6 Steps to Becoming a Plastic Surgery Nurse

Plastic surgery nursing is a nursing specialty that focuses on improving a patient's aesthetic appearance through reconstructive or cosmetic surgery. As a plastic surgery nurse, you can help patients by answering their questions, preparing them for surgery and providing post-operative care. To be successful in this career, it's important to understand what kind of education and work experience you need to become a plastic surgery nurse. In this article, we discuss what a plastic surgery nurse is, explore the steps you can take to become one and list some skills that can help you advance in your career.

What is a Plastic Surgery Nurse?

A plastic surgery nurse is a medical professional who cares for patients who have cosmetic or reconstructive procedures done. These procedures can include face-lifts, liposuction, chemical peels and laser treatments. Also known as, aesthetic nurses, plastic surgery nurses can work in a wide range of environments, including plastic surgeons' offices, dermatologists' offices and health spas.

What does a Plastic Surgery Nurse do?

Plastic surgery nurses may have a wide range of responsibilities based on their specialization and work environment. Some of the job duties of a plastic surgery nurse include:

•Preparing treatment rooms and sterilizing medical equipment

•Assisting surgeons with cosmetic surgeries and procedures

•Conducting physical examinations, performing X-rays and taking ultrasounds

•Administering non-invasive cosmetic procedures such as anti-wrinkle injections, chemical peels and dermal fillers

•Preparing patients for operation and anesthesia

•Monitoring patients during procedures to ensure their safety

•Researching new procedures to stay up to date on the most recent medical advancements

•Assessing skin-related health problems or concerns

•Changing dressings and administering medications

•Scheduling appointments

•Checking patients into the facility

•Providing post-operative care

Salary and job outlook for Plastic Surgery Nurses

Though there is no available salary for registered nurses who work in plastic surgery, specifically, the national average for all registered nurses is $78,485 per year. Registered nurses can also expect to earn an additional $11,250 per year in overtime. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates the employment of registered nurses to increase by 7% between 2019 and 2029. Registered nurses may also be eligible for benefits depending on where they work. Some of the most common benefits registered nurses receive are:

•Health insurance

•Life insurance

•Vision insurance

•Dental insurance

•403(b)

•401(k) matching

•Tuition reimbursement

•License reimbursement

•Loan forgiveness

•Employee referral program

•Dependent care reimbursement

How to become a Plastic Surgery Nurse

Plastic surgery nurses follow a similar career path to registered nurses, but they require specialized work experience and additional certifications. Here are some steps you can follow to become a plastic surgery nurse:

1. Obtain an undergraduate degree

Most plastic surgery nurses begin their careers by completing a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Before you enroll in an undergraduate program, check with your state's nursing board to ensure the college or university offers an accredited nursing program. This can help you meet the educational requirements to become a registered nurse (RN) or a nurse practitioner (NP), which is an important step to becoming a plastic surgery nurse. It typically takes between four and five years to complete a bachelor's degree in nursing. Some of the courses you may enroll in through your undergraduate program include:

•Anatomy

•General patient care

•Health care policy

•Physiology

•Clinical study

•Biology

•Psychology

•Nursing research

•General surgery

2. Apply for your nursing license

The next step is to apply for your nursing license. Each state has different nursing requirements, so determine which state you plan to work in before submitting your application. You may need to send your college transcripts and a background check to your specified state nursing board along with your completed application. If you plan to work in multiple states, you also need to complete an application for a Nurse Licensure Compact. Research the requirements for your state's nursing board to learn more about the application requirements.

3. Pass the NCLEX-RN exam

The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) is a standardized test that every state regulatory board uses to determine whether a candidate is ready to become a licensed nurse. This exam contains a variety of questions, including multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank and matching questions designed to test your knowledge of specific procedures and safety protocol. Several test-prep organizations offer programs to help candidates prepare to take the NCLEX-RN.

You can use a search engine to research these organizations and find a test-prep plan that works well for you. After you take the NCLEX-RN exam, it may take up to six weeks to receive your results. Once you receive confirmation that you passed the exam from your state's nursing board, you can start applying for jobs as a registered nurse.

4. Gain experience as a registered nurse

Before you can become a plastic surgery nurse, you need to gain experience as a registered nurse. Most plastic surgery nurses work as registered nurses for two to three years to help them build a strong foundation of skills that help them advance in their careers. You may also need to complete one year of experience working in cosmetics nursing before you can apply for certification to specialize as a plastic surgery nurse. Some ways you can gain experience as a registered nurse in cosmetics include:

•Assisting a plastic surgery nurse at a medical spa center

•Assisting a plastic surgery nurse at an outpatient surgery center

•Working under a board-certified physician who specializes in cosmetic surgery

5. Pursue your aesthetic nurse specialist certification

While completing an aesthetic nurse specialist certification may not be required, many employers prefer hiring candidates who have this specialization because it demonstrates the ability to perform cosmetic procedures. To receive your aesthetic nurse specialist certification, apply to take the Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) exam through the Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB). Passing this exam certifies that you have the experience and knowledge to work with patients undergoing cosmetic surgery and aesthetic procedures. The PSNCB requires plastic surgery nurses to retake this exam every three years to keep their Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist credential.

6. Apply for jobs

After you pass this exam, you can apply for jobs as a plastic surgery nurse. Create a well-written resume that clearly highlights your skills and qualifications to impress potential employers. Make sure you list all formal education you've completed in addition to your relevant work experience, certifications and state licenses.

Once you have honed your resume, use a search engine to find career opportunities as a plastic surgery nurse. You can edit your search settings to find jobs that match your preferred location, skill set and qualifications. You can also connect with any professional contacts you made during your undergraduate program or previous job roles as a registered nurse to ask if they know of any clinics that are currently hiring plastic surgery nurses. If one of your professional contacts refers you to an employer, it can set you apart from other applicants.

Essential skills for a plastic surgery nurse

Here are some important skills that can help you advance in your career as a plastic surgery nurse:

•Communication skills: Ensuring the patient feels comfortable and at ease is an important task. Good plastic surgery nurses actively listen to their patients and pay attention to nonverbal cues to help them identify and address patient concerns. Having excellent communication skills as a plastic surgery nurse can also help you communicate the details of a procedure in language that is easy for the patient to understand.

•Dexterity: Plastic surgery nurses may need to administer non-invasive treatments and work on small areas of the body. Dexterity is an important skill that can help you work safely and provide your patients with the best aesthetic results.

•Compassion: Part of a plastic surgery nurse's job is to make sure their patients feel comfortable. Showing your patients compassion and empathy can help you ease their nerves and provide a more positive experience. It can also help you build trust and rapport with your patients.

•Attention to detail: During the procedure, plastic surgery nurses may be responsible for monitoring vital signs, administering anesthesia and taking notes to document the procedure. As a plastic surgery nurse, paying attention to detail can help you ensure your patient is safe, alert the surgeon to any potential complications and document the patient's vitals properly.

•Organization: Plastic surgery nurses are responsible for preparing treatment rooms, sterilizing equipment and laying out instruments for the surgeon to use. Being well-organized can make it easier for the surgeon to find the tools they need and ensure the procedure runs smoothly.

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