What does it really take to get into—and through—CRNA school?

In this episode of The Mindful CRNA Podcast, Amanda sits down with CRNA and content creator Bilal Mohammad for an honest conversation about leadership, perseverance, social media, and the realities of becoming a nurse anesthetist.

Bilal shares his unique journey from aspiring aerospace engineer to CVICU nurse to CRNA, including how he was accepted into CRNA school with just 2 years of nursing experience.

Together, they tackle some of the biggest topics facing aspiring CRNAs today:

✨ Gatekeeping in anesthesia
✨ Getting into CRNA school with "limited" ICU experience
✨ Leadership qualities that set applicants apart
✨ Why delayed gratification is essential for success
✨ Failing exams and bouncing back stronger
✨ Surviving integrated CRNA programs
✨ Managing difficult preceptors and clinical challenges
✨ Social media, professionalism, and protecting your career
✨ Board preparation and transitioning into practice
✨ Learning to trust yourself when self-doubt creeps in

If you've ever wondered whether you're ready, questioned if you belong in CRNA school, or struggled through the inevitable challenges of this journey, this conversation is for you.

Bilal's message is simple but powerful: You were selected for a reason. You belong where you are. Keep going.

🎙️ Whether you're an aspiring CRNA, current NAR, or new graduate preparing for boards and your first job, you'll walk away with practical advice, encouragement, and a fresh perspective on what it means to lead yourself through one of the most demanding journeys in healthcare.

Follow Bilal @thatcrnawholifts

What if the hardest part of the CRNA journey isn't your intelligence… but your nervous system?

In this episode, we're disrupting the narrative that burnout, chaos, brute force, constant hustle and enduring constant suffering are just "part of the process" in becoming a CRNA.

Because let's be honest… Some of what's been normalized in healthcare is not excellence but survival mode. And you were not created to just survive your way through this journey.

Inside this episode, we break down:

✨ Why your brain resists change—and how that's keeping you stuck

✨ The real reason you feel exhausted, overwhelmed, and mentally tapped out

✨ The science behind stress, cognitive fatigue, and "change overload"

✨ Why pushing harder is actually making it worse

✨ How curiosity and compassion can rewire your brain for growth

✨ The shift from hustle → steadiness

✨ Why "standards over goals" will completely change how you show up

✨ And I reveal the question that makes everyone I ask it uncomfortable

You'll also learn how to stop operating from: → Perfectionism → People-pleasing → Performance pressure → Constant productivity …and start leading yourself from a place of: → Emotional intelligence → Regulation → Resilience → Identity-driven standards

Because here's the truth: You don't need more strategy. You need a new way of thinking, responding, and leading yourself through pressure.

This episode will help you stop reacting to your environment and start shaping it.

It's time to stop saying: "I'm surviving" …and start deciding: "I will thrive through this"

🔥 If you're ready to move from burnout → self-leadership, this one is for you.

🎧 Listen now & share with a future nurse anesthetist!

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Email me for a FREE 15min Consult at amandakayonline@gmail.com

Coaching Program for RNs

Coaching Program for NARs

My website for all the goods: www.amandakaycrna.com

Becoming a CRNA isn't just an academic challenge. It's an identity transformation.

In this episode of The Mindful Aspiring Nurse Anesthesia Podcast, I introduce a powerful framework that explains something many aspiring CRNAs experience but struggle to put into words: Why is this so hard? And why does this journey sometimes feel so bad?

Welcome The 7 Identity Crises of the CRNA Journey!

At every stage of this path — from deciding to apply to stepping into your role as a new CRNA — your sense of identity is challenged, stretched, and reshaped. And if you don't understand what's happening psychologically, it's easy to believe something is wrong with you.

But the truth is:

Nothing is wrong with you.

These internal struggles are a normal part of becoming the provider you're meant to be.

In this episode, we explore:

• The 7 Identity Crises every future CRNA experiences
• Why imposter syndrome shows up again and again during this journey and how to overocme it
• The hidden psychological shifts that happen from ICU nurse → NAR → CRNA
• Why strategy alone won't move you forward
• How confidence, resilience, and leadership are built during the journey — not after you arrive

You'll learn about the key identity transitions many people face:

1. The Worthiness Crisis – "Am I good enough to apply?"

2. The Decision Crisis – "Is this dream worth the sacrifice?"

3. The Imposter Crisis – "Did they make a mistake accepting me?"

4. The Competence Crisis – Going from expert ICU nurse to beginner again

5. The Pressure Crisis – Learning to regulate yourself under high stakes

6. The Identity Integration Crisis – Student → Provider

7. The Leadership Crisis – Who will you become once you arrive?

This episode is a reminder that becoming a CRNA is not just about mastering pharmacology or passing boards but about developing the internal leadership, emotional intelligence, and resilience required to care for patients when their lives are most vulnerable.

Because great anesthetists aren't just knowledgeable, they're steady under pressure.

If you've ever questioned whether you belong on this path, felt the weight of imposter syndrome, or wondered why the journey feels so mentally intense — this episode will give language to what you're experiencing and help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

You're not just surviving this journey.

You're becoming someone extraordinary.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

www.amandakaycrna.com

YouTube: Why a CRNA School Acceptance Won't Fix your ICU Burn-out

**FREE 15min Consult: Email amandakayonline@gmail.com with your availabiity