how to become an aesthetic nurse

Does anyone know good websites or resources to find aesthetic nurse job openings. I cannot seem to find any helpful sites. The only way I have found to find jobs is to look up specific businesses and check their web page to see if they are hiring. Many of them do not have the info on their page. Just checking to see if anyone had some good ideas. Thanks.

For thekid,
I hate to be the one to come and rain on your parade, but I AM currently transitioning from ER RN of 38yrs to aesthetics and will share with you what I have found out. I began wanting to do permanent makeup and knew being a RN I'd be able to do injectables without an Aesthetics degree or diploma. That IS true mostly and in my current state, but EVERYTHING in this Aesthetics/RN business depends pretty much on the STATE you want to work in and the LAWS in that state for the procedures that you want to do. It also is important that the school that you attend is noticed in that state as "accredited" by the state that you will be practicing in or you will be tossing your money away. Be careful who trains you!!!! They can tell you anything, but check their licenses out. The woman who trained me had a RN diploma hanging on her wall and when I was talking to someone on my phone about that her daughter took me aside later and told me that she was NOT a nurse of any kind. She was a Nail Technician and Esthetician. I was there 100 hours and got training, even did a few procedures (eyebrows and eyeliner and got to do a few strokes of lips), and that was all in her catalog of 'hands-on training'. I even took digital pix of before and after of each person I did. Then I flew home and realized I do not have enough hands-on experience to do these procedures on others. I could do it, but I happen to have tons of scruples and have to put my head on my pillow and like to sleep at night, not worry who I might have hurt this day. This woman, in a state 1000 miles away, now will not take my calls. She is supposed to be one of the heads of one of the BIG certifying groups! She's been the President of one of them! But, she didn't supply me with the BIG BOOK of Permanent Makeup, like she kept telling me was on the way (I bought it for $150. when I got home and that is part of the 'problem') and she never showed up in the mornings before 10am. I've learned. It's OK. It will not happen again. I did a YEARS worth of homework before choosing her as my mentor. I had every intention of moving to that state and have friends there.
NOW, I am working to save up to get my Aesthetics Certification which will be in addition to the Permanent Makeup Diploma I have now, the Bloodborne Pathogens certificate I have, and I will also go and take Permanent Makeup AGAIN from a school that is accredited in the new state in which I hope to practice. Then I will begin to do proceedures but be more marketable. The economy is part of it...less women are opting for permanent makeup at this time, where I am. They will pay for facials and waxing, tho'. So, I hope that this helps many people whose posts I've read through. Here is the bottom line, the worst case scenario (remember, I'm an old ER RN)...you will be INJECTING FOREIGN BODY SUBSTANCES into peoples skin and better yet, their faces. Take out you anatomy books and look at all the nerves, muscles, etc in the face alone. Are you willing to work on another person's face with 100 hours schooling and possibly them having someting happen and being taken to court or losing your license?
This writing is in no way meant to discourage or be negative. It is meant to inform you about what and who is out there and what they can tell you on the phone or on a website. I did not call the Boards of the woman who taught me to check if she was who she said...probably should, but she owns an Institute~~which now I realize is just a name on a door. Check things out! This woman is doing facials and a few permanent makeup procedures so she doesn't care if I am doing them 1000 miles away! Thankfully, I can still work as a RN, which she can't. I'll deal with her computer made Diploma when I am not mad any more.

For the ones who want to do the FAST N EZ courses one right after the other and think that someone else will pay for you to go and take these expensive courses, it's a nice dream, but probably NOT gonna happen, unless you are currently working for the Plastic Surgeon. YOU will be paying for the training of each class and specialized part of training and it's not a specialty where you can go and take all the classes in a group. MOST (99%) and the BEST schools require you to work in the beginner slot for a minimum of one year before you are eligible to go and take the paramedical courses. I wanted to do it all, one right after the other, too, but once you are DOING the permanent makeup procedures (and I guess facials, waxing, and DEFINITELY laser use) you will FEEL differently about this specialty.
I was lucky to HAVE all the procedures done as part of my training and I am GLAD that I did that, too. I got to feel the type of pain, got to see the healing times with each procedures, and have a different slant, at this time on one of them (lips)...not that painful, but need touch ups (multiple maybe) and I am 1000 miles away.

REdhotzz thank yhou for posting this..I am so sorry to hear about the waste of time you went through.

I'd like to reinforce what you say..I have also contacted a few schools, to ask about how they help with job placement afterwards or if they are accredited. If they cannot return an email asap , have doubts. There is one post-er on this thread that mentioned a school ..I wrote to that school for more info, was directed to the same general information that is already on the website, and she never wrote back again. That was an automatic cross off my list.

I have an opportunity to start interning with a plastic surgeon next month. I can at least see if it's something that I'm interested in ..or if it really does pay well enough for the training. To be honest I'm more interested in following him into the OR than learning the office procedures on how to do pre-op assessments. Well..not unless it pays well.

This is still an interest but right now I'm focusing on getting back into nursing again and maybe something not so specialized..for now just something that pays the bills and gets me going again.

Am still interested to see where this thread goes, but YES please beware

Redhotzz are you going to continue on with it?

WOW...thanks for the kudos. I hated to post such a negative, but I have learned and I check things out 10 ways to Sunday. It will not deter me! I am one who dusts my butt off and keeps moving forward. I take what I learned from that woman and move past her! I already think I know where I will go to school and should've gone there to begin with. The owner was the person who always promptly emailed me back and was very honest with me always. You are absolutely correct in your evaluations of places. Every Tom, Sally and Crystal is doing permanent makeup in the states of FL-TX-AZ-CA (the warm year round states) and it's so EZ to get teaching status. For now I do EZ RN work (out of the ER) and think of the days ahead when I will know more. My son has me held in NC for another year til he goes off to college, so I have time. I'm glad that I posted...hope it helps some people THINK before they give someone $3000. and believe they are on the road to aesthetics.

To any of you nurses that are already in the aesthetic field, how did you choose where to get your training? I have seen posts where people have not had good luck with certain training programs. I would like to become certified in botox and other dermal fillers but have no idea where to start. I live in North Dakota and there are not training courses in the state so I do not know where to begin. Do any look better to potential employers than others?

There are many companies out there that you can learn Botox and dermal fillers at, ALL very expensive. I have no current knowledge about them, but have seen them make promises that sound too good to be true, so I am wondering what KIND of injectors they are using or purchasing for you to learn with, which means you will be using them on your "model". BE CAREFUL!!!
Also, make sure that you check your state's laws. I am not sure, but one of the Dakotas is not permanent makeup/dermal fillers by RNs friendly.
Good luck and please post what you find out for others to learn from.

Hi Aprilr,

I have been in aesthetics almost 8 years. When I first started it was hard finding programs to get trained. I can't even really remember how I first got trained. I do remember my first pt was a Dr. I called on when I was a rep & I was sweating bullets. I changed jobs & took a couple of training classes that were expensive but great - I didn't have to pay for them though. I perfected my technique & about 3 years ago I started to do trainings for Allergan (Botox & Juvederm) & Medicis (Restylane & Perlane). I enjoy doing those but they typically are not for beginners because you usually only work on 1 pt & you're competing for time with the trainer. All of the companies can certify you but there is no "standard" of requirements like nursing school.

Finding a job in this business is hard - if you can find a Derm of Plastic surgeon that is a great place to start. There are alot of med-spas out there but they typically want someone with experience because they don't have Drs in the office to train you. As Redhotzz said you need to see what the laws are in your state with who can inject & if your Dr has to be on site or within a certain distance when you're injecting.

I have been a national trainer for another company also & I have found the best way for people to learn is by doing one on one training. I am big on the didactic work, but I have found that the best thing is to practice over & over again. Typically after doing the didactic I have people inject as many people as we can get in. It is also so important that after training you can start seeing pts right away so you don't forget what you learned

I recently went out on my own as an independent contractor & trainer & have my own office & am loving every minute of it! I work out of town a week a month & have had several other offices call me wanting me to come inject for them. I have more work than I can handleI have licenses in 3 states & may have to get more!

Good luck with your new career!

I have been a medical aesthetician for five years in the state of California with only my state license. I have been lucky to work for some great DR's who trained me or got reps to set up training through manufacturers. I am now going to nursing school so that i can perform injections/laser tx. to augment my earning potential. All of you who have your RN have a huge advantage here I would recommend getting your State esty license first and foremost. Then continuing education in your peels/microderm ect....(I got most of mine through the school i went to at an extra cost and at Classes/workshops offered through aesthetic conventions and shows this route is much more affordable than expensive time consuming school programs) But most importantly I got these types of services done myself at a couple of local DR's offices go get some peels go get some laser go get some injectables know what these services are about be passionate about the field Network as mch as possible wth the doctors/nurse/ office staff ask advice..... Check your local job listings most that I see here in CA the doctors are willing to train as long as you are an experienced nurse 2 years or more and they can see you are enthusiastic about the field ALL of the nurse i have seen come through the DR's offices i have worked at got started this way!

Idoskin1,
Would you suggest a person to get their esty license if they are already an RN and would like get into aesthetic nursing? I am considering it because I feel it would be the best way to learn about skin. I have had other people tell me that it would not be necessary but I am thinking it may help me get into the field. There is not a lot of jobs in this field in my area so I thought it may help me get a foot in the door. Thanks.
aprilr

WE are living in the age of DEGREED programs.Save yourself the hassle down the road, even if you are now a RN and call the BOARD governing that specialty in your state and GET THE FULLEST degree to enhance your RN now and be done with it. It only takes a few law suits and before you know it a one year diploma means nothing. You can't get too much training on someone's skin and you will be happy years from now when you get a job with all the degrees and have that knowledge, too. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
good luck to you!