As an exciting and rapidly advancing industry, the aesthetics arena entices practitioners from a variety of professional backgrounds. Many hail from medicine as trained nurses, which makes sense, as medical nurses are perfectly placed to excel in the aesthetics field with their clinical training, understanding of anatomy and physiology, and experience managing patient care and safety. But how can you go about developing an aesthetic practice as a nurse?
When looking into the initial steps of this journey, apprehension is understandably common. For many people working in medicine, the path from degree onwards is somewhat of a conveyor belt – considering anything outside of the status quo can feel daunting. But rest assured, you’re in good company. Scores of nurses have shared similar aspirations and have gone on to achieve great success and wonderful fulfilment. However, as with any new venture, there is much to consider when developing an aesthetic practice from a background as a medical nurse.
Training
Your aesthetics training will be the foundation upon which you build your success. Therefore, it is essential you choose a reputable academy with a proven track record, who can evidence consistently positive reviews from previous graduates. Botox® training for nurses is a popular offering, but not all training is created equal – do your research and ensure that you are confident with what you will be getting before parting with your money. Make sure the course provides hands-on injecting on live models (not only mannequins) in addition to comprehensive theoretical learning and be wary of academies that don’t state enrolment criteria for their delegates and take delegates from backgrounds that potentially wouldn’t be approved in the UKs aesthetics industry. Ideally, you’ll be in a learning environment with your peers: like-minded nurses and medical professionals looking to move into aesthetics.
Nitty gritty
There are going to be many lists in your life during this period of planning! There’s a lot to think about and a number of crucial things to get in place so that you can operate safely and ethically. You will need to decide if you want to set up your own clinic space or operate from an existing one and consider how this might affect how you order and store products and consumables. A number of practical obligations must also be fulfilled before you can accept your first patient, such as acquiring insurance, creating consent and medical history forms, and investing in a system for the secure storage of patient data in line with GDPR. It can seem overwhelming, especially if this is your first time launching a business, so seek sound advice from reliable sources. Look up the available guidance for becoming self-employed, research the ins and outs of entrepreneurialism and reach out to those who have already made it happen. Attend business seminars, start-up exhibitions and any aesthetic industry events you can find. This will not only help bolster your confidence and cement your next steps, but also grant you access to vital networking opportunities.
Stay ahead of the game
Whilst undertaking your foundation training is the first step, you are likely to want to diversify and enhance your portfolio in line with consumer trends and thus stay ahead of your competition. Consider any areas of particular interest and pay attention to what your prospective audience are asking for. This will guide you in choosing your further training, whether that’s an Advanced aesthetics course covering more complex treatments, or a bespoke course for a specific technique or treatment area, such as the ever popular Lip Augmentation. Botox® and filler training for nurses at every level should continue to meet the basic requirements of practical and theoretical learning, and a good academy should offer post-study support and mentoring as you commence practice. These courses often also carry CPD certification and therefore contribute towards your annual requirements.
A note on prescribing: Botulinum Toxin and Hyaluronidase (the reversing agent for complications with fillers) are both Prescription Only Medicine’s (POM’s) – meaning you need to be a licensed prescriber to obtain them. However, note- you do not have to be a licensed prescriber to administer them. If you are not a nurse prescriber you will need to link up with a prescriber who is prepared to review and prescribe for each of your patients, or, work within a clinic with an established group of affiliated prescribers, who coordinate clinical oversight for any POM’s. Alternatively, you can consider undertaking your V200 or V300 prescribing license, offered across the UK. You’ll need to meet the criteria in order to be accepted on the course, and this varies from University to University so again, research is key.
Know your worth
As a qualified nurse, you can offer aesthetic treatments to patients with greater clinical experience and enhanced safety. From considerable practice using needles to acute knowledge of the importance of a clean and sterile clinical setting, your patients will be in good hands. Use this to your advantage! Highlight the elements that make your offering unique when drawing up your marketing and outreach strategy, as well as when considering your placement within the industry. This will give you the edge in a market that is otherwise fairly saturated, but always has room for those who stand head and shoulders above the rest.
If you are ready to initiate your journey and develop and aesthetic practice as a nurse, look no further than Acquisition Aesthetics. We offer Foundation and Advanced training, specifically for medical professionals, alongside a number of bespoke Masterclasses to hone your skills and perfect your techniques. We are proud to provide comprehensive training under the guidance of our expert, surgical-led faculty of trainers; many of whom have successful clinics of their own. Our courses include industry insights and support on launching your business, as well as links to reputable suppliers and other industry professionals. Our graduates receive life-long mentoring and access to our exclusive Graduates Group – a great place to crowd source support from your peers and trainers in the aesthetics arena.
For more information on how to develop an aesthetic practice as a nurse, or to book your course, email contact@acquisitionaesthetics.co.uk or call 020 3514 8757 to speak to a member of the team today.
