa Jackson to discuss the upcoming AANA Hackathon at the AANA Annual Congress. This event creates a space for clinicians, educators, students, and innovators to collaborate and develop solutions for the daily challenges CRNAs see firsthand.
You’ll leave with a better understanding of why innovation matters, how the Hackathon experience transforms participants, and why every CRNA benefit from learning to think like a problem solver and change agent.
Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
💡 Innovation Mindset – Learning to think beyond the status quo
🤝 Collaboration – Solving problems through teamwork
🚀 Hackathon Experience – What participants can expect
🎤 Finding Your Voice – Empowering CRNAs to lead change
🏥 Future Solutions – Improving healthcare through innovation
Go Inside the Episode:
0:00 – Intro
1:41 – Where this idea came from
6:00 – How the innovation happens
9:00 – The new schedule
10:10 – The transformation that takes place
15:15 – Solutions created
17:34 – Takeaways from CRNAs
19:35 – What judges look for
20:51 – Why growth happens here
28:43 – How to get involved
Important Links:
"If we just put nurses in the places where they could solve problems, we could change the future of healthcare."
