6 monts ago, I got my first nursing job in a medical spa. I do laser treatments, Botox. Juvederm, etc. etc. etc. I really enjoy it. Most of my clients are nurses themselves. EVERYDAY for the last 6 months, nearly every nurse that has laid on my table has asked me. "So, what's your REAL job?", when I tell them that I don't have another job...this is my job...they kind of roll their eyes at me, give me the pity look, and say, "Well this isn't REALLY a nursing job". Even my own mother who is an R.N. says that a monkey can do my job! It has made going to work very frustrating, because everyone is looking down on me. I love my job, but hearing that people think my job is worthless is very degrading. (Honestly, I don't find these nurses very wise....criticizing someone holding a laser or needle to your face).
I just got offered a position at a SubAcute/Rehab Center, I start in a few days (nervous!!!). Well, when I told my patients at the medi spa about that job...thinking *whew* they aren't going to be so condescending toward me now. They STILL rolled their eyes, shook their head, and said..."Oh well, at least you're ALMOST there to becoming a REAL nurse." I am really apalled at how judgemental other nurses can be! What is this so-called REAL NURSING???? This wasn't just one or two people...at least 20 nurses have criticized me for just working in a medispa...and now they are turning around and saying SubAcute is also NOTHING.
Honestly, I don't need their praise, or acceptance...but hearing it everyday is annoying. I went to college, got my B.S.N., and took the NCLEX just like them. I take care of people everyday...maybe I don't work in a hospital, but I sure as hell am a NURSE. What's with the attitude from these nurses???
Medispa nurses, Clinic nurses, LTC/SubAcute/Nursing home nurses, school nurses, camp nurses, so on and so forth....we are all nurses! Right?
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
QUOTE=rhymeswithlibrarian;4257500] . . . Some may say that doing Botox injections etc. is more nurselike than giving music lessons because you're penetrating the skin barrier and taking precautions against infection while you do it. But tattoo artists do that too, and I don't think most people would consider tattooing to be nursing, even if the artist happens to be a nurse as well as a tattoo artist.
Well, I've never had a tattoo, but I have watched Miami Ink enough times to notice that tattoo artists aren't approaching their task in anything approaching the way a nurse would when giving an injection of Botox or Juvederm. I would compare that to a body piercing level of asepsis rather than an injection of collagen in a scar or lasering a port wine birthmark. Additionally, you can't assume that a procedure which falls into the broad category of "cosmetic" does nothing to promote health or prevent disease/injury. Nor is everyone who has these procedures done a vain, shallow person. Having worked in dermatology for 3 years, I know there are many diseases of the skin that can be mitigated with a laser or an injection of filler material. I know people who have these things done in a med-spa rather than the dermatologist's office because it's cheaper and a lot more fun!
Whether any cosmetic procedure is necessary is a fair point to argue I suppose, because you rarely will die if it isn't done. So you have a continuum with pure cosmetics on one end and people with horrific injuries to their faces on the other. Should an accident victim who can eat, drink, see and breathe have his face reconstructed? No one will say no to that. But why? How, in reality would the surgery promote health and prevent disease? Empirically, it doesn't . Psychological reasons. Self-esteem issues. Before you point out the ridiculousness of that comparison, you have to consider that the principle is the same, that promoting a positive self-image in the absence of any other medical indications is valid enough reason for medical intervention. You can place your dot anywhere on the continuum and it is still valid.
I don't get why it upsets people that an RN would work in a med-spa anyway!! The whole cosmetic trend is like the Wild West out there with many incompetent charlatans injecting automotive silicone into people's faces and things like that. If an RN works in one of those places, it raises the bar for all the rest of them. And that, as Martha said, is a good thing.
I remember "babtism by fire". That was 26 years ago when as a new grad I was hired "in the trenches" on the "only shift available" which happened to be midnights. I was told deceptively it was on a "med surg" unit. What it turned out to be was a step-down telemetry unit that they also sent ICU overflow to. The nurses that worked the shift with me assigned me the most difficult patients they could muster then made haste to disappear the entire shift. I nearly quit nursing after surviving 3 months of that. Since then I have worked the "trenches" many times over and honed my skills to a sharp point. I have endured many unpleasant experiences with nurses who choose to carry a chip on their shoulders because of their dislike of what they choose to do. I am now very pleased to work in home health. I no longer feel as if I am a "drone" mechanically going through my day one task to another. I am skilled enough that I am asked by physicians to see patients and assess them in the home which affords me autonomy. My skills are exceptional in assessment because I went through the years of trench work. I am a member of a team of professionals. We share the goals of keeping our patients at home in their own enviornment and teach them health care management that prevents exacerbation and hospitalization. I would not trade places with anyone and work those trenches again. I feel I paid my dues and I am A REAL NURSE with a rich resource to offer my patients.
Well, I've never had a tattoo, but I have watched Miami Ink enough times to notice that tattoo artists aren't approaching their task in anything approaching the way a nurse would when giving an injection of Botox or Juvederm. I would compare that to a body piercing level of asepsis rather than an injection of collagen in a scar or lasering a port wine birthmark. Additionally, you can't assume that a procedure which falls into the broad category of "cosmetic" does nothing to promote health or prevent disease/injury. Nor is everyone who has these procedures done a vain, shallow person. Having worked in dermatology for 3 years, I know there are many diseases of the skin that can be mitigated with a laser or an injection of filler material. I know people who have these things done in a med-spa rather than the dermatologist's office because it's cheaper and a lot more fun!
Whether any cosmetic procedure is necessary is a fair point to argue I suppose, because you rarely will die if it isn't done. So you have a continuum with pure cosmetics on one end and people with horrific injuries to their faces on the other. Should an accident victim who can eat, drink, see and breathe have his face reconstructed? No one will say no to that. But why? How, in reality would the surgery promote health and prevent disease? Empirically, it doesn't . Psychological reasons. Self-esteem issues. Before you point out the ridiculousness of that comparison, you have to consider that the principle is the same, that promoting a positive self-image in the absence of any other medical indications is valid enough reason for medical intervention. You can place your dot anywhere on the continuum and it is still valid.
I don't get why it upsets people that an RN would work in a med-spa anyway!! The whole cosmetic trend is like the Wild West out there with many incompetent charlatans injecting automotive silicone into people's faces and things like that. If an RN works in one of those places, it raises the bar for all the rest of them. And that, as Martha said, is a good thing.
It's a medical spa. Not the kind of spa where there is relaxing music, massages, and fancy aromas. Our physician prescribes various treatment to the patients. Usually, they suffer from hyperpigmentation, severe acne, or of course aging. So I don't see how you make the connection that it was equivalent to a nail spa or tatto parlor. The pay was great, but the hours were lacking, so I did have to leave recently. It wad an awesome job though. If that could be my full time job, I'd be thrilled.
lvnjden4ever, I think you may have misinterpreted my post. I was saying that medi-spas provide medical services and must be run and staffed by medical professionals, i.e. physicians and nurses. I said medi-spas are NOT your local nail salon or Bliss. Just wanted to clarify that. Best of luck with your newest endeavor.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I guess it's kind of like when they say dermatologists or chiropractors aren't real doctors. Which I think is ridiculous.
Anyways, I'm not leaving the medi-spa because of the constant criticism from bitter people. Unfortunately, the hours just aren't there. The economy has led me to pick the job with the bigger paycheck to support my family. At first I thought I could do both. SubAcute 7-3:30 then medi-spa 4:00-7:00 every day...but after standing up for 9 hours passing meds to 30 patients, I just could not muster the energy to have 2 jobs.
I finally got a referral to a dermatologist in January. They gave me a Rx and my skin is CLEAR. I don't care whether people consider her a real Dr. or not, but she helped me. The chiropractor when I was able to go consistently enabled me to walk more then 50 feet without pain. I don't care if he was considered a real Dr or not, he helped me. If I went to you and you took this new wrinkle off my head, I would love you to whether you were considered a real nurse or not LOL If you went to boards and passed and got your Lic and were hired in a job that needed a required you to be a nurse you would be a practicing nurse to me and if you got your Lic and keep it dates you are a REAL nurse. Sounds like it was a great job, it's to bad it couldn't work out. Forget about the haters. I am just a student, but hey I discovered a newborn going through withdrawals that everyone else kept missing or thinking I didn't know what I was talking about. I finally got someone to take me seriously. But hey, I am not a nurse yet and just a student so I couldn't possibly know what I was talking about
Oh I love this post! In 40 years as an RN, I've worked in every area from doctor's office to ICU, home health to ER...
I'm now tired of the rat race. I'm teaching health and independent living skills classes to sexually abused adolescent males in a residential treatment facility. I wonder if, since I'm not wearing a uniform and starting IVs anymore that they consider me "not a real nurse" anymore...
When I look back over all those years, and think about what were the most "valuable" jobs (as far as where I learned the most and where I grew the most as a nurse), I find it was the doctor's office (in 1968-9, where we took and developed our own X-Rays, prepared gram stains, did most of our own lab work, etc) and home health, where I had pretty much total autonomy, but also where there wasn't anyone else to "lean on". I had to have phenomenal assessment skills, as well as phlebotomy skills, and be familiar with all sorts of equipment... not to mention documentation skills for Medicare billing.
Do what you like to do. The sky's the limit. You spend most of your waking hours at work, so you'll be happier if you enjoy what you do.
Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
"A real nurse is what none of the other nurses are". Go figure!
True story. . . what's up with that? So far, we have school nurses, OT nurses, home health nurses, OR nurses, private duty nurses, nurses who teach, office nurses - that's a whole lot of not-nurses out there.
QUOTE=TiddlDwink;4263964]Oh I love this post! In 40 years as an RN, I've worked in every area from doctor's office to ICU, home health to ER...
I'm now tired of the rat race. I'm teaching health and independent living skills classes to sexually abused adolescent males in a residential treatment facility. I wonder if, since I'm not wearing a uniform and starting IVs anymore that they consider me "not a real nurse" anymore...
It's sad that you even have an inkling of that thought. I can totally relate to your experience as a nurse evolving to adapt to the changing circumstances of life. I've had a similar experience. I started in acute care, with no kids and husband the stress and crazy hours and working holdays weren't such a major issue. Later on, I started working clinic specialties- Dermatology, Allergy and Family Practice with the the awesome M-F schedule and still later on, I had a kind of wacky job working for a bariatric doctor in '78 who had some very strange theories about nutrition- that was actually the most interesting because a) he had his own "pharmacy" I learned how to use the pill counter and package meds b) learned how to spin blood and other basic lab stuff & skin caliper measurements-- the guy really was certifiable so I was never bored. .
When I had kids I basically said adios for good nursing!! A little voice made me keep paying my fees year after year, and I returned in 2004. At this stage, I also like home health for the same reason- relative autonomy. I never intended to do that, and I thought I would hate it. Now it feels just right. Also, now I don't care what other people think. It feels OK to me now, and who knows what the future holds?
.thumb.jpg.5aa4d55557c0228e31b94de19666bbbb.jpg){kind=small}
So far, we have school nurses, OT nurses, home health nurses, OR nurses, private duty nurses, nurses who teach, office nurses - that's a whole lot of not-nurses out there. 
nursel56
7,122 Posts
Well, I've never had a tattoo, but I have watched Miami Ink enough times to notice that tattoo artists aren't approaching their task in anything approaching the way a nurse would when giving an injection of Botox or Juvederm. I would compare that to a body piercing level of asepsis rather than an injection of collagen in a scar or lasering a port wine birthmark. Additionally, you can't assume that a procedure which falls into the broad category of "cosmetic" does nothing to promote health or prevent disease/injury. Nor is everyone who has these procedures done a vain, shallow person. Having worked in dermatology for 3 years, I know there are many diseases of the skin that can be mitigated with a laser or an injection of filler material. I know people who have these things done in a med-spa rather than the dermatologist's office because it's cheaper and a lot more fun!
Whether any cosmetic procedure is necessary is a fair point to argue I suppose, because you rarely will die if it isn't done. So you have a continuum with pure cosmetics on one end and people with horrific injuries to their faces on the other. Should an accident victim who can eat, drink, see and breathe have his face reconstructed? No one will say no to that. But why? How, in reality would the surgery promote health and prevent disease? Empirically, it doesn't . Psychological reasons. Self-esteem issues. Before you point out the ridiculousness of that comparison, you have to consider that the principle is the same, that promoting a positive self-image in the absence of any other medical indications is valid enough reason for medical intervention. You can place your dot anywhere on the continuum and it is still valid.
I don't get why it upsets people that an RN would work in a med-spa anyway!! The whole cosmetic trend is like the Wild West out there with many incompetent charlatans injecting automotive silicone into people's faces and things like that. If an RN works in one of those places, it raises the bar for all the rest of them. And that, as Martha said, is a good thing.