With the demanding role that nurses play, it’s no wonder that two-thirds of nurses report feeling burnt out. In a recent survey, 15% of nurse respondents expressed “career choice regret,” with burnout being a top factor.
If this sounds like you, or you’re newly exploring cosmetic nurse jobs, you are not alone. Search volume for “aesthetic nursing jobs” or “aesthetic nursing jobs near me” jumped by 134% over the last year!
So, if you’re looking for a career change-up or more information on whether aesthetic nursing could be for you, welcome! You’ve come to the right place.
Ride along as we explore some of the benefits of med spa jobs for nurses.
What is a Cosmetic Nurse Job? (AKA Aesthetic Nursing Job).
As a nurse, your skillset is invaluable. Now, more than ever, you have a plethora of choices and can step into areas of specialization. One of the fastest growing arenas for nurses and other medical professionals are cosmetic nurse jobs or nurse injector jobs.
What does a cosmetic nurse do? Sometimes called “aesthetic nurses,” cosmetic nurses are registered nurses (RNs) who provide care and services for patients undergoing dermatological or cosmetic procedures.
There are different types of aesthetic nurses, with various specializations, that depend on the treatments they provide.
Cosmetic nurse job treatments include:
- Cosmetic injections (e.g. Botox)
- CoolSculpting
- Chemical peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Laser facial treatments
- Laser hair removal
- Non-surgical body treatments (e.g. radiofrequency)
While aesthetic nurses are often called “botox nurses” or “injectables nurses,” nurse injector jobs are a subfield of aesthetic nursing offering cosmetic injections like Botox, dermal fillers, and Kybella.
Read about the Top 10 Most Popular Aesthetic Medicine Procedures.
Where to Look for “Aesthetic Nursing Jobs Near Me”?
Getting your foot in the door and landing your first cosmetic nurse job can be challenging.
Even with the Aesthetic Medicine market expected to grow at a rate of 11.8% per year, aesthetic nurses sometimes struggle to secure their first jobs. This is because internships, minimum hours, or proven experience are often required. With more nurses taking injector training courses and looking to make the transition, established med spas and cosmetic clinics can have their ‘pick of the litter.’
When looking for a job, a good starting point is to google “aesthetic jobs near me” and search through local med spas. You can also visit online job boards like Indeed, Monster, or ZipRecruiter and filter by location. But moreover, you may want to think about how to separate yourself from the pack.
Here are a few ways to stand out from the pack when seeking your first cosmetic nurse job:
- Find a mentor in the field to ask questions, train under, and seek advice from.
- Join online community groups and connect with peers and mentors! These groups are rich in advice on how to stand out from the crowd and land your first job. You can even search “find a job” within these Facebook groups and find a treasure trove of knowledge. Here are a few solid groups to join:
Cosmetic Nurse Injectors Group (Facebook)
Aesthetic Nurses Networking Group of North America (Facebook)
Aesthetic Medicine and Wellness for RNs, NPs, PAs (Facebook)
Medical Aesthetics and Laser Facial and Body Rejuvenation (LinkedIn) - Shadow a local aesthetics practitioner whom you admire and to learn more from.
- Invest in yourself through private one-on-one training and vetted courses. The more you know, the more confidence you’ll have in applying for jobs or building your own med spa business.
- Start your own business! Don’t wait for would-be employers to make your dream a reality. We see plenty of RNs, NPs, and PAs creating their own cosmetic nurse jobs in med spas, clinics, salons, etc., across the country! Learn how Moxie helps to make this important life transition seamless.
Can an RN Open a Med Spa? How to Become a Cosmetic Nurse:
If you’re a practicing RN, you can leverage your experience and specialize in aesthetic nursing or nurse injector jobs in qualifying states. Since the aesthetic medicine industry is a rapidly changing field with new processes and technologies emerging, additional training and cosmetic nurse job shadowing is often required.
The rules for opening a med spa differ widely across states. Located in California? Check out this roundup of aesthetic injector training courses to get your foot in the door!
As an RN, some states require you to work with a licensed physician to open a med spa. In many states, non-physicians can set up a Management Services Organization (MSO) and team up with a Medical Director to create a med spa. If you’re a Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, or Physician, opening a med spa in your state has even fewer loopholes.
Pros of Creating Your Own Cosmetic Nursing Job
Instead of continuously searching for “aesthetic nursing jobs near me,” why not take matters into your own hands? While gaining experience working as an aesthetic or injector nurse at someone else’s med spa could be a good way to build your skills and build your book of business, being your own boss has a lot of benefits.
Here are some pros for creating your own cosmetic nursing job by opening up a med spa:
Design your own schedule
A 12-hour shift work schedule is the standard for many hospital nurses. One major perk of being an aesthetic nurse is choosing your own hours.
No night shifts or blackout curtains required!
Did you know? Most cosmetic med spa treatments take 30 minutes or less! This allows you greater flexibility to build your own schedule.
Less burnout and stress
According to a recent study, nurse career satisfaction, which played around at 80 to 85% for a decade, dropped to 71% in 2023. Nurses reported that one of the biggest issues is the large number of patients they need to care for during their shifts.
Aesthetic nursing often leads to lower stress levels and pressure than traditional nursing roles due to the significantly lighter patient load and work demands while still providing nurses with a fulfilling patient care experience.
The balanced blend of meaningful interactions, creativity, and flexible scheduling can significantly reduce the risk of burnout.
The American Association of Aesthetic Medicine and Surgery even dubbed aesthetic medicine as an “alternative and antidote to the pressures of direct care nursing.”
Be your own boss
Shifting careers means you can start your own medical aesthetic business and take control of your career.
As a med spa owner or partner, you won’t have to deal with office politics or stress about getting promotions or pay raises. You can choose when to work, what services to provide, and directly manage your financial future.
Uncapped potential
Choosing a career as an aesthetic nurse allows you to build something from the ground up. Shifting towards cosmetic nurse jobs, or building your own med spa, also marks getting in early to a growing industry. While a cosmetic nurse job won’t come without its own unique challenges, you won’t be locked into incremental, unionized pay raises. The sky's the limit!
In addition, a diversified skillset also provides you with great job security in case of economic downturns.
Work at a location of your choice
Aesthetic nursing allows you to work in a location that fits your lifestyle or is close to home. With med spas popping up all over, there’s no need to commute far or live in an expensive city.
Common workplaces for aesthetic nurses are med spas, clinics, private offices, and outpatient surgery clinics that keep regular hours.
Plus, if you choose to open your own med spa as a nurse, you can literally hand-pick where you work from.
How Much Do Aesthetic Nursing Jobs Near Me Pay?
Did you know that aesthetic nurses earn an additional $7 per hour compared to those in traditional nursing roles?
The average annual salary of aesthetic nurses in 2022 was between $89,970 and $105,018. Factors like geographic location, experience, education, ownership, and skillset will affect how much an aesthetic nurse can potentially earn.
The top 10 highest-paid cities for aesthetic nurse jobs are:
- Sunnyvale, CA ($112,227)
- Livermore, CA ($109,343)
- Santa Rosa, CA ($108,696)
- Dimondale, MI ($108,151)
- Cambridge, MA ($105,151)
- Lake Marcel-Stillwater, WA ($103,907)
- Vacaville, CA ($103,361)
- New York City, NY ($103,004)
- Lynn, MA ($102,674)
- Bellerose, NY ($101,982)
Below is the average salary for aesthetic nurses by state:
Cosmetic Nurse Jobs Summary; TLDR
Without a doubt, leaving conventional nursing behind for cosmetic nursing can feel scary! It’s a big shift, but it’s a trend that we expect to see continue for good reason. With nurse burnout, added stress factors, and numerous benefits like uncapped potential and a flexible schedule, med spa RN jobs could be for you!
Don’t just take our word for it! Read an RN’s story about her shift from nurse to med spa nurse and spa owner here.
Beyond looking for an aesthetic nursing job, we hope that you’ll explore opening your own med spa as a bossy level-up option!
Learn How Moxie is Helping Nurses Create Their Own Aesthetic Nursing Jobs!
