Skip to content 
Mentorship calls with me are available! Email ryan@tailoredmedspa.com to schedule a call!
The most common question in my inbox is… How do I get started becoming an aesthetic nurse?
This is a tough question to answer. If you are already a nurse, or you are planning to become one, it is likely that you have an innate personality that likes to follow structure. Unfortunately with this career path, there is no cookie cutter way to ensure your career in this field. That itself can be frustrating right off the bat (I know because I have been there.)
There is no direct pathway to become an aesthetic nurse. If you grabbed 20 random injectors and listened to their way they broke into the field, it would be 20 DIFFERENT stories.
If you have been following me, you know I started off as an esthetician. I worked at a medical spa as an esthetician, got my registered nursing license solely to be an aesthetic nurse, worked briefly at a local hospital, then was hired on at a plastic surgeons office. It was then when I was then given the opportunity to become trained in aesthetics.
The qualifications that you need to become an injector (also a laser operator in California) is to hold a license as a: Registered Nurse, Physicians Assistant, Nurse Practitioner or Physician. For Registered Nurses you can either have your Associated Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN). Both BSN and ADN give you a Registered Nursing license which allows you to become an aesthetic nurse.
Do you need to become an esthetician too? Nope! I chose to because I always had a passion of skin health. Having an esthetician background certainly is helpful in my role as an aesthetic nurse, however it is most definitely not a requirement! Estheticians are governed by the Board of Cosmetology not the Board of Nursing or the Medical Board.
So how to get started? Should you attend every training opportunity and every convention possible? NO! If you are hired as a new nurse injector I would get at least 6 months of on the job training before investing in out of office training. This is because hands on trainings and conventions are costly and mostly target injectors who have minimally 6 months full time experience. Would it be helpful to attend a weekend crash course to get basic exposure to the types of services, products and techniques you may be using? SURE! Will that help you get your foot in the door at a medical spa, dermatology or plastic surgeon office? POSSIBLY! Will it give you the upper hand over the person also applying for that position? Probably not!
As my dear friend once put it: If I went to a weekend course to be trained as an Labor and Delivery Nurse with no prior experience, I would be no where near ready to go start checking cervix’s, delivering and caring for new babies and managing complications. This also applies to the introductory aesthetic courses. One weekend will not prepare you to start as an aesthetic nurse. When you are looking to get hired, I would focus on presenting yourself, your personality, your work ethic, everything that makes you, YOU! I know personally, when I am ready to add injectors, I will gladly take on someone with zero exposure or experience as long as they have the right attitude!
Let’s be transparent here. Prepare to spend thousands of dollars out of pocket each year for trainings. Continuing education is CRUCIAL to make sure you are up to date on anatomy, technology, technique, managing complications, products, etc as this is absolutely necessary in becoming a successful, SAFE, injector. In contrast, in the hospital setting most pay for your education and also pay you hourly to attend! Personally, I look forward to every training opportunity I have and take pride in making it a priority.
Let’s talk about opportunities. Where can you get started in this field? Sometimes it can be helpful taking a position as a Registered Nurse in Dermatology or Plastic Surgery Centers, not necessarily as an aesthetic nurse, but any position in those offices where you will learn more about the skin and facial anatomy. Working in these specialties can perhaps lead you to make the transition over within that practice. It is also possible to get a position as an aesthetic nurse without experience to a medical spa, dermatologist or plastic surgeon. This is where you need to be wise with your decision!
Let’s talk about job selection and protecting your license. If you find a position for a nurse injector, find out what type of training and mentorship you will receive and ask about the policies and procedures in place. You should know the laws in your state regarding medical spas so you will be prepared to ask the appropriate questions to your potential employer. It is important to make sure the facility is following the state laws as YOUR license will be in jeopardy. As tempting as it may be to take a position at a “sketchy medspa” it would be wise to wait until you can be in a legitimate practice where you can be properly trained, supervised and your license will be safe. I will forever be grateful to the plastic surgeon’s office that took me on as a new provider, as fundamental training and mentorship is imperative!
If you have a true passion for this industry and are not seeking this job from experiencing burn out in the hospital setting…. You will make it! Don’t give up! This job has major positives and definite negatives. If your heart and mind are in the right place, and you are ready to be a lifetime learner, it is a very fulfilling career choice. I offer discovery calls which you can schedule to chat one on one with me! See details on how to schedule below!
For mentorship calls, please schedule via email: ryan@tailoredmedspa.com
Looking forward to connecting with you!
Hugs!
Kacie
