Choosing a Career in Plastic Surgery
Being a nurse is a fulfilling, rewarding career that gives you the opportunity to make an impact on the lives of patients. Cosmetic nurses get the chance to help patients feel better about their appearance and live their best, most beautiful lives. If you are interested in becoming a cosmetic nurse, you’ll want to be prepared to take on the following responsibilities:
- Assessing aging and other cosmetic-related issues
- Administering Botox injections, chemical peels, dermal fillers, and other non-invasive cosmetic procedures
- Performing pre-care and post-operative care
- Consulting with patients and communicating their needs to the doctor
- Conducting research and staying updated on the latest procedures and development in the field
While most of the patients who cosmetic nurses work with are women, an increasing number of men are seeking plastic surgery as well, and they will need to be prepared to meet the needs of a diverse range of patients. Year after year, the need for plastic surgery professionals continues to grow. The cosmetic surgery field is anticipated to grow at 5.9% in the coming years. In order to enter into this lucrative and growing field, you will need to take the following steps:
- Earn your Registered Nurse Degree.
This is the first step you will need to take in order to become a cosmetic nurse. You can earn your nursing degree with a two-year Associate’s degree in nursing (ASN) or a four-year Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSN) degree. Fortunately, with the growing availability of online courses, you can work to earn a nursing degree while you work on an ongoing career. You have many options for earning your Registered Nurse degree, and the first step is to find the one that works for your lifestyle.
- Pass the NCLEX-RN.
Nursing school graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN in order to earn licensure as a Registered Nurse. THE NCLEX-RN exam covers four categories of questions:
- Safe and effective care environment
- Health promotion and maintenance
- Psychosocial integrity
- Physiological integrity
- Gain experience in the field.
Once you have passed the necessary tests, you’ll want to gain vital experience in core competencies working with board-certified physicians in the plastic surgery and cosmetic fields. You will need to have experience on the job in order to move on to receive your certification.
- Earn your Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist credential.
The American Society of Plastic Surgical Nurses (ASPSN) administers a Certified Plastic Surgical Nurse (CPSN) exam through the Plastic Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB). In order to take this exam, you must first be an RN and have at least two years of experience in a plastic surgery department. This exam covers topics such as plastic surgery in the head and neck as well as questions about extremities, breasts, abdominal and genitalia areas. The PSNCB usually offers this exam in the Spring and Fall of every year, so you will need to plan your schedule and study accordingly. The good news is that you will not need to take special training courses in order to earn your PSNCB certificate.
If you would like to learn more about the plastic surgery field, call West Coast Plastic Surgery at (805) 978-8545 or contact us online.