What Is an Aesthetic RN and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

As an aesthetic RN, you may perform surgical and non-surgical duties related to medical aesthetic or elective procedures. Your responsibilities may include helping patients prepare for, undergo, and recover from cosmetic operations like facial reconstruction or non-surgical treatments such as BOTOX injections. If you work in a surgical setting, you assist in perioperative and postoperative settings. If you work in an outpatient facility, such as a dermatology office, you may provide patient consultations and perform procedures, such as laser treatments. Typically, as a nurse esthetician, you work in a relaxed setting, such as a medical spa or plastic surgeon’s office.

To become an aesthetic RN, you need to meet several qualifications, including postsecondary education, certification, and specialized knowledge and skills related to cosmetic medical practices. Nurses must complete an associate degree or a bachelor’s degree in nursing and pass the NCLEX exam. In addition, you need to complete specialized programs or courses in plastic surgery, non-invasive treatment, and other procedures that are common in aesthetic medicine. This career requires strong interpersonal and observational skills, attention to detail, and excellent hand-to-eye coordination.