5 Tips to Getting an Aesthetic Nurse Job
Hello all! It’s great to be back! I was originally interviewed about my journey to become a nurse injector in 2020, which was an exciting time. How's it going, you ask? Phenomenal; I’m absolutely loving it. With the increasing demands at the bedside, many nurses are leaving in hopes of pursuing an alternative career, often as aesthetic nurses. If this is you, I’m here to help guide you.
It’s no secret that medical aesthetics is a difficult industry to break into. Fortunately, I eventually got an opportunity that required relocating to a different state. Now that I’ve been in the industry for some time, I can help shed light on what it really entails, aside from the glitz and glam, and share tangible steps on how to get your foot in the door and land an aesthetic nurse job.
5 Tips To Getting an Aesthetic Nurse Job
1. Research
Make a list of every medical practice in your area that offers the specific procedures that you want to perform. Research each practice, focusing on the core values, culture, and overall success rate.
Highlight the top five practices that you’d be interested in working with, even if they are not hiring. Take notes on what interests you about each practice and prepare to share in your cover letter during the application process.
2. Invest in Aesthetic Nurse Training
Most practices are reluctant to hire someone with no experience because training a novice injector is a huge business expense. It’s expensive to hire trainers, purchase products, and utilize the devices. I recommend taking a beginner’s botox and filler course to get some training and exposure in the field. This is also going to help build your resume and set you apart from the others. Businesses tend to take you more seriously when you’ve done your own investing. Be ready to spend money to help jump-start your career.
3. Create a standout aesthetic nurse resume and cover letter
This is your time to shine. The resume you are submitting to an aesthetic medical clinic is a completely different one than the hospital.
Other things to include: objectives, work experience (this includes nurse shadowing), skills, and education.
Have fun with the resume; add some personality, but still, keep it professional. If playing with color, use neutral tones, keep it down to one page, and print it on resume paper (I would personally use cardstock). Your resume is a great assessment tool: it shows us your aesthetic taste and attention to detail so allocate most of your time to making it beautiful.
4. Network
Reach out to other injectors in your area. Let them know you are interested in entering this field and are seeking some guidance. Engage with them on social media and be their biggest fans. You’ll create a lasting impression with all of your encouragement and support. You never know if they or someone they know is hiring. Sometimes it’s all about being at the right place at the right time.
5. Practice Patience
It took me a year of applying and interviewing to finally get my foot in the door. I kept persisting until I got an opportunity, and although it came with a change of location, I am truly grateful that I kept persisting.
Who Are Aesthetic Nurse Jobs Right For?
Beyond thinking about how to get a job as an aesthetic nurse, you should also consider if it's the right career path for you. This list will help guide you in deciding whether or not this is a career you want to pursue. Here are some qualities successful aesthetic nurses need to have:
1. Detail-Oriented
Attention to detail is imperative when performing cosmetic procedures like neuromodulators, dermal fillers, PDO threads, etc. Think about it, our
faces represent how we are identified by the world. They play a huge role in our attitude, personality, and self-esteem. Clients are trusting you to improve an area on their face that disrupts their esteem. It is your role to ensure that they receive the best outcome possible. Every product, injection, and technique matters; even millimeter changes impact the overall result.
2. Have an Aesthetic Eye
This is probably one of the most difficult things to teach and in my opinion, one of those “you have it or you don’t” type of skills. This is not to say that you can’t improve on this trait, but having a natural eye for beauty will definitely
benefit you in this career.
3. Can Set Boundaries
Boundary setting is something I’ve developed during my career, and it has not always been easy.
While most clients are pleasant, there’s no doubt that you will come across challenging ones. There will be clients with unrealistic expectations, clients who are constantly dissatisfied, those who will try to dictate their treatments, nervous nellies, needle-phobic, etc.
It’s important to discuss safety, set clear expectations, and in some cases be willing to forfeit the appointment. Be okay with telling clients what they don’t necessarily want to hear. Otherwise, you’re going to end up putting out some serious fires in the future.
4. Enjoy Helping Others
You find your true purpose in helping others with their self-esteem and confidence and use any opportunity to learn about them as an individual. This is the perfect environment to help your clients with their confidence while making them look and feel beautiful both inside and out.
5. You Take Initiative
Your success is consistent with the work you put in. Therefore, it’s your job to take the initiative and invest in furthering your education and putting yourself out there. This means setting up aesthetic nurse training sessions, attending conferences, viewing webinars, collaborating with others in the industry, etc.
The most successful injectors are constantly learning and looking for ways to grow their craft. Learning also is a great way to meet new people, network, and collaborate with other injectors from around the country, and might even lead to new job opportunities or mentorships.
6. You Love What You Do
You appreciate the science behind the products and devices. You are already getting or have gotten some of the treatments. Your clients will be able to sense your interest and will feel more confident in proceeding with treatment.
7. Social Media Savvy
Social media is imperative to your success in this career. Without it, clients cannot see the display of your beautiful craft and may be reluctant to book with you. Most of my clients, about 90% in fact, come from my personal Instagram page. Much of my time outside of work is spent building my social media page and personal brand. If you are not social media savvy, that’s okay. But, understanding the importance of and learning and/or hiring someone to help manage your social media is crucial to your success.
If you still think this career path is a good fit for you, keep reading. I want to give you some advice on how to get your foot in the door, assuming that you are already licensed as a registered nurse. If you are not licensed yet, I still have some advice for you.
For those of you who are not licensed as an RN, you can still apply the steps above. You are also in a good position to get your foot in the door. The front office or medical assistant position is a great option because it exposes you to the treatments and you can gain knowledge from your colleagues. Upon licensure, you can hopefully transition roles and begin your injecting career at the same practice. If not, you’ve already set yourself up for success by getting exposure to the field.
The field of medical aesthetics can be difficult to break into and may have its challenges, but is such a rewarding career for those who are truly passionate about instilling confidence through an artistic and scientific form. And although it may take hard work, time, and persistence to get your foot in the door, it will all be worth it in the end. I hope that this helps better guide you in your journey, wherever that may be.
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