how to become an aesthetic nurse

Hi - I'm new here. What happened to the thread? Your posts ended so ubruptly in May. Did everyone go to a new site? I am an LPN with 14 years experience desperately trying to break out of the nursing home rut. Contemplating nurse aesthetician, but you all seem to be RNs. Is it not possible for LPNs to attend nurse aesthetician classes/ seminars? Am I better off becoming a licensed aesthetician? Here in New England they don't earn half of what LPNs make. Would prefer to work under my nursing license. Not sure the best direction to take. Any advice?

Hi, I'm sure their are course and certifications that lpn's can take. If you called around you could find out real quick. It will either be yes or no.

I have always found it hard to break out of any area of nursing whether RN or LPN. I have been both LPN and RN and seems like you end up pigeon holed in one specific area and is hard to get out. For example, I have years of critical care and other experience but one time I tried to get a job in a nursing home and they turned me down because I never worked in a nursing home and had no experience with insurance and medicare. Go figure.

Actually, over the years with all the changes going on, seems that doctor's offices are hiring more LPN's than RN's. More cost effective in alot of cases. If I were you I would really do my homework and check out your opportunities in the doctor's offices that do esthetics, and also the chain spas. See what qualifications they are looking for first. Call them or go online and try to find classified ads and check out the job qualifications. I would do that before plunking out ten thousand bucks to get your esthetician's license.

I just checked out the AMEN site and was excited to see they offer a 2 day certification course in medical aesthetics for about $300. The next seminar is in Las Vegas this October, and even with flight & hotel expense it will still cost less than going to esthetician school. Not to mention I wouldn't have to waste time learning about blush & mascara, which seems to be a mandatory part of esthetician programs. This seminar seemed to be what I was looking for. HOWEVER - on further inspection of the requirements to attend, it states you must have a MINIMUM of 2000 hours botox experience, or 1000 hours botox exp. with documented attendance of an 8 hour class! This is so frustrating! It appears I need to have the job before I can get the certification. Isn't this a little backwards? I assumed getting certified would help me get a job!

Not at all.

Certification implies expanded knowledge in a specialty area. One should have experience in a field of nursing before sitting for certification.

What if you just took a course for Botox injections? or is that what the $300 course was for?

I never realized I needed experience before I could be certified in med. esthetics. Before I became a nurse I was certified as a nursing assistant, phlebotomist, EKG tech, and even as an eyelash extensionist without any prior experience. The AMEN seminar seems to cover just about every skill you'd need to work at a med spa, but I'm not eligible without 2000 hrs of experience. I could take a separate course in Botox injection, but I would still need 1000 hrs of hands on experience. I have been calling around my local spa/doctor's offices for on the job training opportunities, but they all want someone with some prior training in esthetics. I feel like I'm chasing my tail. Looks like I'm going to esthetician school!

If you went to esthetician school, would they then hire you to do botox or would you still need all those hours of experience doing it first? Because esthetician school does not teach you Botox.

I know of couple of nurses who work for plastics and they make 50% of the sale on all procedures they do.

I also know of a nurse who works at a Medispa as an employee who makes $21.00/hr + 15% commission after cost per procedure.
So for instance if she did one syrange of a filler and it cost the client $600 and the spa paid $240 for it the RN makes 15% of the profit after cost of the product. So her commission would be $54. One of the benefits for her is that all her training is free (she just owes back time for the training or reimburses the spap if she lives before her time is paid back.)

Hope this answers some questions about compensations.

I attended several of Barbara Jones's classes at the Aesthetic Enhancement Institute in Florida. They are excellent and I was well trained, although anxious, to start my own business. I am a WHNP and my collaborating MD is in Family Practice with little experience in aesthetics. I have developed professionally by continuing to attend hands on classes and I practice on friends and family any new procedures until i feel comfortable. I have my own business. I primarily make house calls but have relationships with Spas. I discourage working in hair salons although it is legal in NY.
because I think they make one look less professional, although I have been associated with one high end salon.

Hi everyone I'm new here.. I am a pre-nursing student aspiring to become an aesthetic nurse and was just wondering, does it matter if an RN grauduated w/a BSN or ADN in obtaining the aesthetic nurse certification? How about when it comes to opening up your own practice? And is it easy to find a job in that area? I am from CA if that makes a difference.

Thanks in Advance!