Do you want to become an aesthetic nurse? If you’re going to follow this career path smoothly, keep reading this guide. We have included the perfect methods to get your dream career below.

Plus, you’ll learn plenty more information, including the average aesthetic nurse salary. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s begin!

1. Start With Your Education

First, you’ll need to start your journey to getting a registered nurse degree. Becoming an aesthetic nurse means you’ll either need to earn a two-year ADN or a four-year BSN. These degrees can set you up for excellence within the field.

If you already have one, many ways exist to continue your education without quitting your nursing job. More nursing experience will make you more desirable to employers in this field.

You must pass the NCLEX-RN or the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses exam. Your education will prepare you to pass the test. Essentially, it’s a six-hour exam that will test how prepared you are to become an official Registered Nurse.

After becoming an RN, you can move on to the next step.

2. Gain More Nursing Experience

Next, you’ll want to gain more nursing experience as an RN. You’ll need to develop your clinical skills for a while before you can become an aesthetic nurse. You must focus on learning more in areas such as plastic surgery or aesthetic practices related to your interests.

Generally, you’ll need to spend two years working with a board-certified physician in aesthetic surgery or dermatology. You can also gain more education and training during this step to make yourself more appealing to hiring practices in the future.

For instance, you may want to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing to become an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner or APRN. 

You should also pursue more certifications related to your interests. For example, certifications in laser therapy, injectable aesthetic treatments, and dermatology could greatly benefit you. Then, consider becoming a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) with the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB).

To become a CANS, you’ll need to have:

• Over the past two years, at least 1,000 hours of practice in core competency specialties.
• A current RN license.
• Two years of nursing experience focusing on one of these four specialties: Ophthalmology, aesthetic surgery, facial plastic surgery, and dermatology.
• The endorsement of your supervising physician.

Overall, you’ll want to gain some additional nursing experience before becoming an aesthetic nurse.

3. Build Your Nursing Network

No matter a person’s career, they must network to get their dream job. That’s also true of aesthetic nurses. It’s best to start now to grow your network more with time.

Start by building a network with your classmates and professors. Then, construct your network to include plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and other aesthetic nurses. You can also attend workshops and seminars to meet more people and build your network even more.

These seminars are also excellent for learning more about aesthetics. They can help you discover and keep up with new technologies in this always-evolving field.

Networking is awkward at first for everyone. However, the more you market yourself, the more comfortable you’ll feel doing it. Soon, it’ll come to you naturally.

4. Maintain Your Certifications

Next, you’ll need to maintain all your certifications when training and working as an RN. You don’t want anything to expire, which can cause many complications. There are a few different ways that you can maintain them.

How you maintain your certifications can vary by state, so ensure you’re familiar with them. In many cases, the certifiers will send you a notice well in advance, giving you more than enough time to follow the instructions. Make sure that you don’t put it off!

5. Work on Your Portfolio

You’ll want to have a strong portfolio of work to show potential clients and build trust. You can do this by collecting before-and-after pictures in a digital document. You can also create a website that works as a portfolio, making sending links to anyone interested in your services easy.

As you work on building your experience, you’ll also naturally collect a portfolio of work. You must track what you’ve done to show others in the field that you have ample experience. Always ask the client before taking pictures, and follow guidelines for professional aesthetic nurse portfolios in your area.

6. Consider Going into a Specialization

You should go into a specialization in the aesthetic nursing field. These specializations could include laser therapy, injectable treatments, and skincare. If you’re certified and have experience in a niche, you’ll become much more valuable to hiring teams, giving you an edge over the competition.

Plus, you may make an even higher income since you’ll be more in demand. Overall, it’s worth considering once you’ve already started on the path to becoming an aesthetic nurse. Keep your mind open when picking a specialty, and try many different things. You may be surprised to find out what interests you the most!

7. Constantly Invest in Professional Development

You must always work on your professional development as you work through this career path. You’ll find you’re much more engaged in being an aesthetic nurse that way.

Do your best to attend plenty of workshops and read plenty of professional articles in your field. You’ll always be learning, allowing you to grow and thrive as an aesthetic nurse.

You can also collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as dermatologists, to grow while increasing your network’s range.

Follow This Pathway to Your Profession

To summarize, you can use the above guide to start your journey to becoming an aesthetic nurse. It’s a gratifying career, so don’t wait. The sooner you start, the sooner you’ll have your dream job.

Your education, training, and certifications will impact your ability to move along this path, so make sure you spend a lot of time forming and following through with a plan. You’ll be an aesthetic nurse before you know it.