Aesthetic practice
Advice for nursing staff involved in aesthetic or cosmetic procedures.
Overview
Nurses can specialise in aesthetic practice, performing or assisting with a wide range of cosmetic procedures. If you work in aesthetics - or are considering it as part of your professional career - below is a list of useful resources:
Regulation
Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) - maintains a voluntary register of practitioners and education/training providers. The JCCP have a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) which sets out information sharing and referral arrangements to help promote good practice and patient safety in this area.
Cosmetic Standards Practice Authority (CSPA) - sets practice standards for the non-surgical sector and collects data on adverse incidents and complications.
Practicalities
Please note: remote prescribing is not allowed in aesthetic practice. The prescriber must assess the person they are prescribing for themselves. Likewise, the product prescribed can only be used for the person it is prescribed for. The prescriber should also be educated as well as competent in the procedure and be practicing within their scope of practice.
Please note that the RCN indemnity scheme excludes aesthetic practice - so members practising in this field will need to source professional indemnity cover separately.
The Advertising Standards Authority has information about advertising Botox as there are specific rules to be followed: Botox - frequently asked questions.
Specialist networks
British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN)
RCN Advanced Nurse Practitioner Forum
RCN Infection Prevention and Control Network
Professional practice
Read our advice on medicines management, immunisation, revalidation, practice standards and mental health.
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Page last updated - 08/10/2023
