Why study with us

Your Most Efficient Study Coach

We make education accessible for nurse anesthesia residents from all over the US. Our doors are open to residents of all ages and any levels of experience. We are on a mission to help individuals grow, inspire creative passion, and increase residents' self-confidence. In other words, all the tools you need to make you the best possible and most successful CRNA.
Our team

ProgramPrep Concierge Team

Peter Strube
DNAP, CRNA, MBA, FAANA

It was a sad day in December when Dr. Peter Strube suddenly passed away after a short period of illness. Peters energy and enthusiasm had been a great inspiration and motivator for Storm Anesthesia as a business and Michael and Annette on a more personal level. Peter will be sorely missed as he now spends his time among the other great pioneers in the nurse anesthesia afterlife.
Read the AANA In Memoriam about Dr. Peter Strube here.

Peter joined forces with Storm Anesthesia to combine his excellent tutoring service with Storm Anesthesia courses and books.

Peter D. Strube was a CRNA who graduated from St. Mary’s University school of anesthesia in 2006 with a master’s degree. His undergraduate degree was from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Peter was awarded the Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia (DNAP) in June of 2017 and completed an MBA December 2020.
Lieutenant Colonel Strube was retired from the United States Army Nurse Corps. Dr. Strube mobilized and deployed four times during current military operations which included service in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Peter was Assistant Professor and Assistant Program Director at Newman University.

Peter owned and operated Trollway Anesthesia that covered several critical access hospitals. He authored several professional articles and training programs, spoke professionally both nationally and internationally.

Peter also tutored at risk Nurse Anesthesia Residents on their anesthesia boards.

Peter served on the Wisconsin state association board and as AANA Region 3 Director. He served his community as a member of the Mount Horeb Board of Education and was a Commissioner on the Dane County Ethics Board and was a court appointed mentor for veterans in crisis.

Matthew Zinder
MS, CH, CRNA

Matthew Zinder has worked in some level of healthcare for 30 years, starting as an EMT in a volunteer fire station.

Matthew owns and operates a Maryland-based mobile anesthesia practice that has been in business since 1984.

He speaks at many professional conferences, both nationally and internationally, involving topics such as stress management, wellness, business of anesthesia, and the practice of anesthesia. He is the host and producer of The Provider Wellness Podcast where he speaks with experts involving healthcare provider well being and self-care.

Matthew is currently the President-Elect of the Maryland Association of Nurse Anesthetists, and an appointed member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Health & Wellness Committee.

He is adjunct faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University, Thomas Jefferson University, and Georgetown University Schools of Nurse Anesthesia.

Michael Storm
DNAP, CRNA

Michael graduated from anesthesia school in 2005 and immediately joined the staff at a level 1 trauma center in Columbia, SC.

In 2006 he and his two study mates from anesthesia school started a teaching business, Nurse Anesthesia Review Course 4U, because they felt there was a need for more review courses than was available at that time. In 2013 Michael started Storm Anesthesia on the ashes of NARC 4U to continue his passion for teaching and writing.

In 2020 Michael decided to extend his writing and teaching skills to CRNAs in need for continuing education, and in 2021 he launched recertCRNA with the goal of becoming the premier continuing education website for CRNAs. Michael has now partnered with Peter Strube and Matthew Zinder in helping struggling nurse anesthesia residents succeed in becoming the best possible CRNAs.

When you will not find Michael in front of his computer he can often be found sailing on Lake Murray with his wonderful wife Annette. His love of the outdoors also brings him to the ski-slopes in the Rockies or in Europe. Michael has been a professional fully certified alpine ski instructor for almost 30 years and taught in Vail, CO, Livigno (Italy), Avoriaz (France), and Hemsedal (Norway). One day he and Annette would like to get back into playing golf, which before anesthesia was a major passion of both Annette and Michael.

Annette Storm
MNA, CRNA

Annette Storm, MNA, CRNA has been a CRNA for 12 years and has been teaching for Storm Anesthesia since 2013 when the company launched. Annette's expertise is within cardiac and electrophysiology.


Annette became an RN in Denmark in 1987 and in 1990 decided to explore nursing in the US. She convinced her boyfriend, Michael, to come along, so they would not one day be sitting in a rocking chair and wonder what if?

Annette is a very strong patient advocate and did not see herself become a CRNA when Michael decided to go back to school. No, she liked her bedside patients. Well, the best plan sometimes changes and Annette obtained her BSN in 2008 and became a CRNA in 2012. And not just graduated, but graduated with the program's highest honor, the Agatha Hodgins Award for Clinical and Academic Excellence. So much for not becoming a CRNA!

Annette enjoys her garden, although, she can often be seen sailing on Lake Murray, skiing in the Alps with family (she is an alpine ski instructor), hiking in the mountains, or just laying on the beach.

Annette enjoys the outdoors!

Our Vision

Our vision is to create a personalized, supportive environment that will allow every student to succeed.

Our Mission

Our mission is to assist a student or resident achieve success in advanced practice nursing and medical training through customized tutoring and strategies to increase health and wellness through the entire academic process.
We have a passion for creating learning conditions that will make it possible for every learner to reach their goal. No goal is too lofty. 
We view every learner from a holistic angle and we approach the individual and personal learning process by assessing, not just the didactic knowledge, but also the mental fortitude of each individual.
Our video learning adheres to the microteaching concept
  • Short videos, often 8-12 minutes
  • Mini-Quiz to check for understanding
  • Full exams to facilitate and consolidate the learning
We create a study guide for each student that utilizes our proprietary material, ie, books and online course, and we incorporate textbooks and other material you have access to. This study guide includes multiple modules of anesthesia content, and all modules has a corresponding area in our online course section.
We also recognize that passing high-stakes exams is not only about content knowledge. Many test-takers don't do as well as they could. Therefore, we include techniques for managing stress and anxiety. 
A thriving community

500+ Students and Counting

"Before meeting the Storms and Matt, I felt lost trying to figure out my next steps. I was approaching my 4th attempt at the NBCRNA. I used Apex for most of my schooling, and it did help ground some ideas, but I felt something was missing. I took an online course, hoping that it would help me. It was a waste of my money and another failed attempt. I was on a Facebook page looking for advice and was directed to Matt. After talking to Matt, I realized that trying out this program sounded like a great idea. I met with Michael and Annette initially to go over things and make sure that this was a good fit. I initially felt skeptical because of my prior failed attempts, and this was my final attempt before I had to wait a year. The storms analyzed my prior scores and used those scores for the test plan on how I was to approach this as a successful attempt. I utilized all the material they provided and used the additional ones that I had access to, like the smart bank from Apex, to test my knowledge. They also set up weekly phone meetings and a few Zoom meetings that I felt really helped me stay on track. The Zoom meeting helped me realize that I was adding words to my questions that were not there. They helped me slow down my reading, and with that slight improvement, my scores were drastically improving. I met with them a few days before my exam. They helped me shake off my jitters. I texted them both a picture of me passing. Michael and Annette pushed me to achieve my best. I would not be where I am without the guidance and support that they have given me."
Serg (2025)
"I mistakenly thought I overcame my struggle after I scored 25 points higher than the required SEE benchmark during my 4th and final attempt, the day before graduation. My cohort prepared the entire semester for the NCE, so I thought I was ready to take it. Two weeks after graduation, I sat for the exam, collected my results after the computer shut off at 100 questions, and expected to see PASS on my paper. When I read FAIL, I was embarrassed and felt like I let my program down. I knew I needed help and had to overcome this mindset.
Matthew introduced me to daily hypnosis, deep breathing, and meditation exercises, and Michael and Annette developed a personal plan for me to master the material. Michael and Annette coached me through the entire process and supported me with frequent communication and online meetings. Their approach encouraged me to learn difficult concepts through a different perspective and allowed me to be fluent with the material."
Leah (2024)
“I am so appreciative of the assistance Michael, Annette, and Matt have given me in guiding me toward success with my NCE. I had first heard about this program from a friend who had been working with them and said they had helped with their progress. Studying for the NCE wasn’t giving me the results that I was looking for and I needed another perspective. Reaching out to them helped me ensure my success and it was a huge weight off my shoulders. I fully embraced the methods and strategies provided to me. Was it hard? Yes. I have gone through this information so many times with other review programs but with Michael and Annette’s support, I was able to meet my goals. They listened to what I said and reinforced my feelings to help me get back the confidence I was struggling to find. I recommend to anyone, who is feeling overwhelmed with the process or just needs a boost, to contact them. I have passed the NCE because I asked for help from people who cared.”
Jess (2024)

“I had graduated from a doctorate program in nurse anesthesia. I had thought, "I know this stuff and I have been doing pretty good on Apex tests, and I've taken the review courses I think I'll pass."
I was wrong!
I continued this trend thinking I just needed a tiny boost or a trick to get to pass on my next two attempts.
This again did not work.
I was unsure of how I should continue until I spoke with Michael and Annette Storm. They were kind and honest with me. They suggested I take the time and get back to basics and learn the concepts so well that no matter what the question I could answer it. So I took the plunge!
I was answering my 100th question and going to take a break when my exam ended. I jumped for joy when I opened my paper to see PASS. I had kicked this exam's behind this time.
Michael and Annette helped me to pass the last hurdle I needed to move on in my career, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart."

Joel (2024)

More Testimonials

Storm Anesthesia Review vol.I+II

Storm Anesthesia Review vol. I+II is a premier nurse anesthesia review book. The second edition was published in 2022, fully updated with all references to the most current anesthesia textbooks available. Furthermore, all images are now redrawn and owned by Storm Anesthesia. Among the many options available to any nurse anesthesia resident, these books are among the best researched and referenced you can find. Storm Anesthesia keeps these review books up-to-date frequently and uses all the approved references when writing. 

Physics & Chemistry for Nurse Anesthesia

Physics  & Chemistry for Nurse Anesthesia is now in its third edition. In 2022 the book was updated with all new redrawn images and references to the most current edition of the anesthesia textbooks. 
This book is a must for any serious nurse anesthesiologist or nurse anesthesia resident that want to master the physics and chemistry behind doing anesthesia. Other books are available but none are written by a CRNA with a passion for physics and chemistry. This book makes physics and chemistry seem easy, simple, and straightforward. 

ProgramPrep online review course

Outstanding Videos, Activities, Lessons, and Quizzes. The ProgramPrep course is fully accessibly online and through the free app 'recertCRNA'.
This course contains more than 21 hours of video lectures in 149 videos and 460+ test questions; 12 major anesthesia topics are covered and include a downloadable PDF file with all the slides and images, along with space for note taking, and an additional 1100+ test-yourself questions. 11 additional topics are covered with text and PDFs. Also included in the ProgramPrep course is a significant number of the documents written by Dr. Strube covering multiple aspects of nurse anesthesia.

Control your anxiety

ProgramPrep acknowledges that passing the NCE or SEE is about more than just content knowledge. Many students have terrific content knowledge but need help to pass these exams. When the stakes get high, some students could do better. Matthew specializes in wellness and anxiety control, and Matt will guide you with exercises and techniques to control your anxieties about test-taking. 

Frequently asked questions
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