What Does An Aesthetic Nurse Do?

“Aesthetic Nurses play an important role in helping patients achieve their desired appearance through non-surgical cosmetic treatments… It is important to have a background in nursing, and additional training and certification in aesthetic medicine.”

Aesthetic nursing can be a rewarding career path with many advantages. This article details these, the responsibilities of the roles and the potential drawbacks of being an Aesthetic Nurse.

Aesthetic Nurses are healthcare professionals who specialize in non-surgical cosmetic treatments. They work in a variety of settings, including private clinics, medical spas, and aesthetic clinics.

In this article, we will explore what an Aesthetic Nurse is, and what they do in the UK. This is a relatively new field that has become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years.

Job Role

Aesthetic Nurses provide a range of non-surgical cosmetic treatments, such as Botox, dermal fillers, and chemical peels. They work alongside other healthcare professionals, such as cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists, to help patients achieve their desired appearance.

Aesthetic Nurses are responsible for assessing patients' needs and expectations, as well as developing and administering customized treatment plans. They also educate patients on the benefits and potential risks of each treatment and provide them with post-treatment care instructions.

In addition to providing cosmetic treatments, Aesthetic Nurses are also responsible for maintaining accurate patient records, ordering and maintaining equipment and supplies, and staying up to date on the latest techniques and trends in aesthetic medicine.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of an Aesthetic Nurse are wide-ranging and varied. They include:

Patient Consultation

Aesthetic Nurses are responsible for meeting with patients to assess their needs and expectations, and to develop customized treatment plans that meet those needs. This is the first step in any aesthetic procedure.

During this meeting, the practitioner will take a medical history from the patient, explain the procedure, and talk them through any side effects or risks.

The consultation is a vital step in building trust between patient and practitioners and ensuring they are a suitable candidate for the procedure.

Treatment Planning

Once the consultation is complete, the practitioner will create a patient centred treatment plan. This will involve appropriate procedures and techniques to achieve the desired results whilst minimising the risk of adverse reactions.

During this point the nurse will also teach the patient about after care and how to enhance the results of any treatments.

Treatment Administration

Aesthetic Nurses are responsible for administering non-surgical cosmetic treatments, such as Botox, dermal fillers, and chemical peels. They must be skilled in the use of injection techniques and other cosmetic devices.

Before this, the practitioner must carry out training before delivering any injectables. There are high levels of risk with these procedures therefore competency is a must.

In addition, understanding facial anatomy and technique is vital to ensure natural-looking results.

Patient Education

Aesthetic Nurses educate patients on the benefits and potential risks of each treatment, as well as post-treatment care instructions.

They must be able to answer patient questions and address any concerns they may have.

Aftercare is an essential aspect of any aesthetic procedure. Nurses will provide patients with instructions on how to look after the area treated. For example, this can include staying out of direct sunlight, wearing compression garments or not apply pressure to area treated with Botox.

Record Keeping

Aesthetic Nurses are responsible for maintaining accurate patient records, including medical histories, treatment plans, and post-treatment outcomes. They must ensure that patient records are kept confidential and secure.

Equipment Management

Aesthetic Nurses are responsible for ordering and maintaining equipment and supplies and ensuring that all equipment is properly sterilized and in good working order.

Professional Development

Aesthetic Nurses must stay up to date on the latest techniques and trends in aesthetic medicine and participate in continuing education programs to maintain their skills and knowledge.

This is essential as Aesthetic Nurses still must carry out revalidation and carry a NMC pin.

Aesthetic Nurses play an important role in helping patients achieve their desired appearance through non-surgical cosmetic treatments… It is important to have a background in nursing, and additional training and certification in aesthetic medicine.

Advantages Of This Career Path

There are many advantages to being an Aesthetic Nurse. Here are a few examples:

Job Growth

The demand of aesthetics nursing is increasing in the UK. There is an increasing growing demand for non-surgical treatments especially injectables.

Flexibility

Aesthetics nursing offers a lot of flexibility in terms of work hours and scheduling. Many nurses work part-time or even on a freelance basis, allowing them to balance their personal and professional lives.

High Earning Potential

There is potential to earn a great income once you have gained experience and built up a client list. This is easily achievable with injectable procedures such as: Botox and dermal fillers.

Increased Job Satisfaction

Many patients seek out aesthetics treatments to boost their self-confidence and to feel better about their physical appearance.

As an Aesthetic Nurse you play a vital role in helping them achieve their goals. It can be incredibly rewarding when patients are pleased with results and feel better about their physical appearance.

Disadvantages Of The Role

As with every career path, the role of Aesthetic Nurse comes with a few disadvantages, such as:

Limited Scope Of Practice

Aesthetics nursing is an incredibly specialised field of nursing. Practitioners may be limited in the types of procedures they can perform and may also be restricted in terms of prescribing and administering certain treatments.

A lot of procedures require further training which you may have to pay for out of your own pocket.

High Level Of Responsibility

As with any medical procedure, there is risk of complications or adverse reactions. Aesthetic practitioners must have a high level of skill and knowledge on how to avoid these and even how to treat these in case of emergencies. Patient safety must always come first.

Emotional Challenges

Aesthetics nursing can be emotionally challenging especially if patients have high expectations and may be disappointed with results.

Nurses need to have excellent communication skills and be able to manage patient expectations. In addition, nurses must be able to read patient emotions too.

Some patients may be feeling low or even depressed about their physical appearance and may need referrals as treatments are not always long lasting.

Conclusion

Aesthetic Nurses play an important role in helping patients achieve their desired appearance through non-surgical cosmetic treatments.

They are responsible for assessing patient needs, developing customized treatment plans, administering treatments, educating patients, maintaining patient records, and staying up to date on the latest techniques and trends in aesthetic medicine.

If you are interested in pursuing a career as an Aesthetic Nurse, it is important to have a strong background in nursing, as well as additional training and certification in aesthetic medicine.

If you’re considering a career as an Aesthetic Nurse, you can check out our job roles here, and for salary-related you check it here