What Nurse Anesthesia Looks Like in Finland

What does nurse anesthesia practice look like in Finland?

That question is at the center of this episode of Beyond the Mask, recorded at the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists meeting in Australia. Sharon and guest co-host Kevin Chem sit down with Sari Pyhälä, a Finnish RN specialized in anesthesia and perioperative care, to learn more about how her profession differs from the model many U.S. CRNAs know.

Sari explains Finland’s education pathway, the role of on-the-job training, and how nurse anesthetists work within a physician-supervised model while still taking on significant responsibility for preparing, maintaining, and safely transitioning anesthesia care.

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

🌍 Nurse anesthesia looks different around the world.

🎓 Finland relies heavily on on-the-job anesthesia training.

🤝 Teamwork and mutual respect drive anesthesia care.

🗣️ Workplace challenges cross countries and generations.

❤️ Sari calls nurse anesthesia “a wonderful life.”

Join Sharon at the Nurse Anesthesia Update in the Bahamas: https://www.nurseanesthetist.com/events/nurse+anesthesia+update+2026/

About our guest: https://wcna2026.com/speakers/sari-pyhala/

Visit us online: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/