how to become an aesthetic nurse

I went through a very traumatic car accident as a teenager and had numerous plastic/reconstructive surgeries. As a result I am planning on enrolling in an NP program in hopes to work in plastics/ENT. Any advice on whether adult NP or acute care NP would be more applicable? Frankly I have very little knowledge on the subject. Thanks!

VegasNurse,

Sorry but I don't have any advice on which type of NP would be helpful to her. There are many programs out there, usually specific for family NP, OBGYN NP, peds NP.. etc.. depending on her current state's scope of practice and what she wants to do in plastics/ENT.. I would suggest she locate a program which is inline with her goals for the future. Best of luck to you both.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. -- Albert Einstein

I'm back from the Medical Aesthetics conference. It was great!! PM me if you have any questions.

Hi Tanya:
I'd love to hear more about your conference, business goals, etc. Didn't see a way to pm you though!

Thanks.

Very interesting discussion! I am also getting into aesthetics but from the physician standpoint. I am an internist (sorry, I know it's a nursing forum) and feel that there is much common ground in what we are all trying to do. After taking the Restylane course with Aesthetic Enhancement Institute (excellent) I have started to integrate it into my general medical practice. Would love to hear from anyone if you have any thoughts on win-win collaborations between RN/NPs and MDs. Finally, I think it's great that you all are going for a piece of the aesthetic market. Obviously, you don't have to be a plastic surgeon or dermatologist to do these things.

Ebben_s,

Welcome, this is great that you are on the forum. If, as an internist, your aesthetics takes off really well in your practice the you may find it necessary to "expand" your staff to accommodate the demand.

I, myself, would prefer to work under the direction of a physician because that would allow me to learn from them and go beyond what I would be permitted to do on my own under my RN license and Aesthetics license.

Have you thought of the advantages/disadvantages of hiring RN vs. NP/PA
into your practice, and which would be more cost effective and beneficial to your aesthetic practice in the long run as it grows?

Please check with your malpractice carrier before you do anything, you may find that you are not covered with the insurance that you do have.

Yes, that's a good point. Also, for those RN's who have gotton aesthetic license, there are some really gray areas regarding microdermabrasion and epidermal leveling. State Board of Nursing couldn't really give me a straight answer when it came to the epidermal leveling. Yet non nurses could do it under their aesthetics license, no problem.

Seems like this field is so new for nurses that State Board hasn't had a chance to catch up with it's rulings. And it is different in each state.

So, yes, check malpractice and call State Board before doing anything. Don't just assume that it's ok.

Have you thought of the advantages/disadvantages of hiring RN vs. NP/PA
into your practice, and which would be more cost effective and beneficial to your aesthetic practice in the long run as it grows?[/quote]

I'm fairly new to private practice and hiring in general but my preference would be towards an NP/PA. I don't know the NJ laws as far as what each can or cannot do but the additional training might protect my investment should the laws ever change. On the other hand, I'm a strong believer that the best person should get the job regardless of the letters after the name. Hopefully, my aesthetics practice does grow to the point of needing to hire someone and I can then do more research on that question.

If I were approached by an entrepreneur willing to undertake much of the risk in opening and financing a Medical Spa, the degree wouldn't matter as much as the business plan and level of personal exposure to loss.

Yes, I suppose "know how" goes a long way despite which letters one has after their name. I feel it's important to surround yourself with people who share a common goal and have the experience and/or willingness and drive to make the business flourish. That may be how win-win collaborations can exists between RN/NP and MD's. Everyone gets a piece of the pie, just in different proportions. Certainly would cut back on the competition. But MD's would have to be fair in cutting the pie. That's the trick.

I worked for a Dermatologist for three years. This was about ten years ago before medical aesthetics became popular. No one could figure out why he only hired RN's. Turns out he could see the future coming and wanted to be prepared to gradually transition his practice into that specialty. He did just that and now is extremely successful. Had the jump on everyone in his area. He promoted synergy in the office environment, not competition.
If everyone's happy, business booms.

I would love to see less competition in the medical field and more "working together" towards a common goal.