Ep 116: Importance of Mentoring in CRNA Leadership Development

For more than 20 years, the AANA Mentorship Program has played an integral role in the development of young CRNAs thanks to both the mentors and mentees that have committed to the annual event. Tracy Castleman, CRNA, has been deeply involved in the mentoring process so we asked her to join us to talk about the program, why it’s important for CRNAs to get involved, and what young professionals can expect to get out of this experience.

Click the timestamps below to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.

On This Episode:

The future of any profession lies in the hands of its young people, and that’s no different for CRNAs. That’s why we advocate all the time for people to get involved in the AANA and other organizations. It helps the profession continue to grow and move forward.

One great opportunity the AANA provides every year is the Mentorship Program, and Tracy Castleman, CRNA, has been involved with it since the beginning. The program began at the annual meeting in 1999 but was skipped in 2000 because there was already so much going on at the IFNA meeting in Chicago. But it returned in 2001 and has been going strong every year since.

Despite its longevity, there are plenty of people that either aren’t aware of the program or not completely sure what all is involved. So we’re going to lean on Tracy’s experience on this episode to learn about both sides of the program. Whether you are interested in becoming a mentor or thinking about singing up as a mentee, we’ll go into detail on what you can expect from the AANA Mentorship Program and why it’s so important for our profession.

So as you get started, keep an ear out for these topics:

  • What made mentoring such a priority in Tracy’s life.
  • How the AANA mentoring program began.
  • The program’s growth over 20+ years.
  • What makes a person a mentor and why is it so important to provide that guidance to young CRNAs.
  • Want to get involved in the program? Find out how the process goes.
  • What happens on-site when the mentorship takes place.
  • She’s in charge of the charitable arm of the NJANA and tells the story of how that was started.

Check it out in the interview at the top of the page and use the timestamps to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.

4:47 – Background on Tracy   

7:13 – Why mentoring is important

9:28 – The first mentoring program

10:55 – Growth of the program

12:17 – Reasons mentorship is important for CRNAs 

14:37 – Key attributes of mentors and mentees

17:51 – How someone can get involved

19:16 – What happens on-site

28:31 – Charitable arm of NJANA

34:06 – Final thoughts on today’s topic


“When you take them in that moment, that timeframe when they’re still willing to learn and they’re willing to model a behavior, and you put them side-by-side with somebody who is motivated to share their experiences with them and allow them to have a safe space to ask questions and to bounce off ideas, I believe we create a better, more professional workforce.”

-Tracy Castleman, CRNA

SHARE THIS EPISODE

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

SUBSCRIBE

EXPLORE MORE

Current Events

Fighting for Inclusivity: How a CRNA Changed Her Community with Maureen McCartney Anderson

Our guest today has quite the story to tell about advocacy but it’s not the same advocacy we normally discuss on the show. Maureen McCartney Anderson, CRNA has been in-volved with her state association in New Jersey for a number of years and was on the path of advocating for professional rights, but that changed dramatically when her baby was born with handicaps. Now she’s pouring much of her energy into advocating for the special needs children’s population and making a difference in her community with the help of other CRNAs.

LISTEN NOW »
CRNA Careers

Discovering the Healing Power of Battlefield Acupuncture with Angel Jaap, CRNA

Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA) is rapidly gaining recognition for its effectiveness in alleviating acute and chronic pain, as well as anxiety. When we heard Angel Jaap, CRNA speak about this at the AANA Spring Symposium, we wanted to bring her on to learn more about this alternative therapy. You’ll understand why she wants more nurses to learn this protocol after you hear some of the applications and success stories she shares today.

LISTEN NOW »

SUBSCRIBE

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEEK!

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcherTuneIniHeartRadio

HAVE A QUESTION OR WANT TO BE GUEST?

RECENT REVIEWS

J. Cross CRNA
Read More
This podcast is very well put together. I love the hosts Sharon & Jeremy, they do a fantastic job at presenting topics as well as getting great speakers on the show! This is my morning commute podcast everyday! Thank you for all that you do!
Bill.Nye
Read More
I enjoy listening every morning. Great content and always a pleasure to learn something new.
biggestbaseballfanever
Read More
I started listening to this podcast religiously early on in my CRNA journey, a year before applying to CRNA school. The content in this podcast was one of my most helpful resources for getting into my first choice school, Wake Forest! It has also been a huge motivator for getting involved with the AANA now and throughout my career. I highly recommend this podcast to every prospective CRNA I meet.
Trvlgrl1
Read More
I appreciate hearing the latest and greatest in the world of Nurse Anesthesiology while also getting Class B credits. Just listen on your commute for a win/win experience. I love the perspectives from Jeremy and Sharon who both ask varied and insightful questions!
doubledownmoney
Read More
If you’re a CRNA or any medical professional, I highly recommend giving this podcast a listen. Hosts have a great rapport.
Previous
Next

READ MORE REVIEWS OR LEAVE YOUR OWN!