Where to begin as an aesthetic RN?

gamecockgurl, MSN, RN · Oct 27, 2014

Hey ClevelandChloe! First let me say be prepared to do other nursing other than aesthetic nursing for the first year or two because finding a job as a aesthetic nurse is very hard because the turnover rate is low since its a low stress, fun, high paying RN job. After I graduated nursing school I had researched all the medical spas in my area. I had prepared a cover letter and resume and would go to all the medical spas in my area (there were like 10) to ask them if they were hiring and would drop off my cover letter and resume. Every one of the medical spas said they were not hiring and would keep my resume on file. I never received a call back from any one of them. After I got my RN license, I applied to other RN jobs because I had to do something instead of waiting around for my dream job. So I ended up taking a position as a floor nurse at a local hospital. Meanwhile, I would keep researching every weekend if there were any jobs available on craigslist and indeed and saw that there was a new medical spa that was going to open up in my hospital. I emailed the corporate and told them I am an RN and am very interested in aesthetic medicine. With that I had also emailed them my cover letter and resume. They told me that they were still in the process of hiring the main people and that they will let me know when they were going to start hiring RNs. I kept my eye out until they had posted a job position for an aesthetic RN and as soon as I saw it, I had applied. Fortunately, I am also in good terms with the Director of Nursing and the Nursing Engagement Partner so they had helped put in a good word for me to the new med spa manager. I had a screen interview, they loved me and called me back for a final interview and I got the job! It took me a whole year of waiting for my dream job. I started working on a med surg floor last year in December, and I just got this RN position this past month. My advice is KEEP LOOKING and DONT GIVE UP and BE CONSISTANT. When you get your interview, let them know this is something you are passionate about. I told them that I have been wanting to be an aesthetic RN since I was in high school. I also have experience in promoting and marketing since my parents own many businesses, so this also helped me get a job bc most of the job is trying to get clients buy products, get more procedures done, and upselling. Also if you live in a small town, there will not be much opportunities to get a job at a med spa. If you don't mind moving, there are plenty of jobs available all throughout the country. Indeed has so many aesthetic RN positions posted so check that out. Good luck!!!

gamecockgurl, MSN, RN · Oct 27, 2014

I also forgot to mention that taking classes on botox, fillers, laser hair removal, etc will also be helpful and make you more competitive. They only thing is that these courses are expensive and you may have to fly out for them because they are not offered everywhere. I decided not to do this because it was expensive and it would take time away from my work since these classes are like a week long (depending on what courses you are taking). Luckily where I got hired, they will be training us so I did not have to get training elsewhere.

sky7 · Oct 27, 2014

Thanks for the info

gamecockgurl, MSN, RN · Oct 28, 2014

You are welcome! If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to ask. I will be more than happy to answer them to best of my abilities/experience.

kahqgc · Oct 28, 2014

gamecockgurl, thank you for your story

I am in your place where I am currently working as a floor nurse but would love to get into aesthetics!

gen88 · Nov 5, 2014

I would try get into plastic surgery/recon/cosmetic surgery and work from there. On the side, you can take classes as above, gain your license to do fillers, then perhaps get a doc colleague to train you so you become more confident, or do casual shifts etc in a spa type institute. I fell into cosmetics myself whilst living and working in the UK- doing liposuction, botox, fat transfers etc. It's all very interesting. As long as you put in the work it's relatively easy to pick up. But it's more surgical based if you want to go that route, so that background would be an advantage! High pay rates too and usually sane hours.

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Nov 28, 2014

Wow, interesting! I've always had a love for derm and surgery but did not want to particpate in more schooling. What's your advice for taking steps to climb the ladder? Currently I just got accepted into lvn program and I do know that lvn's can work in a ps office. I was going to accept becoming a patient sales coordinator for a cosmetic surgery office and had an interview with the MD, but turned it down due to going back to school for nursing. I have psych exp which I'm sure isn't much of an advantage in this field, but as I'm a student I do plan to find a job in a hospital setting. Is there any volunteer work to get a foot in a medical spa?

jmh219 · Dec 5, 2014

This post is extremely inspiring to me! I've been a licensed aesthetician since 2010, and I just graduated nursing school in May 2014. My goal going into nursing was to work as an Aesthetic RN in a plastics/derm/med spa setting. I have been working on a med-surg unit at a local hospital for almost 6 months to get experience but I'm at the point where I'm ready to start doing what I love! Thanks for this post, gives me hope :-)

Natasha A., CNA, LVN · Dec 7, 2014

I would try get into plastic surgery/recon/cosmetic surgery and work from there. On the side, you can take classes as above, gain your license to do fillers, then perhaps get a doc colleague to train you so you become more confident, or do casual shifts etc in a spa type institute. I fell into cosmetics myself whilst living and working in the UK- doing liposuction, botox, fat transfers etc. It's all very interesting. As long as you put in the work it's relatively easy to pick up. But it's more surgical based if you want to go that route, so that background would be an advantage! High pay rates too and usually sane hours.

Hello gen88, do you need your asn or bsn to work as an aesthetic rn nurse? also what are the pay rates and standard work hours.? im VERY interested in learning more about what you used to do in the UK (lip, botox, fat transfer) It does sound interesting and I seem to like surgical base. please share more :) I was reading up on a different forum of a 2yr RN getting 20% at a place that services facials and making 800 dollars a day consulting other practices .

Nurselacey · May 27, 2015

Hi gamecockgurl,

I am currently a Psychiatric nurse. I am looking to transition into Aesthetics. I have been a RN for about 10 years. Would you just start taking the botox and filler courses or try to find someone to hire me first? Any advice would be welcome-Thank you!

felix10 · Jul 30, 2015

In California there are lots of job openings for aesthetic RNs because you have to be an RN to operate a laser. So I would recommend looking for jobs in laser hair removal or photo facials and then taking a Botox or filler course. Try looking for jobs at medspas in your area and familiarize yourself with treatments such as micro needling, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and laser resurfacing treatments.