It is a very rewarding field to be an aesthetic nurse. You can make people feel special by enhancing their face and body and giving them a more youthful look. The aesthetic field is valued at over $9.5 billion in revenue, and after 25 years of continued growth, the field shows no sign of slowing down.
You need specialized training beyond your nursing or medical training to get a piece of this business. Not only will you be helping patients feel their best, but as an aesthetic nurse, you will help patients with their overall health and well-being. You are the key to helping your clients live their best life.
An aesthetics nurse performs many non-surgical procedures to assist clients in their cosmetic appearance. First, you will assess clients’ responses to treatment and give them pointers on aftercare to keep them looking younger and longer. The aesthetic nurse is similar to a plastic surgery nurse, but what you learn is less invasive, more in-office, and personalized cosmetic
treatments that have little downtime.
What is an Aesthetic Nurse
An aesthetic nurse is more than a nurse injecting Botox and lip filler for clients who want to look younger. Aesthetic nursing is much deeper. They need an aesthetic nurse who can present a calm, caring, and compassionate demeanor about their goals.
Where Do Aesthetic Nurses Work and What Do They Do?
Aesthetic nurses usually do not work in a hospital setting. Instead, treatments and procedures are mainly in outpatient medical clinics, medical spas, private offices, and sometimes outpatient surgery centers.
Some of the duties you perform will be:
- Injections
- Skin treatments
- Laser treatment
Responsibilities will also include:
- Assessing medical histories
- Checking vital signs
- Educating patients on procedures and treatments
- Preparing the area for the procedure
- Maintaining a sterile environment
- Monitoring patients during procedures
- Assessing healing and identifying any adverse responses
- Managing emergencies where patients become clinically unstable
What are the Educational Requirements?
Suppose you want to advance in the field of aesthetic or cosmetic nursing. In that case, you must first earn your RN degree through a university offering a two-year associate degree in Nursing (ADN) or a four-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Read the guidelines on what aesthetic schools prefer. Some require BSN-prepared nurses.
After completing accepted accredited nursing programs, you must complete the NCLEX-RN exam and be licensed in your state. It is not a requirement for an aesthetic nurse, but you may want to advance to a Nurse Practitioner (NP). A nurse practitioner holds a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or higher. As an NP, you may be given more responsibility and autonomy.
You can earn an additional Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist credential. This course includes:
- A current RN license
- At least 1000 hours in a core competency specialty in the last two years
- Minimum of 2 years of nursing experience with the four core competencies with a board-certified physician.
- Specialties in plastic/aesthetic surgery
- Dermatology.
- Ophthalmology
Aesthetic nurses perform aesthetic procedures outside the range of cosmetologists and aestheticians. Injectable aesthetic treatments are an art and a science, and an aesthetic nurse needs deep healthcare knowledge to assess and monitor treatment. Treatments may include neurotoxins, dermal fillers, chemical peels, body contouring, and vitamin infusions.
After becoming an RN, you will need additional training in injectables, skin resurfacing, and even wellness. Becoming an aesthetics nurse requires time, patience, skill, and an understanding of facial anatomy, injection safety, and the artistry behind aesthetics.
- Work under a board-certified plastic surgeon, an experienced aesthetic nurse practitioner, or another experienced aesthetic medical professional. Attending a specialized school like the Audrey Rose Institute of Aesthetic Medicine will give you the guidance and training you need as an aesthetic nurse.
- Attending formal training and seminars.
- Graduate from classes
Ready to move away from bedside nursing and into a more exciting and rewarding side of medicine? Before deciding if this is for you, please check with your individual state board for the scope of practice to make sure your license is eligible to practice aesthetics. Then, please take the next step and contact us below: Contact Audrey Rose Institute of Medical Aesthetics at or call us at 617-816-8855 for more information, to register for classes, or for advice.
