How to Become an Cosmetic Nurse (Without Cosmetic Experience)
Hi nursing friends,
This post is all about cosmetic nursing (aka cosmetic nursing, aka appearance medicine nursing).
I am a cosmetic nurse working at a private skin and dermatology clinic in Auckland, New Zealand. I entered this job through theatre nursing in the dermatology side of the clinic, before applying for the appearance medicine program.
This post is about options you have on entering the cosmetic industry if you have no prior experience.
Cosmetic nursing
Lip fillers are one of the most popular cosmetic treatments.
Most organisations worldwide suggest that you have a minimum of 3 years nursing experience before you become a cosmetic nurse.
Your nursing background can be from any specialty. However, I find theatre nursing is a great foundation for entering cosmetics. This is because you gain extensive knowledge of a sterile field, excellent attention to detail, and a steady hand. These skills are all valuable in cosmetic nursing.
I’ll be honest, it can be difficult to train as a cosmetic nurse, especially when most clinics only want to hire an experienced injector! It’s a vicious cycle - how in the world are you meant to be an experienced injector without someone willing to hire you in the first place?
Make sure you do your research into cosmetics and be absolutely sure that is what you want to pursue. Once you are sure this is the career for you, then you can get started on your cosmetic nursing journey.
Cosmetic nursing
Extensive knowledge about the anatomy of the face is essential in identifying appropriate treatment(s) for the client.
How to enter the cosmetic nursing industry without cosmetic experience:
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You can reach out to all the cosmetic clinics in your area and send an email with your updated CV and an amazing cover letter about why you want to enter cosmetic nursing.
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If applying directly for a job doesn’t work, you could email clinics in your area and ask them if you can shadow a cosmetic nurse for a week.
This will give you valuable knowledge about the industry and an idea of what a normal day would look like.
Shadowing a cosmetic nurse would also build up your connections and get your foot in the door.
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There are plenty of online courses available to learn the foundations of botox and fillers. You can do your own study at home into facial anatomy, assessment, and skin knowledge.
Once you have built up knowledge around the basics of cosmetics, you can then apply for a job and display your achievements/completed courses on your CV. This will give you an advantage over other nurses applying who don’t have any cosmetic/injecting knowledge.
If you are based in the UK, this is probably your best option in terms of getting a cosmetic nursing job. Employers want to see that you are committed and have put the effort into learning about cosmetics. Note that all respectable online courses require you to show your qualification before joining.
Online courses can range from affordable to expensive, so make sure you have enough money in the bank!
Some options for online courses for botox and fillers -
Dr Tim Pearce is well respected and his courses are more affordable than others
https://drtimpearce.com/courses/
Harley Academy is another respected company that offers e-learning for cosmetics
https://www.harleyacademy.com/training/online-learning/
Aesthetic and skin institute is an Australian based cosmetic company, doing this may be more relevant if you are in NZ/Aus
https://www.aestheticandskininstitute.com/
If you are a cosmetic nurse -
What do you love about your job? What advice would you give a nurse wanting to enter the industry?
Liv x
