Cosmetic RN

[sdramsey]

Hello... I am a cosmetic nurse. I am an injector, a laser specialist, and a skin care educator. This new field of nursing is definitely a challenge but that is what is so appealing to me.

Here on nurse.com, I hope to establish professional relations and build rewarding connections. It is very nice to meet all of you. Please feel free to contact me for any questions, advice, or interest in any topic pertaining to myself and/or my specialty as a nurse.

Stephanie

[ianursing22]

Hi Stephanie! Your post awakens my interest about cosmetic nursing! What does it entail to be a cosmetic nurse?What training does one need to undergo in order to be considered for this position?thanks a lot

[amygarside]

Hi Stephanie, welcome! Your work seems interesting, hope to learn more about it.

[sdramsey]

Hi Stephanie! Your post awakens my interest about cosmetic nursing! What does it entail to be a cosmetic nurse?What training does one need to undergo in order to be considered for this position?thanks a lot

The scope of practice in aesthetics varies from state to state. Here in North Carolina, the scope of practice includes procedures such as Botox and Filler injections, laser treatments (hair removal, skin tightening, skin rejuvenation, etc), as well as microdermabrasion and chemical peels. There are many institutions that offer education and certification for nurses looking to pursue this side of nursing. Unfortunately, these institutions are located in other states/are costly. I was fortunate to have been presented an opportunity through a friend (an esthetician). Her father is a surgeon who owned and directed a medical spa. They needed a nurse temporarily and that is where I came in. I worked right along side the MD every time he was in the spa performing treatments such as Botox/filler/laser. I gained a lot of valuable knowledge from listening and simply watching his techniques. Following this position, I went door to door. Literally. I finally got hired pretty much on the spot at a well-known medical spa. This medical spa did "in-house" training. They provided up-to-date power point presentations and extensive hands on training. I have taken it upon myself to continue my education every chance I get. (Scholarly journals on aesthetics is scarce) The representatives from the manufacturers of the products we use (Such as Allergan Inc who makes Botox Cosmetic) are very helpful and train on site as well. I would honestly recommend to anyone interested in taking this route in nursing to do your homework first. It takes a unique personality to be highly successful. The client base is very different. Everything about it is different. I would also recommend to someone leaning towards this field of nursing to try and go to some institute for some sort of certified training before finding a job. Certification is not required for these positions (yet) but experience often is and competence always is.

[amygarside]

Thank you for sharing this very informative writing about cosmetic nursing.

[sdramsey]

Thank you for sharing this very informative writing about cosmetic nursing.

You are very welcome.

[erika60]

Hello Stephanie,
I am so glad to have joined this community and come across your posting regarding Cosmetic Nurse. I am about to start a classes from Jan 25th -Jan 29th on Mesotherapy, Facial Aesthetics, Comprehensive Botox, Comprehensive Dermal Fillers and advanced Aesthetics. However, I am excited about the learning curve but the same time a bit nervous. I decided to take risks and hope that I find a physician that will utilize me. Unfortunately, I do not have an connections with the Plastic world. The company assures me that I will make connections with an MD during the 4 day training that is looking for an RN to do botox etc.. In addition, the company has a job placement that will match your needs. Any advice? Thank you

[ianursing22]

The scope of practice in aesthetics varies from state to state. Here in North Carolina, the scope of practice includes procedures such as Botox and Filler injections, laser treatments (hair removal, skin tightening, skin rejuvenation, etc), as well as microdermabrasion and chemical peels. There are many institutions that offer education and certification for nurses looking to pursue this side of nursing. Unfortunately, these institutions are located in other states/are costly. I was fortunate to have been presented an opportunity through a friend (an esthetician). Her father is a surgeon who owned and directed a medical spa. They needed a nurse temporarily and that is where I came in. I worked right along side the MD every time he was in the spa performing treatments such as Botox/filler/laser. I gained a lot of valuable knowledge from listening and simply watching his techniques. Following this position, I went door to door. Literally. I finally got hired pretty much on the spot at a well-known medical spa. This medical spa did "in-house" training. They provided up-to-date power point presentations and extensive hands on training. I have taken it upon myself to continue my education every chance I get. (Scholarly journals on aesthetics is scarce) The representatives from the manufacturers of the products we use (Such as Allergan Inc who makes Botox Cosmetic) are very helpful and train on site as well. I would honestly recommend to anyone interested in taking this route in nursing to do your homework first. It takes a unique personality to be highly successful. The client base is very different. Everything about it is different. I would also recommend to someone leaning towards this field of nursing to try and go to some institute for some sort of certified training before finding a job. Certification is not required for these positions (yet) but experience often is and competence always is.

Hi Stephanie
Thank you so much for a very comprehensive and informative input about cosmetic nursing! Medical spa is becoming more common nowadays, so I think they will need a lot of help from cosmetic nurses. I might as well venture into this!!again thanks a lot

[sdramsey]

Oh no! I hate that I am just now seeing this! I hope the class went well for you. Are you looking to do this full time? I know the class is probably a lot to take in. There is just so much to learn as in any specialty of nursing. I suppose what makes this specialty so...special...is that it's so new. There are various techniques and it is still up in th air as to which technique is best and why. I hope that you did meet a potential employer during this 4 day process. The things (in my opinion) that are sought for from a nurse looking to pursue this profession is someone with more than just the credentials or the experience even. You have to have a contagious personality. You have to have undeniable passion and certainty about who you are and how you want to grow. You have to have the rarity to not only attract clients but retain them. Remember, this is not a need but a luxury. Clients can go anywhere to receive the exact service in which you provide. So you have to ask yourself why you would come back to you or your establishment. Yes, getting your foot in the door is ideal but you must choose a company that you are proud of. As nurses, we understand the importance of building trust with our patients. This field requires a step further. You want your clients to not only trust you for your knowledge, expertise, and skills.. You want them to like you as an individual. People wil come to you needing your sense of confidence about what you do and who you are. When it comes to expanding your connections or network, there are plenty of resources a your fingertips. You must establish a reputable online networking system and name for yourself. LinkedIn is great. Also, you can google business networking events in your area. There are events taking place all the time. You want to make business cards with a good picture of yourself on it. Even if you do not have a job as an aesthetic nurse, you can still have business cards. And get used to having them because once you become an aesthetic nurse, you want to promote who you are and leave that card every chance you get. Make a network log and attend to it daily. Write down who you met and where. Document something you remember about them such as being new to the area. After a week or so, email them asking how they were adjusting or just email them a friendly hello. Document when you do this. Treat networking like a job because in reality, it is. And even if you meet people who may not benefit you in terms of referring you to a potential employer, these people still may be potential clients or friends of potential clients. And remember, connecting with business professionals is a two way street. Just because they cannot assist your advancements does not mean you cannot or should not assist advance theirs. I wish you the best of luck and please contact me if you need any advice...

[nursesherry40]

I just recently heard of the Cosmetics specialty. Sounds GREAT. Is finding work easy or do you self contract? Is a BA required for the Cosmetic specialty, and who offers the credentialing?

[nursesherry40]

Erica, That sounds great!! Whom are you taking the Mesotherapy, Facial Aesthetics, and Dermal fillers class through?