The CRNA Club Podcast

Hosted by Sachi Lord

Education Science

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Wish you knew exactly what you needed to do to get into CRNA school? Need help coming up with a strategy to be a competitive applicant? You're in the right place! You'll get all of that and more when you tune into The CRNA Club Podcast with your host (and practicing CRNA) Sachi Lord. Her specialty? Breaking things down and turning them into bite-sized actionable steps and dishing the strategy you need to be a competitive applicant. Tune in, get inspired, and learn exactly what you need to do to check all the right boxes so you can get into CRNA school and join #thecrnaclub. Here are a few topics we cover: - Choosing the right CRNA program for YOU - Figuring out what prerequisites you need - What a typical day of a CRNA looks like - How to pay for CRNA school - Learning how to compare and contrast programs - What makes a prepared applicant? - Should you take the GRE? - What certifications you NEED to get - What not to do when submitting your application - How to write a stand out resume -How to calculate your GPA for CRNA school - Personal essay Do's and Don'ts - Shadowing a CRNA, how to find one - Questions to ask the admissions committee - Preparing for your CRNA school interview - and more!

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60 recent

September 25, 202616 min

Ventilator Modes Explained: AC, SIMV, and Pressure Support

Ventilator mode names vary, but the reasoning starts with the targeted variable, breath sequence, and the patient's work of breathing. This episode breaks down volume-targeted and pressure-targeted breaths, assist-control, SIMV, pressure support, peak versus plateau pressure, and the hemodynamic effects of positive-pressure ventilation. RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: Mechanical Ventilation Modes Cheat Sheet CRNA Application Checklist FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: Transcript Analyzer - See your cumulative, science, and last-60-credit GPAs 9-Step Application Checklist - Work through the CRNA school application process in order CRNA School Database - Search and compare CRNA programs Certification Planner - Build a CCRN, CSC, or CMC study schedule around your shifts Timeline Generator - Build a personalized CRNA application timeline IN THIS EPISODE: Volume-targeted versus pressure-targeted breaths Assist-control, SIMV, and pressure support Peak pressure versus plateau pressure How PEEP and positive pressure affect hemodynamics Try The CRNA Club free for seven days - Explore the all-in-one CRNA school application platform. Follow The CRNA Club: Instagram: @thecrnaclub YouTube: The CRNA Club Website: thecrnaclub.com Share this episode with an ICU nurse preparing for CRNA school.

September 23, 202616 min

Hemodynamics Explained for ICU Nurses

Hemodynamics makes more sense when pressure, flow, resistance, and oxygen delivery are interpreted together. Sachi connects preload, afterload, contractility, compliance, stroke volume, cardiac output, cardiac index, SVR, CVP, PAOP, and fluid responsiveness, then applies the full profile to a CRNA school interview case. RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: Hemodynamics Preload & Afterload Quick Reference CRNA Mock Interview Practice FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: Transcript Analyzer - See your cumulative, science, and last-60-credit GPAs 9-Step Application Checklist - Work through the CRNA school application process in order CRNA School Database - Search and compare CRNA programs Certification Planner - Build a CCRN, CSC, or CMC study schedule around your shifts Timeline Generator - Build a personalized CRNA application timeline IN THIS EPISODE: Pressure versus flow and why blood pressure can mislead Preload, afterload, contractility, and compliance Fluid responsiveness and pressure surrogates A six-pass approach to hemodynamic profiles Try The CRNA Club free for seven days - Explore the all-in-one CRNA school application platform. Follow The CRNA Club: Instagram: @thecrnaclub YouTube: The CRNA Club Website: thecrnaclub.com Share this episode with an ICU nurse preparing for CRNA school.

September 21, 202614 min

Precedex vs Propofol: ICU Sedation and CRNA Interview Decisions

Precedex versus propofol is not a one-drug-wins comparison. The safer choice depends on the sedation target, airway and ventilation risk, hemodynamics, onset, recovery, pain plan, and patient context. This episode moves from GABA-A and alpha-two signaling to the bedside effects ICU nurses should anticipate and explain in a CRNA school interview. RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: Precedex vs Propofol Sedation Cheat Sheet CRNA Mock Interview Practice FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: Transcript Analyzer - See your cumulative, science, and last-60-credit GPAs 9-Step Application Checklist - Work through the CRNA school application process in order CRNA School Database - Search and compare CRNA programs Certification Planner - Build a CCRN, CSC, or CMC study schedule around your shifts Timeline Generator - Build a personalized CRNA application timeline IN THIS EPISODE: How propofol changes GABA-A receptor signaling How dexmedetomidine reduces central sympathetic output Airway, ventilation, heart rate, and blood-pressure tradeoffs How to compare the drugs in an interview answer Try The CRNA Club free for seven days - Explore the all-in-one CRNA school application platform. Follow The CRNA Club: Instagram: @thecrnaclub YouTube: The CRNA Club Website: thecrnaclub.com Share this episode with an ICU nurse preparing for CRNA school.

September 18, 202615 min

Vasopressor Pharmacology for ICU Nurses and CRNA Interviews

Vasopressor pharmacology is easier to remember when you start with the hemodynamic problem: does the patient need more vascular tone, more contractility, or both? Sachi reviews alpha-one, beta-one, beta-two, and alpha-two signaling, then compares norepinephrine, epinephrine, phenylephrine, vasopressin, dobutamine, and milrinone by mechanism and clinical job. RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: Vasopressor Pharmacology Cheat Sheet CRNA Mock Interview Practice FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: Transcript Analyzer - See your cumulative, science, and last-60-credit GPAs 9-Step Application Checklist - Work through the CRNA school application process in order CRNA School Database - Search and compare CRNA programs Certification Planner - Build a CCRN, CSC, or CMC study schedule around your shifts Timeline Generator - Build a personalized CRNA application timeline IN THIS EPISODE: Alpha and beta receptor signaling Tone, contractility, and mixed hemodynamic jobs How the major vasoactive medications differ A safer structure for CRNA interview answers Try The CRNA Club free for seven days - Explore the all-in-one CRNA school application platform. Follow The CRNA Club: Instagram: @thecrnaclub YouTube: The CRNA Club Website: thecrnaclub.com Share this episode with an ICU nurse preparing for CRNA school.

September 16, 202616 min

Your 18-Month CRNA Application Timeline

A strong CRNA application timeline starts about 18 months before your earliest deadline. This episode walks backward from submission so you can plan prerequisites, academic repair, ICU acuity, the GRE, CCRN preparation, shadowing, your resume and essays, recommendations, transcripts, and final submission without stacking everything into the last few months. RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: CRNA Application Timeline Generator CRNA School Database FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: Transcript Analyzer - See your cumulative, science, and last-60-credit GPAs 9-Step Application Checklist - Work through the CRNA school application process in order CRNA School Database - Search and compare CRNA programs Certification Planner - Build a CCRN, CSC, or CMC study schedule around your shifts Timeline Generator - Build a personalized CRNA application timeline IN THIS EPISODE: What to do 18 months before your deadline When to begin shadowing and CCRN preparation How to stage resumes, essays, and recommendations What to verify before submitting Try The CRNA Club free for seven days - Explore the all-in-one CRNA school application platform. Follow The CRNA Club: Instagram: @thecrnaclub YouTube: The CRNA Club Website: thecrnaclub.com Share this episode with an ICU nurse preparing for CRNA school.

September 14, 202614 min

CRNA School Prerequisites: What to Retake Before You Apply

CRNA prerequisites involve two different questions: what each target program requires for eligibility and what your transcript needs to prove for competitiveness. Sachi explains how to review core science grades, compare a same-course retake with higher-level academic recovery, and make the decision in the right order. RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: CRNA School Database CRNA Transcript Analyzer FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: Transcript Analyzer - See your cumulative, science, and last-60-credit GPAs 9-Step Application Checklist - Work through the CRNA school application process in order CRNA School Database - Search and compare CRNA programs Certification Planner - Build a CCRN, CSC, or CMC study schedule around your shifts Timeline Generator - Build a personalized CRNA application timeline IN THIS EPISODE: Eligibility versus competitiveness How to identify science grades that need review Same-course retakes versus higher-level recovery How repeated coursework may be evaluated Try The CRNA Club free for seven days - Explore the all-in-one CRNA school application platform. Follow The CRNA Club: Instagram: @thecrnaclub YouTube: The CRNA Club Website: thecrnaclub.com Share this episode with an ICU nurse preparing for CRNA school.

September 10, 202612 min

CRRT Explained for ICU Nurses

CRRT becomes easier to reason through when you start with diffusion, convection, and ultrafiltration. This episode connects those transport mechanisms to CVVHD, CVVH, CVVHDF, and SCUF, then walks through effluent dose, circuit pressures, alarms, anticoagulation, and a CRNA school interview case. RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: CRRT Modes, Settings & Alarms Cheat Sheet CRNA Mock Interview Practice FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: Transcript Analyzer - See your cumulative, science, and last-60-credit GPAs 9-Step Application Checklist - Work through the CRNA school application process in order CRNA School Database - Search and compare CRNA programs Certification Planner - Build a CCRN, CSC, or CMC study schedule around your shifts Timeline Generator - Build a personalized CRNA application timeline IN THIS EPISODE: Diffusion, convection, and ultrafiltration How CVVHD, CVVH, CVVHDF, and SCUF differ Effluent dose and common CRRT settings How to interpret access, return, filter, and TMP alarms Try The CRNA Club free for seven days - Explore the all-in-one CRNA school application platform. Follow The CRNA Club: Instagram: @thecrnaclub YouTube: The CRNA Club Website: thecrnaclub.com Share this episode with an ICU nurse preparing for CRNA school.

September 9, 202611 min

What to Put (and NOT put) on Your CRNA School Resume/CV

Your CRNA school resume should make your ICU acuity, critical-care skills, leadership, certifications, and preparation for anesthesia easy to find. In this episode, Sachi explains what belongs on the first page, when a second page is useful, how to write specific ICU bullets, and what to cut. RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE: CRNA School Database FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: Transcript Analyzer - See your cumulative, science, and last-60-credit GPAs 9-Step Application Checklist - Work through the CRNA school application process in order CRNA School Database - Search and compare CRNA programs Certification Planner - Build a CCRN, CSC, or CMC study schedule around your shifts Timeline Generator - Build a personalized CRNA application timeline IN THIS EPISODE: The job of a CRNA school resume How to describe ICU acuity and clinical growth What counts as leadership and preparation When to use one page versus two Try The CRNA Club free for seven days - Explore the all-in-one CRNA school application platform. Follow The CRNA Club: Instagram: @thecrnaclub YouTube: The CRNA Club Website: thecrnaclub.com Share this episode with an ICU nurse preparing for CRNA school.

June 15, 202639 min

They WILL Ask You About Shock in Your CRNA Interview

Every CRNA school interview panel asks about shock. Most applicants can name the four types. What separates the answers that land is mechanism — Frank-Starling in hypovolemic, the afterload trap in cardiogenic, iNOS-driven nitric oxide collapse in distributive, RV dilation and septal shift in obstructive. This episode covers all four shock states at the cellular level: hemodynamic profiles, bedside clues, and the exact language to use when a program asks you to walk through shock in an interview. We have a full shock states lesson inside The CRNA Club learning library — hemodynamic profiles for every shock type, built for CCRN prep and CRNA interview practice. Start your free seven-day trial. FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: Transcript Analyzer - Find out if your GPA is competitive for CRNA school 9-Step Application Checklist - Every step you need to apply to CRNA school, in order CRNA School Database - Search and compare 140+ CRNA programs Certification Planner - Your personalized CCRN study schedule Timeline Generator - Build your personalized application timeline Try The CRNA Club FREE for 7 days - The only tool personalized to YOUR CRNA school journey CHAPTERS: [00:00] Cold open: warm post-op patient, ambiguous shock type [01:30] Welcome and shared framework: shock as inadequate tissue perfusion [02:30] Tank, pump, pipes, obstruction overview [03:00] Hypovolemic shock: Frank-Starling, sympathetic compensation, why pressors alone fail [06:00] Mid-episode: learning library shock lesson [07:00] Cardiogenic shock: calcium handling failure, the afterload trap, inotrope rationale [10:00] Distributive shock: iNOS, nitric oxide, why norepinephrine targets the right receptor [13:00] Obstructive shock: PE anatomy, tension pneumo, tamponade — and Beck's triad caveat [15:00] How to answer the shock question in your CRNA interview [16:30] Three clinical takeaways and cold open callback Follow us on Instagram: @thecrnaclub More resources at THECRNACLUB.COM

May 21, 202613 min

What CRNA Interviewers Actually Want to Hear About Vasopressors

Understanding vasopressors for CRNA interviews means going beyond what each drug does — interviewers want to know why it does it, at the receptor and cellular level. This episode walks through the mechanism of action for norepinephrine, epinephrine, phenylephrine, vasopressin, dobutamine, and milrinone, tracing each drug from receptor binding through intracellular signaling to the clinical effect at the bedside. Want to go deeper on vasopressors? Try The CRNA Club FREE for 7 days — the learning library has a full vasopressor lesson with dosing, indications, and comparison framework. FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU ON YOUR CRNA JOURNEY: 9-Step Application Checklist - Every step you need to apply to CRNA school CRNA School Database - Search and compare 140+ CRNA programs Transcript Analyzer - Find out if your GPA is competitive for CRNA school Certification Planner - Your personalized CCRN study plan Timeline Generator - Build your personalized application timeline TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Why vasopressors come up in almost every CRNA interview [01:30] What receptor framework ties all vasopressors together? [04:00] How do alpha-1, beta-1, and beta-2 receptors work at the cellular level? [08:00] What makes norepinephrine first-line for septic shock? [10:00] Why does epinephrine raise lactate, and should you stop the drip? [12:00] What is vasopressin actually doing in septic shock? [14:00] Free resources for your CRNA journey Follow us on Instagram: @thecrnaclub More resources at THECRNACLUB.COM

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