This is How I Became a Nurse Injector

Is your love and passion for skin and beauty the same as your love of nursing?  If skincare and cosmetics are something you’re passionate about, becoming a nurse injector may be the career jump for you. Nurse injectors are aesthetic nurses with specialized training who provide aesthetic and cosmetic services and care to patients. Nurse.org caught up with Sabrina Caires, BSN, RN, an aesthetics nurse based in California to learn how she became a nurse injector and her top tips for others who want to do the same!

Why Did You Decide to Become a Nurse Injector?

Like other nurses, I have always been passionate about helping others. Honestly reflecting, though, my parents instilled the idea at an early age that if I became a nurse, I would:

• Never be out of a job
• Make great money
• Receive the best benefits

Not a bad idea! So I went along with it —gotta make the parents proud, you know. As soon as I started working in the hospital, I didn’t get that sense of fulfillment the way I thought I would. Although I have crazy respect for every nurse out there, I immediately regretted my decision to become a nurse upon the first month of entering the hospital. Let’s just say it wasn’t for me. I went back to the drawing board and explored my options to utilize my hard-earned nursing degree. 

I love skin, beauty, and working with women and discovered the aesthetic nursing industry. It was a perfect fit! I reached out to numerous injectors in my area to get a better idea of the industry and YouTubed a ton of videos on aesthetic procedures. I immediately became hooked! I applied to various positions as an aesthetic nurse injector and, after a year, got a position in which I had to relocate. Hey, gotta do what it takes!

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@Sabrina_Caires

My ah-ha moment occurred as soon as I picked up a syringe and injected my first patient. I had been waiting for over a year for this moment! The injecting portion was a blur, to be honest; I remember being intensely focused and fueled by adrenaline. 

The liberating moment, though, occurred as soon as the patient looked into the mirror after the treatment. She became emotional when seeing her new and improved appearance! I thought to myself, ”Woah, I did that!” My trainer complimented my natural aesthetic eye and said I would be a great asset to the industry —what a total confidence booster! I had been working as an aesthetic nurse injector for a little over two months.

@Sabrina_Caires

What Does a Nurse Injector Do?

An aesthetic nurse injector essentially provides cosmetic services to patients looking to enhance their appearance. Cosmetic services include:

• Neurotoxins like Botox
• Dermal fillers such as Juvederm
• Laser treatments such as intense plus light (IPL)
• Non Invasive body contouring treatments like Coolsculpt

A Day in the Life of a Nurse Injector

But first: coffee. 

1. Once that’s handled, I take a look at my schedule and plan how I want to manage my day. 
2. Most of my patients see me for Botox, so I review the patient notes and what was previously documented in terms of units given and recommendations needing revisitation. I develop great relationships with my patients, so I love using appointment times to catch up and talk all things girly! 
3. When it’s time for business, I’ll go over the treatment plan to make sure we’re on the same page, perform the treatment, go over post-care instructions, and make recommendations for future appointments if needed.
4. I then record my treatment and move on to my next patient.

I typically see anywhere from 5-10 patients daily, depending on the length of the treatment. 

Another thing I make a part of my day is my social media and Instagram page. There’s a ton of value in posting about the treatments. Talking about and showing the actual treatment provides a ton of insight to future patients to know what to expect! It also credentials you as an injector.

@Sabrina_Caires

Was it Challenging to Find an Aesthetic Nurse Job?

Oh, yes, difficult indeed! It took about a year of constant interviewing, shadowing, and networking to finally find a job that was willing to train motivated injectors. I had to relocate to a different state for the position, but it was all totally worth it. Persistence is key at the end of the day!

What Skills Should Aesthetic Nurse Injectors Have?

I highly recommend investing in workshops such as Palette Resources or Aesthetic Medical Educators Training to get some exposure before entering the field. Yes, they’re costly but so worth the investment. Hint: this is also really good to put on a resume for future employers as it shows initiative on your end!

What Advice Do You Have for Nurses Who Want to Become Nurse Injectors?

Gosh, so much! 

1. First of all, you are more than capable and qualified for this position! Don’t get discouraged if you aren’t getting any leads; remember it took me a year to get into the field. 
2. It’s difficult to get into the industry because it’s extremely expensive to train a new injector; we’re talking thousands! 
3. So what sets you apart from others? 

• You’ve invested in at least one beginner’s training course.
• You’re actively seeking an opportunity for a foot-in-the-door (reaching out to injectors for shadowing opportunities).
• You’ve created a LinkedIn profile and have added medical practices and their employees to further your network.
• You’re willing to do what it takes—in my case, relocating to a different state.

You will get in, do not give up! If you’re interested in pursuing this as a career, your first step should be to read Nurse.org’s guide on how to become an aesthetic and cosmetic nurse.

Aesthetics nursing seems like a glamorous industry, but it comes with ups and downs like other nursing specialties. There will be situations where you burn a patient with a laser, “Spock” a brow with Botox, or completely bruise lips with filler —it happens to all of us! Then you have your patients who will never be satisfied with their treatments, the ones we have to give extra love to. But you have patients who completely love their results and stand just a little taller after you’re through with them. I live for these moments!

Aesthetic Nursing is fulfilling to those who are not only passionate about skin and beauty but have a genuine desire to instill confidence and provide a sense of empowerment through a specialized art form.

Catch up with Sabrina on Instagram:

@nurse.of.beauty

@Sabrina_Caires

@Sabrina_Caires

Portia Wofford is an award-winning nurse, writer, and digital marketer. After dedicating her nursing career to creating content and solutions for employers that affected patient outcomes, these days Portia empowers health practices to grow their communities through engaging content that connects and converts. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter for her latest.