Neonatal Nurse education and Training

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neonatal nurse Your first step to becoming a neonatal nurse is to become a registered nurse by obtaining an Associate’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and passing the NCLEX-RN exam. It should be noted that some employers may prefer neonatal nurses who’ve earned a Bachelor’s degree—particularly if you’re planning to work at a large hospital.

Once you’ve obtained you degree and licensure, things get less linear. You may be able to find a neonatal nursing role straight out of school, but there’s also a good chance you’ll need to first build experience if you’re looking for a NICU position. Your best bet is to get established as a nurse at a facility with a NICU and build experience in infant care—pediatrics and well-newborn nurseries are good options if possible. This valuable experience will show employers that you have the hands-on skills you need to care for infants, which makes for a smoother transition to the NICU.

What is it like to work as a neonatal nurse?

You’re probably wondering how the work of a neonatal nurse compares to other types of nursing specialties. While all registered nursing jobs have a fair amount of common ground—administering medication, charting important information and answering questions all can be expected—there are a few nuances worth noting.

A NICU registered nurse will most likely be in a hospital environment where the stakes for the patient are likely to be higher. With higher-risk patients typically comes a smaller nurse to patient ratio—NICU patients just need additional care. That said, a neonatal nurse working in a mother and baby center that doesn’t facilitate high risk pregnancies can probably expect to have a larger number of patients under their supervision each shift.

Another big difference from other types of nursing is the literal size of your patients—medications obviously need to be scaled down and require precision to ensure they’re safely administered. Given that many NICU patients are severely premature, a big focus is placed on feeding patients and ensuring they reach developmental goals. You can also expect to work closely with labor and delivery nurses to facilitate the transition from the delivery room to the NICU.

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of NICU nursing is managing the emotions that come with it—the highs of seeing an almost impossibly tiny premature baby overcome the odds will contrast with the lows of a family knowing their newborn might not be coming home. It takes a steady presence and good self-care habits to manage this fact.

What qualities make for a good neonatal nurse?

You can probably guess that neonatal nurses must have a love for infants and their parents. But what other skills matter in a neonatal or NICU nurse? We analyzed more than 25,000 neonatal nursing job postings to uncover the other important skills employers are seeking:2

Specialized neonatal nursing skills

  • Advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
  • Treatment planning
  • Neonatal resuscitation
  • Patient evaluation
  • Patient / family education
  • Neonatology

Transferable neonatal nursing skills

  • Planning
  • Teamwork
  • Communication skills
  • Research
  • Critical thinking
  • Computer literacy

Are you destined to become a neonatal nurse?

If you’re compassionate and willing to go the extra mile to acquire the necessary experience and education, a rewarding career treating newborns and supporting their families could be the perfect fit for you.

Neonatal nursing is not for the faint of heart, but for the right person—it’s a nursing career that puts you in contact with the patients you love most.

 

The Info You Need to Know About Being a Neonatal Nurse

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neonatal nurse You’ve been thinking about becoming a nurse for a long time now. You know this fulfilling career could bring benefits to both your life and the lives of the patients with whom you’ll work every day. As you get closer to making the move into nursing, you’re starting to consider which nursing specialty best suits you.

Working as a NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) nurse or specializing in neonatal sounds appealing to you. But you know the neonatal nurse job description isn’t all baby rattles and cooing infants. You want to get a better idea of what this role is all about before you make any choices.

So to help you make your decision, we gathered some critical information to help you decide if neonatal nursing is the right choice for you.

What is a neonatal nurse?

Simply put, these nurses specialize in working with newborn babies. Neonatal nurses care for infants who are born with issues such as premature birth, birth defects, infections or cardiac issues, according to the National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN). The term “neonatal” refers to the first month of an infant’s life, but neonatal nurses may treat ailing newborns until they are discharged from the hospital, even if that takes several months.

Most neonatal nurses work in a typical hospital environment—usually in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or maternity ward. However, not all neonatal nurses work in such intense settings. Some care for healthy babies in mother-baby nurseries, and others work in clinics or home healthcare to provide follow-up care for infants.

A neonatal nurse will have a variety of job duties throughout the day. They may do anything from resuscitating infants and administering medication to helping a new mom get started breastfeeding. Despite what the job title implies, neonatal nurses should expect to work with infants’ families just as much as the infants themselves. Neonatal nurses “will help integrate parents into the critical care that you provide,” according to NANN.

The neonatal nurse job description

A neonatal nurse working in a NICU could expect to start the day with responsibilities that more or less resemble what you’d see with other nursing specialties—dividing patient loads, relaying important patient information, reviewing notes and checking in with all patients and their families. This provides neonatal nurses an opportunity to identify any signs of trouble, answer questions and educate families about they can expect next.

Obviously these patients can’t just say how they’re feeling or what’s bothering them, so neonatal nurses will need an in-depth knowledge of common neonatal ailments and the risks unique to this patient population. Additionally they’ll need to be excellent, empathetic communicators—the nature of this work means they may have to relay bad or seemingly scary news to new parents and help them process what it means.

What are the benefits of being a neonatal nurse?

Caring for sick babies and offering support to their families can definitely be rewarding. But a neonatal nursing career offers benefits beyond the fulfilling job of patient care. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses earned a 2018 median annual salary of $71,730.1

Neonatal nurses also have the potential for career advancement within this specialization. As your knowledge, experience and educational attainment level grows, you may be eligible for job titles such as developmental care specialist, clinical care specialist or nurse manager, according to NANN. These advanced roles will allow you to support staff and direct educational programs that will improve patient care across the board.

 

What are the common duties of a critical care nurse?

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Critical care nurse Critical care nurses, like all registered nurses, provide essential medical services including monitoring and evaluating vital signs, administering medication, reacting to any change in a patient’s condition, and using a variety of technical medical equipment.

One of the biggest distinctions between critical care nursing and other nursing specialties is the typical patient load. Given the serious state of their patients and the extra attention required to make sure they remain in stable condition, critical care nurses typically have a smaller number of patients to tend to over the course of a shift. This also means they’re often the first to respond when a patient’s condition takes a turn for the worse and must work quickly to take appropriate measures.

In addition to these medical responsibilities, critical care nurses play an essential role as patient advocates. Critical care nurses work with patients who are at their most vulnerable. They must respect the rights and directives of the patient at times when the patient may not be able to communicate or represent themselves. Critical care nurses ensure that the patient or their loved ones understand the realities of their medical condition and potential outcomes in order to make the most informed choices.

What skills do critical care nurses need?

Critical care nurses need a thorough understanding of medicine, biology, chemistry, anatomy, medical technology, and patient care. Critical care nurses rely on their detailed technical knowledge to respond to crisis situations and unforeseen complications. Critical care nurses need the ability to think quickly and respond appropriately to whatever they encounter.

In addition to their medical and scientific expertise, critical care nurses need to be strong communicators in order to work with a large team of healthcare providers, advocate for patient rights and directives, and educate patients and family members about the medical condition of the patient and the care being provided.

The nature of “critical care” means that many patients critical care nurses treat do not recover from their illness or injury. A critical care nurse needs to learn how to reconcile providing the best possible medical care for a patient who still does not survive. Critical care nurses need the ability to find balance between the challenges of their work, and fulfillment and joy in other areas of their life.

“Critical care nurses are some of the most resilient in the profession of nursing,” says McGowan. “You have to strengthen your mental and emotional resolve.”

Critical care nurses are some of the most highly respected professionals in the field of nursing, and rightfully so! They need a wide set of skills all at a very high level with no room for error or doubt.

What qualities do the best critical care nurses share?

Critical care nurses need to work seamlessly with a team of healthcare providers in high stress environments. Because of this people who go into critical care nursing tend to be naturally collaborative and interested in working closely with other people.

Critical care nurses are highly respected individuals, but most individuals in this profession are motivated by a strong internal desire to help people in their most vulnerable and isolating moments. They share deep compassion and dedication to fighting tirelessly for others.

People who become critical care nurses also share a commitment to lifelong learning. Medical knowledge, technology, and best practices are constantly evolving. Curiosity and focus help critical care nurses in their dynamic professional lives.

How do you become a critical care nurse?

To start, aspiring critical care nurses will first need to become a registered nurse. You can do this by earning either an Associate’s degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and subsequently meeting state requirements for nursing licensure. Many critical care nurses enter the specialty immediately after finishing their education. That said, given the relatively intense nature of their work, you may want to first gain experience or at least a better feel for the work—job shadowing and student nursing clinical opportunities are an excellent starting point.

 

What Is a Medical-Surgical Nurse? Exploring This Broad Nursing Focus Area

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medical-surgical nurse You know that nursing is more than playing dress-up with scrubs and working at a hospital. You want to make a difference, and you know that you’ve got what it takes. But there are so many types of nursing—pediatric, neonatal, ER, ICU, OR—the list goes on. The variety can be a bit overwhelming if you’re just getting familiar with potential nursing career paths.

Thankfully, you’re not alone in that feeling. Thousands of nurses have gone before you and have grappled with this same uncertainty as they started their careers. Everyone has to start somewhere, and as it turns out, one of the most common starting points is as a part of a medical-surgical nursing team.

In this article, we’ll dive into the details of this expansive nursing role so you’ll have a clearer path of this common nursing career starting point.

What do medical-surgical nurses do?

Imagine this. You wake up early, don your trusty blue scrubs and grab your lunch bag complete with a diet cola and turkey sandwich. You’re ready for another extended shift at the hospital where you’ll tend to patients whose ailments can vary substantially. You are a medical-surgical nurse, and you’ve got this.

You are part of a flexible team of nurses assigned to patients who are making a hospital visit for any number of reasons—they can be on the mend from a recent surgery, dealing with shortness of breath, or suffering from severe back pain. Pick a reason you might visit a hospital, and an experienced medical-surgical nurse has seen it.

After trading your coffee mug for a stethoscope, you’re ready for the report from last night’s shift. They update you on the condition of the handful of patients in your ward, and after that, you see them for yourself. Make a game plan. Who needs what pain meds when? Who’s coming in and who’s leaving? Whose charts need to be completed?

From here on out, it’s a game of changing cards. As one of the go-to people in this unit, you need to keep track of which patients are improving and which patients need more attention. From minute to minute, your plan could change. But you’re not alone. You have a team of trained nurses and doctors all coordinating to give your patients the best care.

It can be overwhelming at times and no two days are the same, but as you develop your skills and learn more about your field, you will begin to see how meaningful this job can be. Medical-surgical nurses are the comforter, the caretaker and the conductor of a patient’s well-being. They look to you for reassurance when they need it most.

Why start with medical-surgical nursing?

As a new nurse, you will have studied and received a lot of hands-on training during clinical rotations—but this experience is only scratching the surface of what you may want to focus your nursing career on. Starting out on a medical-surgical nursing unit is an excellent opportunity to get real experience working with patients dealing with a broad cross section of ailments. From heart to lung, from correctional to preventative, there are almost as many types of patients as there are types of surgeries.

Along with learning how to treat a variety of conditions, you will gain skills that are important for all medical positions. As any medical-surgical nurse will tell you, time management and prioritization are crucial. If you have six patients to take care of, and six patient charts to track, and two of your patients are showing signs of discomfort, but one needs to be discharged, what do you do? This role requires quick thinking and the ability to reshuffle priorities as patient needs can change suddenly.

This is the unit where many nurses get their “sea legs” and master how to think like an effective nurse in potentially stressful situations. Even if you know you have your heart set on eventually working in a more specialized nursing unit, the experience gained in a medical-surgical unit will go a long way in showing that you can be an effective member of nursing team.

 

What You Need to Know About Choosing an LPN-to-RN Bridge Program

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LPN Whether you’ve been working as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) for decades or have just started to get established in the role, you know one thing: You’re ready to make a change. As much as you love some of your patients and coworkers, the prospect of taking on new nursing challenges while expanding your overall earning potential has become increasingly appealing

That said, you don’t want to be stuck starting over at square one when it comes to education. After all, many of the fundamental skills you learned in nursing school and apply every day in your current role will still be useful as a registered nurse. An LPN-to-RN bridge program can help solve this concern—and in this article we’ll help lay out the most important information to consider before picking a program.

What is an LPN-to-RN bridge program?

Given the mess of “alphabet soup” that comes with nursing credentials and programs, you’re probably wondering where exactly an LPN-to-RN bridge fits into the big picture. While commonly referred to as a specific program, this nursing school option is really just another path into an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) program—you’re still learning the same things as other RNs.

This streamlined path is reserved for students with an unencumbered practical nursing license. By taking this route, LPNs have the ability to cut down on their overall time to completion by receiving credit for previous nursing training. For example, Rasmussen University LPN-to-RN bridge students can complete their program is as few as 12 to 18 months.1

What should I consider when evaluating an LPN-to-RN bridge program?

Before you fire up and start applying to programs, you’d be wise to conduct a little research first. Give some thought to the following areas.

1. Is the registered nursing program accredited?

While your first thoughts might be more focused on the cost and location of a program, the accreditation status of a nursing program is an important, yet often overlooked, factor. The accreditation of a nursing program depends on it meeting certain standards of educational quality. Accredited programs are continually reviewed to ensure those standards are being upheld.

But accreditation isn’t just a gauge of a program’s overall educational quality—it can also factor into your ability to obtain state licensure. Before you enroll in a program, look into your state’s registered nursing licensure requirements. Many require applicants to complete a program accredited by either the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) in order to sit for the NCLEX-RN licensure exam.

2. Do I have everything needed for admission?

If you think back to your last go-around in nursing school, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that you’ll need to get a few things in order before gaining admission to a program. Requirements will vary by program; for example, you may need to earn a passing score on an entrance exam like the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS). This test is an assessment of your reading, mathematics, science and English proficiency. If you’re concerned, our article “Don’t Fear the TEAS Test: 5 Common Questions Answered” may help.

Additionally, students will likely need to pass a background check, be up to date on their immunizations and obtain transcripts of their previous nursing coursework. Fortunately, many of these requirements should be relatively simple to meet if you’re already working as an LPN.

3. Can I afford this program?

It’s true becoming a registered nurse can improve your earning potential long-term—the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports registered nurses earned a 2020 median annual salary of $75,330 compared to $48,820 for LPNs—but you’ll still want to consider your more immediate financial plans.2

With in-person lab work and clinical rotations playing a major part in most ADN program curriculum, you’ll likely have to scale back your work hours or put employment on hold for the duration of your education—so do your best to plan ahead. Take the time to seek out scholarship opportunities and take the time to ask your current employer about employee tuition reimbursement programs as every little bit will help.

4. What support will be available to me?

If it’s been a while since your last experience in a college classroom, you might be feeling a little apprehensive about getting back into the routine. Academic and technical support systems can help make this transition go as smoothly as possible—so don’t be afraid to ask around and learn more about what’s available.

Rasmussen University, for example, offers a variety of support services to help facilitate student learning, including a dedicated team of library and learning services professionals, academic advisors, career services advisors and student tutors. That’s not to mention a dedicated personal support center for whenever you may need assistance with technical troubles. These professionals can assist you with anything from proper APA formatting for a paper to finding local job opportunities—so don’t overlook them when weighing programs.

5. Will campus locations work for your schedule?

As we mentioned before, you’re likely to be spending a fair amount of time on campus as you complete your nursing coursework—and that means travel time could also be a factor. Make the trip to the campuses you’re considering and make an honest assessment of whether that commute can reasonably be done a regular basis.

While it’s true this is a relatively small factor in the grand scheme of things, a long commute can make your nursing school experience more difficult. It’s easy to overlook this factor when evaluating your options.

6. Who will be teaching me?

As an LPN, this isn’t your first rodeo when it comes to working with patients—and you’ve maybe seen firsthand how “by the book” nursing knowledge can begin to falter in real-world situations. That’s a big part of why it helps to learn from instructors who have plenty of nursing experience. They know how to apply what you’re learning to practical situations and can draw from their experience to give examples of why something should be done.

Your instructors can also be an excellent asset for when the time comes to find a registered nursing job—they have plenty of connections and may be willing to lend you a hand in getting established.

 

Becoming a Nurse: Why an Associate’s Degree in Nursing Is Right for You

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nurse You’ve been called impatient once or twice. You just don’t see the point in losing time over something that could be done faster with a little extra effort. You find inefficiency much more stressful than giving a task extra concentration—and nothing gets your foot tapping like getting held up in line when a simple fix could get everyone out the door faster.

You’ve got your eye on the prize. You know what you want and you’re ready to go! It’s no different when you consider an Associate’s degree in Nursing (ADN). The idea of an accelerated route into nursing sounds like it’s exactly what you need—and ADN programs have seriously been catching your eye.

If you want to hit the ground running as an ADN nurse as soon as possible, this path could be the ideal solution. Keep reading to see some of the benefits that come with an Associate’s degree in Nursing and ask yourself whether it’s the right choice for you!

6 Reasons to consider an Associate’s degree in Nursing

If you’re contemplating taking the ADN route into the nursing field, you came to the right place. Here are some things to consider as you make your decision.

1. You get to your career faster

Not everyone can invest four years of time and money into a nursing program before setting foot on the job. And why wait when you can start sooner? By opting for an Associate’s degree in Nursing, you can graduate in as few as 18-24 months, as opposed to the typical four years for a Bachelor’s degree.1 And if you’re an LPN the Rasmussen College LPN to RN bridge program can help you become an RN in as few as 12-18 months!1

That translates to less time and money spent in school, meaning you’ll be in the workforce making a difference and earning an income sooner.

2. You’re still an RN

When you’re just starting out, it doesn’t matter much whether you earn an ADN or a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN)—graduates of both programs will become RNs upon passing the NCLEX exam. There are definite longer-term career benefits for BSN nurses, but if you aren’t sure you want to work in a hospital, for example, or specialize in a certain kind of care, an ADN might suit you perfectly.

And it’s not a now-or-never decision. Many programs understand that working nurses want to get working before spending a long time in school. Bridge programs like RN to BSN allow RNs with an Associate’s degree to return to school and earn a Bachelor’s, taking their field experience and prior education into account.

Acquiring your ADN now will allow you to start gaining valuable experience in the field and save up for any future education choices. Plus, there’s nothing like working as an RN for a while to help you figure out what you want your career to look like and what aspects of the job you care about most.

3. RNs are in demand

Really, they are! You’ve probably heard about the national nursing shortage—nurses are needed now more than ever with the aging population living longer and growing into their retirement years. In fact, registered nursing jobs are projected to grow 7 percent through 2028, a rate that is faster than the national average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).2

The outlook is especially bright for RNs who seek work in long-term care facilities or can provide in-home patient care services. The BLS notes that increasing pressure on hospitals to cut costs will likely result in heavier use of nursing homes, facilities that provide long-term rehabilitation for stroke and head injury patients, and in facilities that treat people with Alzheimer’s disease.

4. You can earn an above-average income

The BLS reports the median annual salary for RNs was $77,600 in 2021.2 While that figure includes BSN nurses as well as ADNs, the salary options are often more impacted by setting than anything else. The BLS writes that RNs employed by the government and hospitals net the highest salary.

The median annual salary for RNs in nursing homes was $72,420 in 2021, according to the BLS.2 Considering the average for all occupations is listed at $45,760, this is something to be excited about!2 Earning your ADN will allow you to start seeing that return on investment sooner than a four-year program.

5. There is plenty of job flexibility

Every state in the country employs nurses. If you want to work in a specific location—or if you like the thought of moving around as a travel nurse—becoming an RN can open the doors for you.

There are a huge array of workplace settings for RNs as well! If you want regular working hours, many private clinics are only open 9-5. If you want to work with a specific population, like elderly patients, students, children or athletes, you can find facilities that specialize in those groups.

Take your pick. There are tons of different types of nurses and many places to work as an RN. And a nurse’s schedule is not fixed. Sure, you may have to work the occasional night, weekend or holiday, but many nurses also benefit from the option to work longer shifts for a three- or four-day workweek.

6. You can feel good about your career

An Associate degree in Nursing may be the right choice for you if you want to get started in a career that gives you the opportunity to help people and make a difference. Working as an RN isn’t always glamorous, but it is meaningful—directly impacting the lives of patients every day.

 

Do I need an aesthetic nurse certification?

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aesthetic nurses The first step on the road to becoming an aesthetic nurse is to become a registered nurse (RN). To become an RN, you’ll need to earn a degree—either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)—and meet all other requirements for state licensure, including passing the NCLEX-RN®.

Additionally, aesthetic nurses may choose to advance their education and become a nurse practitioner. This requires completion of either a Master of Science in Nursing Nurse Practitioner program (MSN-NP) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program for nurse practitioners. Aspiring aesthetic NPs will typically pursue a broad NP specialty focus like adult-gerontology or family nurse practitioner (FNP) before branching out into aesthetic practice.

No matter the education path, you’ll want to look for opportunities to get your foot in the door with aesthetic professionals and start training on any aesthetic procedures you can. Look for shadowing opportunities and consider joining state and local aesthetic nursing organizations as soon as possible. Speed recommends nursing students and new nurses attend as many aesthetic training seminars as they can and do so often. This will help them meet professionals in the field and learn more about what the job might look like for them.

A big aspect of this role is your personality, bedside manner and ability to consult with patients well, so aspiring aesthetic nurses will benefit from putting this skill set on display whenever possible. Refining your communication skills can certainly help you make a strong impression on employers.

Experience in related roles can be a big help as well. Working as a nurse in plastic surgery clinics, ear nose and throat (ENT) clinics and other ambulatory settings can be an excellent starting point for aspiring aesthetic RNs.

While there are many certifications available for individual treatments, there is one broad aesthetics-focused professional certification you may want to consider pursuing: the Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist credential from the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board. While this isn’t necessarily a requirement, it can help demonstrate your expertise and dedication to the field.

Is aesthetic nursing for you?

Working in aesthetics is a unique way to use your nursing skills and help patients feel like themselves. Whether you’re a skincare buff or fascinated by fillers, there’s potentially a place for you in aesthetics nursing.

 

How can you identify patients with mental health needs?

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mental health Nurses are uniquely situated to identify patients who may have undiagnosed mental health problems.

“Nurses often spend as much or more time with patients as the MDs do, so they have a great opportunity to draw out complaints, symptoms and watch for signs,” says Dr. Lynne D. Johnson, psychologist at Brief Therapy Center.

The best thing a registered nurse can do to help a patient with a mental health concern is to recognize their need in the first place. Patients may shut down or outright deny having problems if they’re directly questioned about issues like anxiety or depression. Instead, Dr. Johnson recommends asking purposeful questions and listening carefully to the patient’s answers to determine if there may be an underlying mental health concern.

Asking the following questions can open the door to a useful conversation about a patient’s mental health:

  • Have you been feeling stressed lately?
  • How are you sleeping?
  • How is your appetite?
  • How are your relationships?

Dr. Johnson recommends RNs listen carefully for signs of stress, fear, worry or hopelessness, which could point to more serious issues. Problems with eating or sleeping can also be symptoms of a larger mental health concern.

Though open conversation is one of the best ways for nurses to identify a patient with mental health needs, standardized checklists are also available for nurses to use. Dr. Johnson notes that checklist resources like the PHQ-9 or the GAD-7 can be a simple way for nurses to identify mental health problems. “Interviews are great, but there is some evidence that people are more open on checklists than face-to-face [questioning].”

How can you help mentally ill patients?

RNs can suggest various behavioral changes that may boost a patient’s mood, such as increasing exercise, eating a healthy diet and keeping a gratitude journal, according to Dr. Johnson. These techniques are simple, but they can make a big difference to patients.

But some cases may require help from a mental health professional. In these situations, every RN should follow their clinic’s policy for making referrals. Some nurses may have the freedom to refer a client to a mental health professional on their own, while others may need a doctor’s approval.

“Nurses are becoming more valuable as physician extenders, and if the clinic permits, patients might appreciate a referral,” Johnson says.

In any case, Dr. Johnson says nurses should add their notes and observations about a patient to their electronic health record so the doctor has all the necessary information and can make an informed decision about what’s best for the patient.

Are you ready to make a difference?

There’s no doubt that the mental health system in the United States is in rough shape. As a future RN, you’re in the perfect position to help those suffering from mental illness and do your part to fix the mental health crisis.

 

How much do aesthetic nurses make?

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aesthetic nurses Now that you know more about what aesthetic nurses do and their skills, you may be curious about the compensation for aesthetic nursing. This role can be a significant departure from many nursing specialties because the compensation for it may often be influenced by bonuses or incentives based on certain factors, such as the number of procedures performed or the overall profitability of the clinic or medical spa they’re working for. That means some aesthetic nursing roles can be a mix of high-end sales consulting and skilled nursing.

While not all employers will follow that approach, it does inject some additional variance in earning potential. That said, even with these relatively unique compensation options, most will still earn hourly pay or a base salary. While the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not collect and report salary information for individual nursing specialties, it does provide information for registered nurses in general, which can be helpful. According to the BLS, registered nurses earned a median annual salary of $77,600 in 2021.1

Like with other nursing roles, factors like education level, experience, location and specialized training can also influence overall compensation.

What you should know about aesthetic nursing

1. You’ll help people feel better—but in a different way

Nursing is a helping profession, but it manifests differently when working in aesthetics. For some nurses, working in aesthetics can feel like a relief compared to a hospital setting, where patients are often worried, frustrated and itching to get out. They’re usually in pain or processing a new diagnosis, which can mean helping patients work through nerves or anger.

On the other hand, patients are typically much more enthusiastic for aesthetic procedure appointments. While they may be a little anxious, they’re excited about the changes they’re seeing, which means they’re excited to see you.

Maintaining a positive self-image is a challenging subject for almost everyone, so helping patients feel better about themselves can be an incredibly rewarding experience.

“I love that I get to enhance a client’s natural beauty, increase their self-confidence and make someone feel better about themselves,” says Melanie Speed, nurse practitioner and owner of Flawless Aesthetics Med Spa.

She recalls a mother who brought her son in who was being bullied at school for a large bump on his nose. Speed was able to perform a nonsurgical nose treatment on him. When she handed him the mirror, he burst into tears and hugged Speed. He told her she changed his life by fixing his biggest insecurity.

“Sometimes, when I’m having a difficult day, I think about that experience, and it reminds me why I do what I do,” says Speed.

While patients’ reactions can be rewarding, so can the work itself. Aesthetic nurses use their creativity to balance beauty and medicine. “I found that aesthetics allowed me to use that love for art and symmetry along with my medical skills,” says Speed.

2. Elective procedures are still consequential

While working in aesthetics doesn’t carry the life-and-death weight that nurses in other specialties carry on a daily basis, there can be huge repercussions for any mistakes made during an aesthetic procedure.

While aesthetic nurses can boost patients’ self-confidence, they can also disappoint patients with unintended effects of injections like a dropped eyebrow or eyelid if a neuromodulator is over-injected or migrates. Vessel occlusions are another unfortunate possibility that occur when an artery is accidentally injected with a filler or neuromodulator. It can also occur when vessels or arteries are compressed after injection.

A patient’s appearance is nothing to take lightly, and hugely consequential mistakes can happen during aesthetic procedures. That’s precisely why skilled healthcare professionals with specialized training are trusted to take on this work.

3. Social media will be essential to your job

Since aesthetic procedures are elective and generally paid for out-of-pocket, aesthetic treatment providers are also often working in a form of consultative sales—and that requires drumming up interest. For many aesthetic nurses, maintaining a strong social media presence is a critical (and time-consuming) tactic.

“People want to see your work before they can trust you with their faces,” says Speed.

Aesthetic nursing has found a home on social media. Image-driven channels are wonderful places for aesthetic nurses to share patients’ results and answer questions about treatments and products.

But social media can be a double-edged sword as well. Speed has watched how increased social media filters and image editing within the past few years have heightened some patients’ unrealistic expectations. Some want to look just like a certain celebrity when that’s just not possible. While managing those expectations can be a challenge, Speed says she does her best to highlight her patient’s unique features. “As an aesthetic nurse, my job is to enhance my client’s individual beauty,” says Speed.

Additionally, some patients’ perceptions of themselves go behind only social media’s influence. Patients may be suffering from body dysmorphic disorder. Aesthetic nurses may have to have difficult conversations with these patients and deny a procedure if they believe it will cause more harm than good.

4. You’ll always be learning—and teaching

There are certifications for nearly every procedure an aesthetic nurse does. Taking courses to stay on top of new treatments and studies is key to being an effective aesthetic nurse. Being certified in certain procedures can help boost your credibility as well.

In addition to learning, you’ll always be teaching. Patients can come into their appointments with misinformation from the internet or social media. It’s your job to help them get the best results possible. This could mean teaching them about a different treatment than the one they originally asked for to give them the results they really want.

5. It can be a very tough field to get established in

Unlike many nursing roles, there’s not exactly a shortage of qualified candidates looking to get started in aesthetic nursing positions, and some regions of the country have far more opportunities than others. This is a role that’s likely to have a lot of competition and may be a challenge to break into. Additionally, clinics and medical spas can be very picky when it comes to hiring—including having high expectations for their staff’s physical appearance.

Given the potential barriers to entry, it may be best to evaluate your career path—particularly if other types of nursing roles are not of interest to you. Ask yourself: If an aesthetic nursing role never materializes, will you be okay with working in a plastic surgery clinic, hospital or other more traditional bedside settings? If not, this may not be the ideal path to a career in aesthetics.

6. Regulations for aesthetic nurses vary

Healthcare is no stranger to complex and critical regulations that, if not adhered to, can put nursing or medical licenses at risk. The rules governing medical spas, how services are marketed and the training or education needed to provide specific treatments can vary from state to state. Given the investment needed to earn licensure, it’s important for anyone working in aesthetics to have a clear understanding of what is or isn’t acceptable in the state they choose to practice.

While this is true for all licensed healthcare professionals, aesthetics and medical spas can sometimes fall into tricky-to-navigate legal scenarios, so it’s advisable to proceed with caution.

7. There are opportunities for growth

One of the best things about nursing is the opportunity for growth in any specialty. Like with other specialties, an RN can become a nurse practitioner (NP) and work with a broader scope of practice.

In states that authorize full-practice authority for nurse practitioners, aesthetic NPs may have the opportunity to open their own aesthetics practice. While this is certainly a huge undertaking, as there’s a lot of the “business” side of healthcare to navigate, this option allows NPs to employ their own teams and build their own practice.

Speed says she has advanced her career by becoming an educator for other aesthetic professionals, including opening her own training program. She also plans to open additional medical spa locations in the future.

Even setting aside entrepreneurial ambitions, an aesthetic professional can continue to advance by mastering new aesthetic procedures and staying on the cutting edge of new developments in aesthetic medicine.

 

How to Become an Aesthetic Nurse: A New Look at This Nursing Niche

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Aesthetic nurses Aesthetic nurses go by many names. You may see them referred to as cosmetic nurses or even nurse injectors. While there may be small differences in the names, the core of what they do in their daily work remains the same—helping patients look and feel their best via cosmetic procedures.

While this niche line of nursing work is certainly a departure from the life-and-death stakes of working in a critical care nursing role, it still depends on skilled and safety-conscious nursing professionals. At face value, it’s an alluring field for some, but there’s a lot to know about aesthetic nursing before you dive in, as it is a fairly significant departure from what you’ll find with most nursing roles.

We’re here to provide expert insight into the role of an aesthetic nurse and what it takes to become one.

What does an aesthetic nurse do?

Aesthetic nurses consult with patients and perform examinations regarding elective procedures. During these consultations, they help patients determine what body changes they would like and suggest options for procedures that can help them reach these goals. There are many procedures aesthetic nurses perform. Some of the most common aesthetic elective procedures include:

  • Injectables: Injectables can have a wide range of effects. Neuromodulators (like Botox®) treat fine lines and wrinkles by relaxing the underlying muscle. Dermal fillers, like Juvéderm® and Restylane®, can reduce wrinkles by adding volume to areas like the lips or sagging areas like the hollow of the cheeks or under the eyes.
  • Laser and light treatments: Lasers can treat small imperfections like wrinkles, scars and warts. Others use heat to promote collagen production. Lasers are also used for tattoo removal, unwanted hair, spider veins or redness.
  • Non-invasive body contouring: There are several ways to remove excess fat from the body. Low-level laser therapy uses cold laser therapy to target and break down adipose cells. Clinicians can also use ultrasound therapy to direct sound waves toward adipose cells and disrupt them or use radiofrequency therapy to destroy adipose cells through heat. Recontouring can also be done through dermal fillers in some areas.
  • Skin treatments: These are used to improve the overall appearance and health of the skin. Treatments include chemical peels, dermaplaning, microdermabrasion and microneedling.

Not all aesthetic nurses perform all of these treatments. It depends on the clinic and their capabilities. Aesthetic nurses can work in private practices, hospitals, dermatology offices and medical spas.

Many nurses new to aesthetics start with skin treatments, body contouring and laser/light procedures before getting trained in administering injectables, which takes an advanced knowledge of anatomy and the nuances of working with different injectables.

In addition to performing these procedures, aesthetic nurses also do a lot of education to help patients manage their expectations and care for themselves pre- and post-treatment.

Plastic surgery vs. aesthetic nurse

When examining the work of an aesthetic nurse, it’s important to make a distinction between these nurses and the nurses who work in elective plastic surgery centers. Both roles ultimately strive to help their patients feel at ease in their own skin, but there are significant differences. The easiest way to see this distinction is in the services the different specialties provide.

Aesthetic clinics focus on non-surgical solutions and other in-office treatments to enhance the patient’s appearance.

Plastic surgery nurses specialize in caring for patients who undergo cosmetic surgical procedures like liposuctions, breast augmentation/reductions, face and neck lifts, hair transplants or gender reassignment procedures. This means that a lot of their work is centered around procedures, which include pre- and post-op care. They may also function as the circulating nurse in the operating room.