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.

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.

How to enter the cosmetic nursing industry without cosmetic experience:

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