Nursing is one of the most valuable professions you can pursue, and the entire healthcare field is currently experiencing a global shortage. If you are considering a career in nursing, you should know that there are dozens of specialties you can choose from. With a commitment to the required education, training, and experience, you can work as a nurse in any medical field that interests you.
Cosmetic nursing is a desirable field among prospective trainees. While there are serious cases, most of the patients that cosmetic nurses work with are not experiencing a life-or-death emergency. This is a benefit for people who want to practice medicine in an environment that is calmer than a hospital often is. To become a cosmetic nurse in Australia, you’ll first need to obtain a bachelor of nursing. Upon graduating, you’ll join the AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) as a registered nurse. Then, you will search for job opportunities in order to obtain nursing experience. Finally, you’ll pursue a graduate diploma of cosmetic nursing and injectables. This postgraduate qualification will allow you to work in cosmetic medicine.
We’ve crafted a guide for you that will explain each step on your path to becoming a cosmetic nurse. In this article, you’ll find information about how to get the education and experience you need. We’ll also take a closer look at exactly what type of work cosmetic nurses do, and you’ll get a glimpse into the types of job opportunities you’ll find in the field. Becoming a cosmetic nurse will require years of full-time study followed by years of experience, but most nurses in the field agree that their hard work has paid off.
Step by Step Guide to Becoming a Cosmetic Nurse
Once you’ve decided to become a cosmetic nurse, there are several important steps to reaching your career goals. From your initial education requirements to professional development courses, prepare to buckle down in your studies!
Step 1: Complete a Bachelor of Nursing Degree Accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
To get started, you need a nursing degree. Australian nurses are each required to obtain a bachelor degree accredited by the NMBA (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia). While obtaining this degree, you’ll take cosmetic nursing courses, learn about patient care, and discover dozens of cosmetic procedures that are performed by nurses in the field. This degree is a big commitment, but can lead to a lucrative and fulfilling career.
Step 2: Register as a Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
AHPRA registration is a critical step in your career path because it is the licensure that grants you permission to practice nursing in Australia. The AHPRA registration process can be done online, making it convenient and easy for new graduates. When it’s time to apply, be prepared for a wait of up to eight weeks while your application is processed. There is a fee for applying, and you can find the details on AHPRA’s website.
Step 3: Accumulate Nursing Experience
Now that you’re a licensed and enrolled nurse, you can begin working in the medical field! This is the time when you will get crucial hands-on experience as a nurse. Since you know that you want to go into cosmetic nursing, you can look into job opportunities with cosmetic clinics or working with dermatologists. Luckily, the average nurse salary in Australia is very competitive compared with the rest of the world.Step 4: Complete a Graduate Diploma of Cosmetic Nursing
With your bachelor degree, AHPRA registration, and some nursing experience under your belt, you’re finally ready to pursue your graduate diploma. A graduate diploma of cosmetic nursing will provide all of the education you need to start your cosmetic medical career. This is where you will learn about cosmetic injectables, surgical procedures, and therapies that you will perform as a cosmetic nurse.
What Does a Cosmetic Nurse Do?
As a cosmetic nurse, you could be responsible for dozens of procedures and therapies. You will also be expected to focus on patient care. Some of the most common duties of cosmetic nurses include:
- Dermal fillers
- Dermal therapies
- Chemical peels
- Botox injections and other injectable procedures
- Micro-needling
- Tattoo removal
- Post-operative care for patients who received cosmetic surgery
- Assisting with laser treatments
- Hair removal
- Microdermabrasion
Nurses will generally only perform non-surgical procedures. Nurse practitioners have even more responsibilities, and some may even assist with plastic surgery or other major procedures like body contouring.
Cosmetic Nursing Career Opportunities
Throughout the country, there are countless career opportunities in the cosmetic nursing field. Whether you want to work part-time in medical spas as an aesthetic nurse or full-time in dermatology as a cosmetic injector, you will find a job that meets your needs. Plastic surgeons also employ cosmetic nurses to assist them with procedures and patient care.
As you explore your new nursing career, you’ll want to make sure you’re well stocked on nurse essentials that will help you succeed at work. Then, you can check out these tips to choose nursing scrubs so you can make sure to look and feel your best.