Welcome back to The Mindful Aspiring CRNA Podcast.

In this episode, I'm diving into a conversation that's long overdue in healthcare: mentoring vs. coaching — what they are, what they aren't, and why the distinction actually matters more than we think.

If you've ever wondered:

• "Why would I pay for coaching when I can get advice for free?"

• "Is coaching even legit?"

• "Isn't this just mindset fluff?"

• "Shouldn't healthcare professionals be able to handle things on their own?"

This episode is for you.

I share my own very real, very skeptical beginning with coaching back in 2020 — when I was a brand new mom, working 24-hour shifts during the height of the pandemic, juggling personal challenges, and silently white-knuckling my way through it all. Hiring a coach didn't just help me "feel better." It changed how I led at work, how I showed up in my marriage, how I built my business, and how I took care of my own nervous system.

And that's the part we don't talk about enough in healthcare.

We are trained to manage everyone else's physiology — but not our own.

In this episode, I unpack:

• Why mentorship is powerful — but often incomplete

• How coaching goes deeper than strategy and into identity

• The nervous system science behind procrastination, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome

• Why high-achievers often stall despite "knowing what to do"

• The 4 P's that quietly dominate the CRNA journey: Perfectionism, Productivity, Performance, and People-Pleasing

• Why burnout is normalized — but personal development is not

• The truth about paying for coaching and the psychology behind commitment

• 6 reasons you absolutely should not get a coach

This isn't about hype.
It's not about "just think positive."
It's not about someone telling you what to do.

It's about learning how to lead yourself.

Because you can know everything… and still not execute.
You can look successful… and still feel shaky inside.
You can hustle toward your goals… without building the character required to sustain them.

If you're an aspiring CRNA who feels stuck in cycles of overthinking, overworking, self-doubt, or emotional reactivity — this conversation will challenge you in the best way.

Healthcare doesn't need tougher people. It needs developed leaders.

So listen with an open mind and then decide for yourself if coaching is for you or not.

I'll see you inside the episode.

LINKS MENTIONED:

• Want a 15min FREE Consult? Email me your availabiity at amandakayonline@gmail.com
• Follow me on IG @amandakcrna or my YouTube Channel
• Roadmap Coaching for RNs
• Coaching for NAR/RRNAs
• Website: www.amandakaycrna.com

What happens to the version of you who survives CRNA school… once life keeps evolving?

In this honest and deeply reflective episode of The Mindful Nurse Anesthesia Resident Podcast, Amanda sits down with Sarah, CRNA and founder of Mooxli, for a conversation about growth, identity, resilience, and the many seasons of a CRNA career.

From starting in the ER and traveling with her nurse husband… to navigating waitlists, pivots, and the illusion of the "perfect time" to apply — Sarah shares how nursing has shaped her path in unexpected ways. Together, they unpack the life-changing evolution from the person you were in CRNA school to the person you become afterward — and why waiting is never passive if you're committed to your growth.

This episode explores:
✨ The power of agency — and why you can't hand your well-being over to circumstances
✨ The in-between seasons of waiting, transitioning, and redefining your identity
✨ The struggles and unhealthy patterns that got her through CRNA school — and what she learned from them
✨ Rural practice, career pivots, contracts, and the realities of first jobs
✨ Turning pain into purpose through Mooxli and building true resilience
✨ Why community, values, and self-compassion matter more than perfection

You'll also hear about the moment she almost quit CRNA school, how to walk through what feels impossible, and the three truths she shares to close out this powerful conversation.

If you've ever wondered:
Does the perfect time for CRNA school really exist?
Who's responsible for my well-being during this journey?
What happens after CRNA school?

This episode is for you!

Because the goal isn't just becoming a CRNA — it's becoming someone who can evolve through every season that follows.

MOOXLI Website

Follow Sarah on IG

Books mentioned in the episode:

Say Less, Get More

Necessary Endings

Fawning

What if the path you think is non-traditional is actually your greatest advantage?

In this episode of The Mindful Nurse Anesthesia Resident Podcast, Amanda sits down for an honest, grounding conversation about letting go of the "shoulds" surrounding CRNA school, clinical training, and life after graduation—and learning to trust the path that's uniquely yours with Kendall CRNA, the creator of Vital Pro Docs.

From not starting in a traditional ICU, to navigating CRNA school during COVID, to failing her first exam and specializing right after school, this episode normalizes the realities many aspiring CRNAs quietly worry about but rarely say out loud.

Together, we explore:

• Why there is no single "right" ICU background for CRNA school

• How non-traditional ICU experience and even Med-Surg experience can actually make you a stronger CRNA

• Reflection points to help you uncover your future CRNA superpower before CRNA school interviews

• Why hobbies, presence, and identity outside of school matter more than you think

• The incredible pivot she made in CRNA shcool during Covid

• Honest conversations about being married in CRNA school—and the support it requires

• Failing your first exam, study tips that actually work, and learning to tolerate imperfection

• Did you feel prepared when you graduated? How to choose your first CRNA job

• Is OB right out of CRNA school really "allowed"? (Yes—and here's why she loved it)

• The essence of what being a CRNA truly is

• The privilege of pressure and learning to rise without burning out

• Locums tips, credentialing frustrations (and solutions), and life after CRNA school

This episode is for aspiring CRNAs who feel behind, different, or unsure if they're "doing it right."

✨ Because the truth is:
There is no right way.
There is only the way life takes.

And sometimes the path that looks the least traditional is the one preparing you most.

IG: @vitalprodocs, @kendall_crna

Vital Pro Docs Website