The medical field has various job opportunities for nurses, it is not only limited to emergency rooms or hospitals.
If you are already a registered nurse looking for other possible employment, let’s look at how to become an aesthetic nurse.
A Nurse Aesthetic usually work at the outpatient surgical centers and medical spas, and they have the discretion whether they like to work part-time or full-time hours.
Nurse Aesthetics’ Job Description
A job of an Aesthetic Nurse is directly focused on procedures both on the cosmetic and dermatologic side, this is one of the main reasons why they are also known as cosmetic nurses.
Their job entails the assistance to an attending physician on various surgical procedures such as breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, liposuction and abdominoplasty.
They also have additional responsibilities such as the performance or assistance in less invasive cosmetic and dermatological procedures that should be done for health purposes or own personal reasons.
Aesthetic Nurses are capable of working in a variety of settings such as a private practitioner, hospital clinic, dermatological offices and medical spas in which they are under a direct supervision of an attending physician, plastic surgeon or an expert in dermatology.
Trainings to become a Nurse Aesthetic
After acquiring a registered nurse license, one should apply as an assistant Nurse Aesthetic because a 2-year training period is required if you aim to acquire a Nurse Aesthetic certification.
The training period may be through a job shadowing of a Nurse Aesthetic, in this one can acquire knowledge in liposuction, Botox, skin assessing and other procedures.
It needs to be highlighted that the endorsement of a physician with a core specialty is cosmetics, dermatologist, plastic surgeon or physician is vital because it is a requirement for the certification.
How to be a certified Nurse Aesthetic?
Before anything else, an aspiring Nurse Aesthetic should first earn their bachelor’s degree in nursing and passed the nursing licensure exam.
Certifications for Nurse Aesthetic is not entirely required but it is available through the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board, it may be helpful in job application if you have this certification, but it is not a mandated requirement.
The first requirement for the certification to be currently a licensed registered nurse, who has acquired at least a thousand hours in the core competency specialty in the last 2 years, meaning, one should have a minimum of 2 years nursing experience within the designated four core competencies under the supervision of a board-certified physician who has a core specialty in the field of plastic surgery, ophthalmology, dermatology or facial surgery.
After rendering service under the supervision of a physician, the said physician should endorse the applicant’s application, this requirement highlights the importance of gaining the 2-year nursing experience.
Nurse Aesthetic qualifications and education
A Nurse Aesthetic is not required to own an advanced nursing degree, but a helpful tip to keep in mind is to begin seeking experience in the concepts of Nurse Aesthetics while still in school by means of acquiring trainings in areas specifically targeted to cosmetic and dermatological procedures such as fat grafting, liposuction, chemical peel and dermal filler.
After obtaining the license as a registered nurse, one should now start to find employment at a plastic surgery or a medical spa centers as an assistant to an experienced Aesthetic Nurse to gain more experience and knowledge in the said field.
It was highlighted above that a Nurse Aesthetic is required a minimum of 2 years’ experience so job shadowing an experienced Nurse Aesthetic would be helpful. Through the phase of job shadowing the trainee can learn common job functions such as skin aging assessment, Botox injections and the performance of post-operative care.
The final step is to get the Nurse Aesthetic Specialist Certification as highlighted above, it is not a mandated requirement, but it can demonstrate to the prospective employers the capabilities and competence of an individual in carrying out cosmetic procedures.
The certification can be obtained from the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board and the individuals who pass the certification are required to recertify every after 3 years through acquiring 45 contact hours by continuous education.
For the Frequently Asked Questions:
What is an aesthetic nurse?
An Aesthetic Nurse or Cosmetic Nurses are responsible for assisting in various clinical procedures such as the pre- and post-operative care of the patients.
They usually carry out common procedures such as dermal filler and neurotoxin injections, laser hair removals and non-invasive body contouring.
How much do aesthetic nurses make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a registered nurse employment is expected to increase by 12% until 2028.
Salary can vary greatly depending on the state, city, tears of employment, degrees and certifications acquired, and the employer, but the median salary is $71,730.
How do you become an aesthetic nurse?
In order to become an Aesthetic Nurse, one should first acquire a degree in nursing and pass the registered nurse licensure exam.
After obtaining the required degree and license, the next step is to gain a 2-year experience before applying for the certification, even though the said certification is not required, it would show the employer of one’s capabilities.
How much do nurses make injecting Botox?
Botox is considered as one of the least invasive procedure, so an Aesthetic Nurse is usually the one to administer this with supervision of a physician.
The average pay ranges from approximately $42, 722 per year, this proves that it is a profitable employment.
Do you need to be a nurse to do Botox?
One should be a nurse, physician or a medical professional in order to administer Botox.
It is a requirement to show that you have a degree, transcripts or both so that one could enroll in a Botox training course.
What qualifications do you need to do aesthetics?
A nurse aesthetic should have a degree in nursing and obtain the registered nurse license before anything else.
The certification which requires a 2-year experience is not required but it would be beneficial towards one’s credentials.
How much does a med spa nurse make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the average annual salary for all registered nurses is $67,930.
For medical spa nurses in particular, they make $64,000 per year.
