New grad RN in med-spa

Specialties Ambulatory

Published

Hi all,

I've been training for a couple of weeks at a small med-spa in southern California as a laser RN. I'm also being trained to do chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and perform skin consultations. My training period is unpaid but I'm going to start out part-time at $25/hr or 20% commission. This is my first RN gig and it's nothing like what I imagined myself doing (would have loved to do med-surg), but it's very low-stress, flexible, and I like my co-workers and learning something new/non-traditional nursing. However I won't receive any benefits and since it's a small clinic I can see myself having to pick up extra tasks here and there. My biggest concern is that this job will limit my career choices down the line as it isn't acute care and very soon I won't be considered a "new grad" anymore. I'm still applying to hospital jobs and even SNFs but it's been pretty tough to land an interview at most because I don't have previous work experience. Well I have two questions for you guys...

1. What do you think are the chances of a laser RN landing an acute-care hospital job after 1 or more years of experience in aesthetics?

2. I've already read previous/older threads on the subject, but I'd like to know what you guys currently think of new grads working at med-spas... worth replacing a hospital new grad program in this economy or not?

Hi, I actually have an interview with a laser hair removal center and I honestly have no idea how to prepare for this interview! What kind of questions should I anticipate? Any advice? Thank you!

Specializes in Family Medicine, Pediatrics.

I worked at a med-spa for 2 years mainly doing laser hair removal. Although you're not using your med-surg skills learned in school, there's still nursing assessment and lots teaching going on. Do you know how many times I've had to tell a patient to stop using a certain medication if they want to keep doing laser because of photosensitivity or bruising it can cause? The job can be stressful mainly because of the variety of patients. Beauty is a big deal for some women so the littlest hair or vein or wrinkle can make or ruin their day. I LOVED that job and would've stayed there for a very long time if I didn't have to move to another town. Still ended up getting a clinic job without a problem (I reminded them over and over again my experience and they didn't see much of a difference). I think whatever new job you end up at after med-spa, it really matters how much orientation/training is provided to help transition you to a new setting.

To anyone who has interviewed at a laser medspa! What sorts of questions do they ask in the interview? I don't know how I prepare for a position like this so any help would be appreciated since I have an interview tomorrow morning.

I would take this job and run with it! lol I would absolutely love to work in the aesthetics field. I have worked acute care and community health. You could always take this job and if you wanted to you could continue looking for a position in acute care, home health, community health (whatever you are interested in) that you could do once a week or even once a month (PRN). This would help with your assessment and clinical skills if you thought that you might want to try to go into a different setting later.

Ensure you have your .. And right now income is income. Keep trying to get into acute care of you wish, but who knows, maybe you'll fall in love with this?

May I ask where you got this job? I am a recent new grad and am interested in working in the medspa industry in southern california!

I guess the labor laws are different in cali. How can they not pay you for training? In PA if you do so much as a computer module at home required by the employer, the employer is required to reimburse for your time.

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