What Is a Plastic Surgery RN and How to Become One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

Plastic surgery registered nurses (RNs) work with plastic surgeons to perform damage repair or cosmetic procedures on their patients. As a plastic surgery RN, you prepare patients for surgery; you collect relevant information, take vital signs, explain what happens during the procedure, and describe how to care for themselves at home after the surgery. You also assist during the operation and monitor the patient’s condition after surgery. In some offices, you administer injections and skin treatments, such as Botox and chemical peels. Plastic surgery cases may involve patients who need reconstruction following an illness or injury, such as breast cancer patients who had a mastectomy or burn victims who need skin grafts. Other patients seek cosmetic surgery to enhance a feature for aesthetic reasons, such as liposuction or facial contouring.

Plastic surgery RNs need to follow the same educational path as other registered nurses. You must earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ASN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and pass the NCLEX-RN exam administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). Once you have completed those qualifications, you need to obtain a state license to practice, which usually entails submitting an application with your transcript and passing another test. State requirements vary, so make sure to check the criteria where you live. Seek positions at physician's offices, hospitals, or clinics that provide experience in the specialty, such as jobs with plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and outpatient surgery clinics. If your responsibilities include cosmetic injections, you may need additional training. You can obtain certification from the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB) after working in the field for several years.