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Must Have Experience

Table of contents

Introduction

On a daily basis I am asked by other nurses how to get started in Aesthetics. In all social media groups for this industry the question is asked so often there is commonly a specific link highlighted to just refer the inquiry to. All the thousands of different providers practicing seem too busy and sometimes slightly snobbish when it comes to giving any time at all to those with the same dream we shared. The demand for these services is growing incredibly with no signs of slowing down. Trends in our field have opportunistic individuals capitalizing on every aspect of the demand almost in predatory practices. New RN’s can be drained of their entire savings just trying to get their dream job. I have never been able to follow the crowd or participate in silence when I see so many unfairly taken advantage of. To change this widespread culture, I hope to be an example of change that sets of a wave of more providers with the supportive mentality as the new standard.

This is all the information I have learned in my own journey that all beginning their journey can prepare for. This is a costly specialty to begin. As previously stated there is no shortage of vultures waiting to take your money in all directions. It is no secret covid was the final straw in burning out nurses. Bedside nursing historically was the definition of nursing to most RN’s 30 years ago. Staffing ratio’s, increasing expectations to do more work with less tools is exhausting. We were barely getting our bedside assignments managed already when the pandemic started. We all learned just how much more strained and impossible our jobs were to become. Most of us began our nursing careers with absolute pride and optimism. Nursing is not a “job” it’s a calling, We are nurses deep in our soul forever. Helping people in need will always come naturally. Whether we are at a grocery store, on the hospital floor with an assignment, or in our aesthetic practice. The beauty of our profession is the many different avenues available for burned out nurses to explore.

In 2020 I made the decision to find a way to restore the love of nursing. I googled all the information and was instantly overwhelmed by how much information conflicted. Each state had different rules but locating that information was not easy. It felt like a roller coaster of circles on the internet trying to find out exactly where to begin. Most specialties in nursing have easily defined pathways. Most other specialties have been in practice significantly longer than aesthetics. The development of our are of medicine is consistently improving standards. Fortunately I was able to make my dream a reality. All the things I wish I knew will be shared with you. Not one minute of my time feels like work. My obsession and drive to improve and grow does not require incentive to keep its momentum. I no longer work to obtain a paycheck. This career path is unique in its scope of practice variations from state to state. With the realistic expectations defined more clearly here, it will be easier to navigate through the challenges and start your dream career.

Specialty Organizations

International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses (ISPAN)

ISPAN

Aesthetic Multispecialty Society

Aesthetic Multispecialty Society

American Society for Aesthetics

American Society of Aesthetics

American Med Spa Association

AmSpa

These reputable organizations are excellent sources of reliable resources in your new career pathway. Choosing a membership with one that best match what you value is recommended. Each membership will give you discounts to specific trainings and early access. Looking for memerships that has trainings you want to attend and join. The larger collection of education topics booked over a weekend event with representatives in attendance from all major compainies as vendors. Live demonstrations of treatments by master injectors take place more than once so all have an observation opportunity, The enormous amount of information, trainings and network perks makes them most ideal for new injectors to attend. A weekend ticket might cost 1800.00 but teaches so much on multiple topics and modalities. This type of education event is an example of ongoing education you should expect to participate in routinely in your practice. There are many well known masters in the industry that offer trainings with them in small groups that come with the same price tag or higher. Their expertise is amazing and the ability to ask questions and talk with them while learning is worth the money certainly but unless you have unlimited funds I suggest prioritizing the bigger events when

starting out. Checking with these professional groups will keep you informed of all upcoming major trainings as well as the latest industry news and findings.

Where to Begin

The majority of people confused and asking this question come from peers in nursing. At the level of the registered nurse the conflicting information available is confusing. Most states allow registered nurses to become nurse injectors and work in some capacity. There are some states where it is not clearly defined.

Each state’s Board of Nursing is going to be the place to check first for their position and scope of practice boundaries. Where I started in Rhode Island this specific specialty had not been mentioned and we then differed to our overall nurse practice act to stay within it’s boundaries professionally. Most states are working on specific definition of their position and guidelines. The registered nurse license is required to advance your specialty pathway. Licensed nurses, LPN’s should obtain their RN license if they are considering this career path.

Registered nurses should start trying to find any position within a med spa, dermatology or plastic surgery practice, or establishment that provides services to possibly give yourself a “foot in the door.” Be consistent in sending resumes out to these places while you are working on your next priorities. As registered nurses we are in such demand that our job search process i doesn’t require much effort. You should expect to have to put significant effort into finding these positions. Being prepared for the work ahead will be most helpful for your journey. The difficulty in finding the first job is where every nurse is immediately discouraged. Keeping applications moving continuously while you are planning your next steps is advised.

All nurse injectors who inject botox or any other neurotoxin are required to be certified. This certification is where the avalanche of confusion information begins to overwhelm the career research. This certification is not required to include any specific criteria or testing to obtain. The participation in the whatever structure is defined by the educational entity earns the certificate. Some training programs can be an 8 hour class, online, or weeks long program. The cost to attend varies greatly as well. Longer certification programs may offer more opportunities to fully understand the information and might have more hands on practice. Whether you take an online course or a longer program, the certificate earned will then allow you to inject neurotoxin and dermal filler. Individual preference will be the only consideration needed in deciding the certification program. Once that certification is earned the formal minimum qualification to inject is in place.

Once the certification is in place most nurses start then trying to find injector position and learn quickly the industry is not easy to break into. Cash based medicine practice and mindset and personal services to a bedside nurse can seem less risk and low threat compared to whatever acute experience they have. Nurse’s have all been in numberous emergent scenarios where we are triaging and managing things most will never understand. This experience is not even taken into consideration when you’re applying as a nurse injector. Practices are reluctant to invest time, and money training a new injector that will begin with zero patients to bring in. The basic certification you earned is actually not the ticket to start working as most believe. In this field you earn the certificate to go begin your training. The cost of your certification, the length of your course, or the name of the organization that certified you have no influence to potential employers. No experience in aesthetics beyond the certification likely will not even be considered.

This is the roadblock where many give up. It’s impossible to get experience in a field that will not hire new injectors and it becomes daunting on self esteem to keep hearing “no.” Our compensaition for bedside nursing is decent and we have bills to pay that match the income from nursing. Nurse’s stay employeed in the bedside roles with the intention of continuing the job search in aesthetics. Only a small percentage actually remain determined long enough to finally land that first job. These rare opportunity to be hired without experience does happen. It almost seems like sheer luck when found. The tips I am giving here will increase the chances. Waiting for luck to land your dream career may be acceptable for some but if you truly are passionate about making your career a reality then utilize all the tips I suggest. Be constantly listening for others who might have some tips to add or try. This hustle to gain that first job will not repeat itself once you have some experience. No job search will ever be as hard again. That experience will prepare you for how hard you can expect to work to build your clientele and following.

Landing the first Job

This will be the most difficult one to obtain. Once you have some measurable experience accumulated, your value as a provider increases. Most advice from injectors is to keep paying for more training while you are looking for that job. Unless you have a large amount of savings , this doesn’t make sense. Finding any shadow opportunities will be the next suggestion but almost everyone realized they could charge money for those as well. This is not a practice I personally agree with unless the provider charging for shadowing is well established and master level. It hardly seems ethical for an injector that has been on the job one year asks 1k for the day of shadowing. If you find yourself in this position and are in the Scottsdale AZ area please feel free to set up a shadow time for free.

Experiance is the magic employers want you to possess. Experience comes in many forms. You should make your social media professional accounts as soon as possible. You will be able to adjust the nick name and other settings later if needed but you can’t post in the past. Starting to post content begins your resume. Potential employers will all be checking for your social media immediately after reading your resume. Start demonstrating your understanding of the importance of social media marketing. You also might find a practice that is looking for some assistance in this area and your lack of injection experience might not be an immediate “No.”. Social media marketing companies are expensive and all owners are not from the online generation. Taking on social media for a practice while they are training you now becomes a fair trade off. Start your social media and start posting daily. Use stock standard photos, Pinterest, and any possible idea generator available. Do not overthink your postings. No one will be judging you.

Any picture or video of you actively learning is going to carry the most weight. If you are shadowing a provider, change your outfit halfway through. If you are walking by a medical grade skin care display take some pictures. Make as many videos of you talking about treatments or products as you can think of. Even if you are a social media expert it will be a learning curve to make videos and content for your profession. Finding your comfort here will take a moment to adjust to. Take credit for every single step in the aesthetic world. It’s well known how incredible it is to get that first job by all those already practicing. I doubt you will find a single one of them that judge your content. Most in practice will likely be impressed with the efforts you are demonstrating. Your work ethic and tenacity will make an impression.

Have your photo printed on your resume. This sets your resume apart from the hundreds of traditional ones and is more likely to get noticed. Additionally your appearance might be the one thing that shows if you could fit in. I do not mean physical attractiveness is not what might show your worthiness to interview. Your appearance of a young 20-something professional might be the energy the current staff needs for balance. A photo will never hurt your chances. Whenever possible you should take time to hand deliver resumes. Taking time to talk to the staff and asking questions will leave your personality introduction. The practice hiring decision maker is different in all places. You never know if the front desk person is the hiring agent or if the provider might see you while walking a patient to check out, If a conversation is flowing effortlessly with the staff do not hesitate to ask them to keep your resume on top of the pile for the next possible hiring opportunity. If the practice owner is also a busy provider they will take any suggestions by their staff to consider someone they suggest.

Circle around any chain practice heavily asking about possible openings. The turnover in chain establishments is higher and the opportunities will be more frequent. Chain practices have access to training and the funds designated for staff development. These places are most likely to hire a novice injector. Larger business entities will also provide career opportunities directly on their website. Always apply online and in person when possible. Sending your resume to office fax numbers if listed on their homepage is a good practice. Any creative way to increase your visibility is your challenge. Don’t forget to post your daily content as you are on the job hunt. If your are really good with social media it might be interesting for people to see you focus posting on your specific job hunting efforts for the day. People commenting might have some great ideas or even job leads to tell you about. Following the social media accounts of the practices nearby is good but I definitely would not tag them or name them in your blogging or posts speaking about your experience of trying to get that “unicorn” of a job. They might happen to scroll upon your page and start following along.

The only valued ability from your bedside nursing jobs might be your IV insertion skills. IV vitamin infusions are offered in many wellness and aesthetic settings. There is a good chance your IV skills will be in demand more than you expect. Only and RN or higher level provider may insert an IV so there is no chance the esthetician or front desk person can help out in this area. There is also a possibility the major provider is too busy to keep their schedule running on time while stopping to begin IV’s. This is many injector’s first chance in the door. Even if you are only managing IV;s and never have the option to advance to injecting, the job experience in a cash based business will give you twice the consideration to someone with IV skills in managed care setting. Cash based medicine as an industry is vastly different in comparison to the medical treatment operation standard. Patients in aesthetics are consumers first. Us as providers still view them from our medical assessment standpoint and base treatment approaches off their medical history and any possible contra indicators identified. Our medical knowledge and training and education might lead us to a place where the patients desire and the best possible outcome will not be possible. Patient’s in the medically necessary world can usually understand when a specific treatment or operation is not offered for them. The consumer patient has a much harder time accepting the provider declining to treat them or provide a specific treatment when they are prepared to pay.

The more patients you begin to see in your practice, the more you will witness how commonly patients come in to their appointments asking for specific treatments by name. Some will request a whole treatment plan of procedures even. The social media access and internet search engine research driven society is our greatest tool to reach out to their couch and try to get them into our chairs. The same mentality allows the potential patient to scroll endless information from sources that might not be vert reliable outdated information. Consumers today are more prepared than ever with as much internet research they can retain. Our medical assessment and approach to maintain safety and best possible outcomes does not always align with what patients ask for. Delivering this information in the most tactful manner possible is going to be as highly admirable of your skills as any of the medical techniques you will perform. The hospital patient is more likely to accept when told the newest laser surgery for their spinal condition can’t be performed. Telling a consumer the non surgical nose augmentation they have been anxiously hoping for can’t be performed takes extra care in it’s delivery and patience when the message isn’t being accepted. Every single conversation, response to a question, and outcome delivered represents your reputation. The power of a google review might now matter more in this side of our career. The consumer population complaints are considered carefully by other consumers that are looking for a new service provider. It’s impossible to expect to never have an unhappy customer. Keeping them to a minimum is a constant standard to strive for.

Patient will always dislike being told “no” to a request. Most will actually be thankful when your education and explanation tells them about why they are hearing “no.” Many complaints will come from operational issues like appointment scheduling running late or a perceived rude response they experienced. Now that I have explained the mentality shift of the consumer population and the ease of leaving negative feedback, imagine what impact a permanent adverse outcome could mean not only for a patient to live with but for an entire business and its employees. These procedures we perform carry risks. Some risks are temporary like neurotoxin injected incorrectly causing a ptosis. The patient unfortunately has one drooping eyelid to face the world with but it won’t last a lifetime. A vascular occlusion that is missed could lead to a person’s face being permenantly disfigured to some degree or even permanently blind. The insurance of the practice and your individual insurance will both be paying depending on who is deemed most liable. If any insurance is required to pay damages in a lawsuit with your name listed in it, you can expect your insurance cost to multiply greatly and the ease of securing insurance will be affected. Mistakes can happen with us performing to the best of our ability. This is medicine and we are humans. This is also why it’s hard to be hired as a brand new injector. You will need a long period of training before you begin to inject in every ideal setting. Once you begin injecting you are still not doing so alone. There is supervision closely of the more experienced injector observing closely for another period of time for the opportunity to assist with suggestion tactfully or monitor skin reactions while the new injector is focusing on finding comfort with how they hold the syringe. This extensive training module is the one most injectors have learned by and the one most respected by peers in the industry. The larger chain practices can afford the high insurance premiums and the access to endless hours of corporate attorneys to fight lawsuits. Small business owners could lose their practice with lawsuits. The training is never rushed for injectors by those experienced. No such emergency injectable procedure exists. All appointments can be scheduled according to provider availability. An entire day or week of appointments can be rescheduled when the provider is ill or has a personal situation. Those scenarios will be necessary at times. I personally have never met a business owner in this specialty who will prioritize the revenue and push a novice injector through training prematurely. The risks to an injector doing procedures they are not comfortable and prepared for will cost far more in the event of a mistake.

The specific hands on portion of your certification if offered will not prepare you. Even the weeks long training course that offers slightly more hands on experience will not possibly be enough exposure to train you. This is why careful thought should be given into choosing the certificate program that is required. The cost should reflect what you will receive. Keepi in mind the amount of significant injecting practice it will take to gain comfort in delivering expected results with the products available without compromising safety. Realistic training is minimally about 6 full months in a busy practice if you are there full time. Most training injectors in this industry are not fully injecting on their own unsupervised for about a year. There is no certificate program or hands on didactic available to allow for that level of training. That amount of repeated exposure injecting all different procedures using different techniques and alternating products while learning the reasoning behind product selections is not taught or learned in a short time. This is what the aesthetic providers all know and why that certificate does little by itself so help land your first job. If you can afford to pay for training while you are looking for that first job it will be excellent for your professional development. It will add value to your resume and highlight your work ethic by what importance you’re placing education and training (all aesthetic providers know exactly how expensive trainings can be). Even the highest earning providers will want to attend a training if it’s being offered free of cost. Pick any additional training carefully by first remembering it won’t prepare you by itself alone. Look at what you will get in addition and weigh that with the cost. Paying an injector who is still early in their own practice 1K for a shadow day is likely not as beneficial as a weekend pass to numerous topics and demonstrations will be for 1.5K. It’s necessary to learn to sort through opportunists capitalizing on the high demand and low availability of opportunities to get your career started. These amazing trainings that are worth their cost will be necessary for you to continue to attend your entire career. The 6K cadaver course is a goal practicing injectors have to plan and save for. Don;t put your finances in the red trying to attend everything at once. Just like your traditional nursing experience, you are dealing with humans that aren’t all going to present in textbook description. Their expected and unexpected outcomes will also not appear as you expect. Real experience takes time. Your patience will be your greatest coping skill.

Developing your relationships with peer in this industry is not valued enough by some. I personally encourage you to cultivate a great network of professionals in all roles and in every aspect of our community. The pharmeceutical reps have some of the first knowledge of a provider planning to exit a practice and that potential job opening. The medical grade skin care representitive might have just left one of their contracted business’s that is really ordering products rapidly and their office looks busy every time she visits. Great information to keep your resume updated and offered to their practice often since they might expand and have the ability to consider a new injector. The relationships you build will not just assist you in the job search. The providers will all talk about what their experience has been with specific products or modalities. Newest education is shared with peers in their circle. An emergency episode will be shared and pictures of what it presented like at different stages are shared in supportive circle groups to help each other gain knowledge of what different presentations exist. Listening to their approach to managing the event will be like information goal in your growing toolbox of information. Having providers to call or text for professional feedback on a situation if you don’t have a provider in your practice available is another smart thing to collect. You never want to take the wrong approach and its common practice in all medicine to consult with peers prior to proceeding with any questionable scenario. You might be the sole provider of your own brand new practice one day and need another set of eyes and their opinion before you make a decision or plan an approach. The circle you build will make your patient satisfaction level as high as possible while keeping them safe.

Job Format Variations

In accordance with every other piece of your aesthetic career journey, the vast differences in how each practice operates makes the structure of compensation and expectations confusing. Some jobs are not actually considered employees. All of the variations and their explanation will help you determine what might suite you best. Knowing all the things to consider is necessary if you are making a decision on an offer.

Some jobs are not earning an hourly wage by the practice. They may receive commission on procedures or products sold. No W2 form is received at the end of the year. That role is an independent contractor. An independent contractor must file their own 1099 tax form at the end of the year. If this offer is presented to you it will benefit to ask questions like 1. Is there rent for space required? 2. Is there medical director service included in the contract? 3. How are the products purchased for use on your patients? 4. If you are earning commission will you be referred potential new patients by the practice? 5. Social Media expectations. This might not initially seem like an ideal option for a new injector without a built up following of patients but will provide the beginning of work experience in your resume. The willingness and availability of other providers to mentor you.

Most adults can not afford to work with only a small commission on product sales for income. A traditional hourly income offer is ideal for most new injectors. It might not be comparable to the hourly wage you are use to in your bedside practice. Keep in mind your wage offer is based on your aesthetic experience. If a lower than desired wage is offered it is fair to request a reveiw of that wage periodically as you build your aesthetic foundation. It is realistic to expect to have to supplement your income with per diem nurse opportunities until you grow your client list.

Knowing what educational options a job offer may come with can be more beneficial than an hourly rate. My first role was a higher wage while I shadowed other providers in the practice. The main provider and myself didn’t easily blend in our different personalities and I was feeling it might be affecting my progress. The next role I was offered was at a lower rate hourly but the 1:1 mentor I would be learning from was the most well known and respected providers in the region. The hourly wage was unimportant in comparison to the learning opportunity with such a reputable provider. Mentorship is an intimate invitation and a relationship that must flow for both parties. Providers can be excellent in their practice but are not strong in teaching. Personalities can be so opposing which creates an uncomfortable environment in some cases. Always keep in mind your professional integrity as nurse and your reputation in your aesthetic future should be a constant consideration. If you find yourself in a role that is not working for any reason, look for the next role that fits more appropriately as soon as possible.

The variations are vast in their formats but all the opportunities share in their difficulty to obtain for new injectors. There are likely hundreds of candidates that applied for the role. The open positions are in high demand. The competitive mentality is not suited for everyone. In our previous bedside nurse career we rarely had to expend such extensive effort to find our traditional positions. There is a growing population of nurses that have spent large amounts of money to gain their certification to start their aesthetic career. Some aren’t prepared for the challenge of finding that first job. Most nurses have numerous contacts that are Doctors or Practitioners of some specialty. It has become common to find a nurse starting her own practice with a medical director if their state’s rules allow it. I don’t encourage this as there is nothing compared to the lengthy training and learning gained on those first jobs. If you have the money to start up your own business please consider investing heavily in more training for yourself to build knowledge where your experience lacks. In doing so you will build your network of professional support to reference when you have questions. If this route is what fits you best and solo practice is your desire there are specialized groups to partner with that are geared specifically for nurses who want to start their own Aesthetic practice. Moxie and Portrait are two of the larger known names that offer partnerships throughout the country. The state specific compliance knowledge and assistance from concept to actuality are being utilized by all provider levels seeking entrepreneur goals.

Social Media Society

Every aspect of our medical career before now aggressively drilled HIPPA into our brains. We now step into aesthetics to find a culture of promotion and patient before and after photos blasted on social media accounts. You can be certain your IG will be accessed by your potential employers right after your physical resume. Your personality is as important as your work when an employer is determining your possible fit into their practice. Starting your professional IG and social media on whatever platform you’re most comfortable in is one of the first things you should do once you decide to make this specialty your goal. You will be able to change the name of the profile later and hide or delete from your grid as you go but you will never be able to post in the past so start immediately. Post your aesthetic textbook, your selection of certification options, and every creative step on your journey to the career of your dreams.

Most nurses have used an electronic charting system but social media and the expectation in the aesthetics industry can overwhelm you. Do not worry and overthink this aspect especially in the beginning. The fact that you post and have been maintaing an account with regularity endorses your understanding of it’s role in current aesthetic culture. Your specific posts won’t be critiqued or harm your job outlook. Social media marketing is a whole separate career path for specialized professionals. Your personality is what people want to see. Consumers were heavily using social media for knowledge and research and now there seems to be a shift in consumers questioning validity of information they see now on social media. Your dream is to be an aesthetic provider and not a social media marketing expert or an Influencer. Don’t worry extensively if your Tik Tok navigation is not up to par with your teenagers.

The best social media advice I can give is to be yourself. If you are not comfortable in what you are doing, the potential clients won’t likely consider you credible. You don’t need to perform choreographed Tik Tok dances to build patients. 25K followers on any social platform means little if none are converting to real patients. Find your own comfort zone and don’t try to be what you “think people want” to see. The next advice is to keep the goal for all social media in mind. You want to reach strangers and encourage them to choose your services. Yellow pages to find service providers do not exist anymore. There’s now generations that do not know what I mean when I say “Yellow pages.” Gaining followers organically takes time. The follower count is not going to gain new clients alone. The engagement with people in your community is going to be most significant. If you follow celebrities and only “like” their posts then all you will see in your feed is celebrity related posts and marketing. The algorithm is coded to show the scrolling user more of what interests them. Finding your way to sneak into the algorythyms of strangers is the priority.

First identify your target client demographic. Females 18-65 is the majority of our clientele. Next you want to reach those idividuals local enough to you to consider your practice. Also consider what other interests are widely shared by the target demographic. Likely local gyms, restaurants, and wellness groups are where your next client will be visiting. Follow local business’ and pay attention to their active engaged members. Follow local individuals that post regularly. This gives you opportunity to “like” their posts and comment on any of their interesting posts occasionally. Being an active engaging profile on social media will start gaining your recognition in your area. Your page will show up routinely in the suggestions of new accounts to follow of local strangers. Supporting other local small business accounts is usually recognized and reciprocated. Collaborating, supporting, and commenting on your own local community members will go further than any hashtag combination or viral skit you can act out and post. Keep a daily engagement goal of interacting with 5-10 different local social accounts. Keep routinely posting what you are most comfortable with to promote aesthetic education and your work. Your solid foundation as a knowledgeable and trusted provider will grow.

Be creative in your networking. This is uncharted territory that has so much left to learn. The platforms and their lifecycles change and become outdated quickly. Whatever your ideas are, they are worthy of exploring. Staying loyal to your own personality and ideas will minimize the overwhelming social media anxiety. Don’t forget your specialty is aesthetic treatments. Your practice will grow authentically by the word of mouth of your happy patients. It’s nice to turn a complete stranger into a patient but most consumers will come to you because your work was recommended personally.

My mentor and role model that trained me started her practice before the social media explosion. She actually worked in two different medical spa practices. Her part time role in each started from zero and grew by word of mouth and her networking creativity. Passing out cards every chance possible. The state of Rhode Island is not large but I had heard of her expertise long before I was lucky enough to learn from her. Her services are in such high demand with the client list built on reputation and word of mouth. It is rare when I see her have time to actually post anything on her social media. While she was working on growing she also sought out and paid for an impressive collection of education and trainings. The cadaver courses are expensive to attend and have the experience of dissection of Human anatomy and I look forward to the day I am able to take one of these courses. She has now attended more than 3 or 4 of these. Her level of understanding of anatomy and her education consistency is where she built her excellent treatment delivery. Her proven excellence in her specialty is the reminder I use to refocus me when I find myself overthinking social media and marketing. Your craft is your highest priority.

Some of my favorite aesthetic provider IG accounts:

@thelipbunny @pa_nicola @jennifer_prince_aesthetics

@lesliefletcher_np @injectabilitybeauty @boujeenurse

@lippiequeen_denver @snatchedbysloan @unmarked_beauty

@Injectorbunny @Injector_Alexa @thenewenglandinjector_jsj

-My mentor social media to follow Is highly suggested to see how little her social media presence is: remember this is a provider so advanced in her craft that numerous Aesthetic physicians bring their own products and pay her to inject them:

@Nurse_Sarah_Aesthetics

Last Little Ideas

  1. Add your photo to your resume
  2. Hand Deliver resumes whenever possible and make friends with office staff any chance you get.
  3. Heavily circle and send your resume to Chain Practices: The turnover in them is highest.
  4. If you really want your foot in the door you may consider applying for a front desk or office position.
  5. If separate certification is required in your state, become laser certified. The more treatments you can provide will increase your assets to potential employers.
  6. Any free exposure opportunities are rare. Don’t pass up any.
  7. Find local shadow opportunities. Make sure ones charging significant fees are worthy of the cost. Advanced providers, master injectors with reputable experience, or providers that specialize in a specific topic you want to learn.
  8. All the steps you are taking to get that first job counts as industry experience. Take credit in your efforts. Add itemized skills to resume when possible.
  9. If you are in or traveling near Scottsdale Arizona please set up a visit to shadow with me at Angelface-Aesthetics. I do not charge a fee.
  10. You will land your first job with your perseverance. You will also be absorbed in all your learning and technique development once you are in your practice. On your journey pay attention to the ways you can offer help or guidance for someone starting out their dream. Remember the way the beginning feels. You might only have one piece of advice or new idea to offer but it could be the one thing that works for someone.

This industry is famous for it’s tendency to be labeled as catty. This reputation has not been proven in my experience. I found the providers practicing actively at all levels are busy working on their craft. They are too busy to criticize their peers, too busy to engage in “mean girl” mentality, and too busy to worry about competing with anyone but themselves. Build and cultivate your network of peers. Protect the integrity of our specialty by committing support to fellow providers. All of our patient outcomes will elevate with our collaborative support circles growing.

Certification Suggestions

Aesthetic Medical Educator Training

Website

Course cost 1750.00

Courses offered

Basic Neurotoxin and Dermal Filler

Advanced Nerotoxin and Dermal Filler course

*This was the course I took.

National Laser Institute

Website

Course cost range from 1450.00 to greater than 15,000.00 depending on what education package is desired

Empire Training Academy

Website

The basic course is divided into basic Neurotoxin Injections

Basic Dermal Filler Injections.

Each course is 1900.00

ISPAN and AMSPA organizations also provide certification courses to research and compare.

Certification Courses are now offered by Individual Providers increasingly. These are smaller intimate learning with the master level provider. They can be slightly more costly than larger group training settings. The reputation of the Provider offering the class is valued. That provider usually offers additional mentorship offers and a continuing resource network in the future.

Advanced Credentialing

The Plastic surgical nursing certification board was established to develop a strict standard requirement and testing process for nurses to demonstrate their excellence in their aesthetic practice specialty. Currently this is the only advanced credentialing recognized by the Aesthetic community. The criteria that must be met to apply for a testing opportunity are thouroughly verified prior to receiving permission to sit for the exam.

Once all criteria are confirmed, permission to test is granted. A passing score earns the CANS credential (Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist). The individual will have to recertify every three years to maintain this credential. The strict standard requirements make the credential opportunity limited to the most qualified nurses in the specialty. CANS certified nurses are qualified to train and certify providers in aesthetic techniques and products like PDO threads and cannula approaches.

State by State

ArKansas: Registered Nurses are permitted to provide Aesthetic Injections that follow a patients plan of care. Botox and Neurotoxin require prescriptions.

Alabama: Only Physicians are allowed to preform all aesthetic injection procedures.

Alaska: Registered Nurses are permitted to provide cosmetic injections with Botox and filler.

Arizona: Registered Nurses are permitted to inject botox and filler without supervision as long as they have a medical director.

California: Registered Nurses may inject with direct supervision.

Colorado: Medical Aestheticians and RN’s may inject with direct supervision of Physician or Mid level provider.

Connecticut: Medical professionals trained in aesthetics may inject as long as treatments are provided in a medical spa or health care facility. No Botox Parties or home based practices are acceptable.

Delaware: Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses may inject under the supervision of a Mid level provider or higher.

Florida: Unregulated definitively at this time. There is strong beliefs of Florida providers that seem to believe only mid level providers and higher may inject but I do know quite a few practicing RN’s in Florida currently.

Georgia: Dentists that have been certified may inject. Mid level providers and higher are allowed to inject.

Hawaii: Only mid level providers or higher may perform injections and laser hair removal. Also specific laser treatments must be delivered by providers with prescriptive authority.

Idaho: Only Physicians may inject aesthetic treatments.

Illinois: Registered Nurses may inject cosmetic procedures

Indiana: Any licensed physician or Nurse Practitioner may provide Aesthetic injections

Iowa: Only licensed Physicians may provide aesthetic procedures.

Kansas: Registered Nurses may inject under the supervision of a mid level provider or higher.

Kentucky: Licensed Estheticians may inject botox and filler under immediate supervision of a physician. No regulation definition on Registered Nurses could be identified at the time of this writing.

Louisiana: Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses may provide injections under supervision of a physician

Maine: Physicians, Physician Assistants, and Registered Nurses may provide cosmetic injections.

Maryland: Only Physicians can provide aesthetic procedures

Massachusetts: LPN’s, RN’s, NP’s, PA’s and Physicians are allowed to provide cosmetic injections.

Michigan: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

Minnesota: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

Mississippi: RN’s, NP’s, PA’s and Electrologists may provide cosmetic procedures under the supervision of a Physician.

Montana: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

Nebraska: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

Nevada: RN’s, NP’s, and PA’s may inject under the supervision of a Physician.

New Hampshire: RN’s may inject under the supervision of mid level provider or higher.

New Jersey: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

New Mexico: Unregulated.

New York: All cosmetic injections must be provided by a licensed medical professional including RN’s

North Carolina: RN’s may inject with the supervision of a mid level provider or higher.

North Dakota: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

Ohio: RN’s, NP’s, and PA’s may inject under the supervision of a Physician.

Oklahoma: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

Oregon: No specialized background is currently required to administer medical injectables.

Pennsylvania: RN’s may inject with supervision.

Rhode Island: RN’s and LPN’s may inject with the supervision of mid level providers or higher.

South Carolina: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

South Dakota: RN’s may inject with supervision.

Tennessee: Qualified medical professionals may inject in sanitary conditions.

Texas: Licensed medical professionals may inject cosmetic procedures.

Utah: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

Vermont: Licensed medical professionals may inject cosmetic procedures.

Virginia: Mid level providers or higher may inject cosmetic procedures.

Washington: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

West Virginia: Physicians must provide Cosmetic procedures.

Wisconsin: Nurse Practitioners and Physicians may inject cosmetic procedures.

Wyoming: Nurse Practitioners and Physicians may inject cosmetic procedures.

**All information provided here is subject to change and clarification. Before beginning your journey it is your responsibility to seek the most current position of your State Nursing Board. The growth and demand for these procedures have been increasing rapidly and the rules and guidelines for our scope of practice will also adapt accordingly.

**The State Board of Nursing is the foremost governing body in our RN practice. The next requirement is the basic certification in botox, neurotoxin, and dermal filler. The certification was initially required by the Drug manufacturers. Most of the drug representatives will ask for the certification copies of the providers in the practice.