[rn9west]

sure n.p. would be a good route but at this time i still have two children and being the only parent in their life is a huge demand on me. taking a class here and there and a workshop..while working and taking care of them is all i can do at this time. but i just may take you up on the being a patient. where area did you start your new job in?
i live about 45 min north of chicago.

[traumaRUs]

Got it! Good luck...I have relatives in Zion. I would think being near Chicago that there would be many opportunities.

[rn9west]

there are alot of plastic surgeons around here and services, but getting the education for it is the hard part.

[healthyhere]

You stated the pro's of being in aesthetic medicine and a great reason to get into it. Just dont forget that with every specialty there are the Cons as well. Mainly i've noticed with most RN's new to the aesthetic side, they are uncomfortable with the service and sales mentality of it. You have to remember you are administering treatments unlike those that patients technically "need" per se (i.e. illness, injury, disease, etc), therefore you must not only perform procedures but sell them on YOUR services at all times. This requirement is true in any successful med spa or aesthetic clinic and can cause some to burn out quickly or realize they are not cut out for this side of medicine.
Just a heads up to.

Lastly - In my experience, many RN's that spent a significant $ investment on training out of state were no more valuable than those that did not. The best training is on the job training or through the manufacturer (i.e. Allergan trains all their new physicians/nurses that place orders for Botox, etc and dont ask them if they went to any aesthetic training!

My suggestion to you is first figure out what ideally want to do and if part time (in conjuction with other job) or full time. Then seek employment AS IS - AS A RN.
I've interviewed RN's in Illinois in the past for aesthetic facilities/ medspa's and the main thing I looked for was not aesthetic training or experience necessarily - I wanted someone that a patient could trust, look to for aesthetic advice & TAKE it, and most importantly someone who was comfortable promoting procedures, suggesting services and essentially suggestively soft selling.
IF YOURE CONFIDENT YOU CAN DO THAT - APPLY!
Going to florida or Cali from Illinois is a waste of money, time and effort at this point.

Best of Luck & if you need more info, put the word "aesthetic" in this sites search... review the other topics as many of alot of info you will benefit from.

[cookielady,rn]

I don't know that there is any training specifically for nurses. I want to do cosmetic dermatology when I finish as an NP BUT here in IL they haven't cracked down on people who have gone through esthetician school from applying medications to skin and performing laser procedures (which are invasive and make it beyond the scope of practice for them). Until there are tougher laws, there are few places that will hire an RN or NP/PA when they can pay someone $10/hr to do these procedures.

[healthyhere]

Originally Posted by cookielady,rn

I don't know that there is any training specifically for nurses. I want to do cosmetic dermatology when I finish as an NP BUT here in IL they haven't cracked down on people who have gone through esthetician school from applying medications to skin and performing laser procedures (which are invasive and make it beyond the scope of practice for them). Until there are tougher laws, there are few places that will hire an RN or NP/PA when they can pay someone $10/hr to do these procedures.

That isnt necessarily true... RN's are very much in demand to do MEDICAL procedures (ie injectable & invasive procedures). Aestheticians only do the NON invasive procedure, not what you are stating. Also, the med spa companies in Illinois that im familiar with pay ALOT more than $10hr to aestheticians and the RN's are paid over $30.... hence the reason they dont waste the RN's time to be doing laser hairremoval procedures and facials when that can be done by the aestheticians (NONinvasive) and the RN's can concentrate on procedures like nonablative facial laser treatments, botox, fillers, vein therapy's.. etc etc.

As a matter of fact, i just saw a couple HELP WANTED ad's on craigslist for RN's in chicago - none of which were requiring previous aesthetic experience.
Take my word for it --- if you want to get in this side of the industry you just need confidence, a great personality, a promoting type sales ability and drive.
Good luck

[cookielady,rn]

I will check out CL. Any laser IS an invasive procedure. They penetrate beneath the straum corneum, which is all estheticians are permitted to treat.

[healthyhere]

in the aesthetic industry "invasive" is a term used for lasers that have require healing after the procedure, or what is referred to as "down time". Laser hair removal is an example of that.
You are thinking of yag type lasers, among others that do dermal damage to achieve the after affect. Diode lasers (which the most affective laser hair removal lasers are) are considered NON invasive.
RN's are used for vein removal, skin tightening treatments, all injectables, etc.

Different med spa's and physicians offices use different manufacturers lasers, however once you learn the basic knowledge of the industry you easily learn new equipement and procedure protocals. Its the initial knowledge that is so valuable and ......
easier to get if you can simply get your foot in the door (the obvious hard part-lol)

Good luck and if i can refer u somewhere, im happy to. :-)

[healthyhere]

its a little late and i just re-read my last post.
whooops, alot of typo's that lead to wrong info. sorry about that.
i meant that LASER HAIR REMOVAL IS A NON INVASIVE PROCEDURE, NOT an example of invasive.

so sorry, hope it didnt confuse. i tried to edit the post but the site wouldnt let me.

[cookielady,rn]

I'd love a referral for employement....but as you said it's not easy. I interviewed with NuU, and I'm glad I didn't get a second interview. I could never perform the lipodissolve with a clear conscience.
From what you're saying it appears once I'm an ANP I won't be able to work in the industry with the estheticians and RNs performing the procedures.