Episode Details

Significant perioperative loss can affect CRNAs deeply, even when there was no error and nothing could have been done differently. Yet many clinicians are never taught what those emotions may look like or how to process them.

This episode of Airway Exchange explores the emotional impact of significant perioperative loss on CRNAs and why nurse anesthesia programs need to prepare students for those experiences before they happen. Crystal Hunnicutt, DNAP, CRNA, APRN, CNE, CHSE, CWP, the Vice Chair of the AANA Health and Wellness Committee, and Jennifer Stewart-Glenn, PhD, MSN, FNP discuss their qualitative research, including themes of guilt, responsibility, isolation, self-blame, and loss of confidence, and what educators can do to create more supportive, trauma-informed responses.

Here’s some of what you’ll hear in this episode:

🧠 Name the Experience: Perioperative loss can create profound emotional distress

⚖️ Guilt Without Fault: Clinicians may feel responsible even when no error occurred

🤝 Break the Isolation: Feeling alone was a major theme in the research

🎓 Prepare Students Early: Programs should address loss before it happens

💬 Listen, Don’t Fix: Support begins with validation, not problem-solving

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