Job satisfaction and professional autonomy top the list of why nurses and doctors pursue a career in medical aesthetics. It requires discipline and hard work, but the joys of the job and the professional benefits that come with it can be wonderful.
A desire to work hard, be creative and make people feel better is what makes medical aesthetics an excellent career choice. With more than 30 years of experience under my belt, I obviously love this medical profession. Many who pursue a career in aesthetics are fascinated with combining art and science together. There’s certainly an appreciation of the science behind the service that appeals to creative medical professionals.
Here are the benefits that attract nurses and physicians to careers in medical aesthetics:
Job Satisfaction
You’re making people look good and feel even better. That’s incredibly satisfying. The difference between medical aesthetics and the emotional stress of working in a hospital, for example, is obvious. Most patients are healthy. They are not sick or dying. They come to us to improve their appearance and increase their self-esteem. And we can do that with pleasure. Most patients are very appreciative of what’s being done for them. It’s very rewarding to see people smile about the work you’ve done. Relationships you make with patients can last for years.
Work-Life Balance
Set your own time, be your own boss. The professional autonomy that can come with your own practice has tremendous appeal. We encourage people to train hard and work hard, and build independence. Do what you want to do. Want to do just Botox? Fine. Want to learn more skills and bring on more services? Great. You’re more in control of your practice and your life if you’re doing it yourself. Yes, there’s more to it than just needle to skin. You’re marketing your brand, building clientele, being competitive. But when committed to the satisfaction of going your own way, success is in your hands.
Blend of Art and Science
People who have a creative eye will be attracted to and do well in medical aesthetics. Creativity can be manifested in a love of beauty or art or design. This fits with skills they already have as nurses, and the interests they hold outside of work. Medical aesthetics also appeals to scientific minds. Most nurses and physicians embrace the learning process, eager to take on new skills, to become more rounded as medical professionals. As in a hospital, there’s a lot of critical thinking in medical aesthetics. Assessment, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation, scope of practice, outcomes: those same skills honed in a hospital make people better providers of aesthetics services.
Growing Business
Get your nails done, your hair done, your Botox done. The old stigma of getting ‘work done’ has disappeared. People are wanting to stall the aging process, or are taking preventative measures through aesthetics treatments. It’s still a growing field. There’s still more room for growth, both in the market and within a practice. Technology like lasers that focus on skin quality will create increasing demand for treatments. There are various ways to expand services, with new technologies in skin care as well as clinical wellness services that augment aesthetics and appeal to increasingly knowledgeable clients.
Personal Relations
A people person who thrives on personal contact with patients will find aesthetics a perfect place to work. Anyone who has good listening skills, is patient and understanding, will do well in an aesthetics environment. There’s a real connection with patients, a therapeutic relationship that can last for years as trust and comfort keeps satisfied patients coming back. The ‘people person’ will enjoy really getting to know their patients. They’re not just Botox recipients. They have families, are members of the community.
“I am a registered nurse with seven years’ experience, mostly in the emergency room. I love taking care of people but I also love health, beauty, and wellness. I wanted to make a change and follow a path that is aligned with my other passions in life. The THMA Foundation Course was a perfect starting point, and my training was nothing short of exceptional!” – Alannah Webster RN, Saskatoon
I encourage nurses to be entrepreneurial, and to take control of their careers. Even working for a colleague or doctor is great. Medical aesthetics is not the walk in a park. It’s a medical profession, requiring great clinical skills, safety discipline, and even business acumen. Overall, though, medical aesthetics is a fantastic career choice for doctors and nurses.
Do what you want to do. Get to know people. Make people feel better. Be creative. Put your medical skills and people skills together. Enjoy!
Also Read: Eight Great Ways to Reach for the Top in THMA Training