A plastic surgery nurse assists with procedures done to reconstruct damaged tissue or to improve appearance. This specialty allows nurses to work at the bedside, in the operating room (OR), and in post-operative care.
Plastic surgery nursing differs from cosmetic surgery, although the skills required look much the same. Plastic surgery repairs injury, and is often necessary for baseline function. For example, if someone experiences a severe burn to their arm, the skin will tighten as it heals, limiting their range of motion. Plastic surgery can release that constraint and allow full movement again.
Cosmetic surgery is elective, and patients seek this option to improve body image, self-esteem, and comfort. This type of plastic surgery includes facial fillers, breast augmentation, and facelifts. Although elective, these surgeries can make a vast difference in the lives of those who choose them.
Where Do Plastic Surgery Nurses Work?
Most plastic surgery nurses work in private clinics and medical offices, but some may assist in hospital surgeries. A plastic surgery clinic looks almost identical to a hospital operating suite. These clinics have pre-op areas for patient preparation and education, sterile OR suites where the procedures take place, and a post-operative recovery room.
A plastic surgery nurse must be familiar with these common procedures:
Abdominoplasty
Body lifts
Breast alteration or reconstruction
Burn repair
Congenital defect repair, like cleft palate
Face and neck lifts
Facial contouring, like rhinoplasty
Gender reassignment
Hair transplant
Liposuction
Scar revisions
Some plastic surgery nurses can work for cosmetic companies or research facilities, providing medical knowledge to assist in new treatment breakthroughs. If a plastic surgery nurse works more on the cosmetic side of things, they may assist with procedures like:
Botox
Chemical peels
Filler treatment
IV drips
Laser resurfacing
Micro-needling
Non-surgical facelifts using PDO threads
Skin rejuvenation using platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Most cosmetic surgery patients can go home on the day of their procedure. For more involved procedures like skin grafting and burn management, patients may need to be monitored in the hospital pre- and post-op. Plastic surgery nurses typically only manage same-day patients and ensure they are set up for a smooth recovery at home.
What Does a Plastic Surgery Nurse Do?
A day in the life of a plastic surgery nurse can look similar to that of an operating room nurse. Depending on the size of the clinic or practice, nurses may be assigned to an area for the day: pre-operative preparation (pre-op), operating room, and post-operative care (post-op). Smaller clinics may have the nurse follow the patient from the moment they walk in the doors to the moment they leave.
In pre-op, plastic surgery nurses prepare patients for their procedures. Some common tasks in this area include:
Consent confirmation
Emotional support for patients and families
IV insertion
Maintenance of a safe, sterile environment to protect again complications
Medical and surgical history review
Operating room preparation
Patient and family education
During the procedure, plastic surgery nurses working in the OR assist the physician by handing them tools, maintaining IV access, and documenting progress. Nurses in the OR ensure the environment remains sterile, and keep an eye out for patient safety at all times.
After a physician wraps up the procedure, the patient transfers to post-op recovery. Post-op nurses monitor patients’ conditions as they wake up from anesthesia. They take frequent vital signs, monitor dressings and drains, and collaborate with the physician as needed. As the patient becomes more alert, post-op plastic surgery nurses treat any discomfort and provide clear liquids before advancing their diet.
Each of these roles is vital to patients, and plastic surgery nurses are familiar with all the ins and outs of each procedure from start to finish. Nurses in plastic surgery clinics will also screen patients for surgery, follow up with patients after discharge, and stay current with new research and clinical standards.
How Do I Become a Plastic Surgery Nurse?
To enter the field of plastic surgery as a nurse, candidates must first graduate from an accredited nursing program with a nursing degree. Some clinics may hire a nurse with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), but most require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
After completing their education, nurses can apply to a plastic surgery unit as new graduates. Some facilities may ask for two or three years of general medical-surgical experience before they consider an applicant, but others are happy to train graduate nurses.
If a desired facility asks for experience, new nurses can get plastics experience on a medical-surgical unit. Med-surg nurses treat a lot of wounds and often care for plastic surgery patients who need to be admitted.
The next step in the nursing journey is the state nurse licensing exam: the NCLEX-RN. A series of multiple-choice questions, this standardized test shows a nurse’s clinical knowledge and capability to begin practicing alone.
After a plastic surgery nurse passes the NCLEX, they may need to complete their orientation. Nurses can work with their preceptor (a nurse who trains new nurses) and managers to decide when they are ready to get their own patient assignments.
After a few years of experience, plastic surgery nurses can take exams to become certified in that specialty. The Plastic Surgical Nursing Certification Board (PSNCB) offers exams to become a Certified Plastic Surgical Nurse (CPSN). To qualify for certification, a nurse must have:
A current, unencumbered RN license
Recent experience: within the past three years
Proof of 1,000 hours of plastic surgery practice during two of the prior three years
Two years minimum plastic surgical nursing experience
The PSNCB also offers a Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist (CANS) certification. Eligibility requirements are mostly the same, with a few additions:
A minimum of two years of nursing experience as an RN in one of the specialties listed above (as a staff nurse, or in an administrative role, teaching role, or researcher) within the prior three years
A supervising physician endorses the application
Proof of at least 1,000 practice hours within the specialties listed above in the prior two years
Work with physician(s) that are board-certified in either Plastic/Aesthetic Surgery, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, or Facial Plastic Surgery
Because plastic surgery nurses work with patients under sedation, they must get certified in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), which will give them the skills they need to stabilize a patient if life-threatening symptoms emerge.
How Much Does a Plastic Surgery Nurse Make Per Year?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not specify plastic surgery nursing salaries. Some salary-reporting institutions put the salary at $70,965, while others say the median is closer to $102,000. The BLS reports registered nurses (RN) make an average of $81,220 per year as of 2022, and this middle ground may give the closest estimate.
This amount can vary depending on your work setting and the cost of living in the area. The low-end average was $61,250, and the high-end was $129,400. Depending on where you work, your employer may be able to offer higher or lower compensation:
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $90,600
Physician Offices: $ 79,810
Outpatient Care Centers: $ 97,200
Salaries also vary depending on which state a plastic surgery nurse practices. The west coast generally pays nurses the best, but they also have a higher cost of living.
The west coast, New England states, Minnesota, and Alaska pay plastic surgery nurses the highest wage, but the cost of living in these areas can also be high. The lowest paying states are in the Midwest and some southeastern states.
The top paying areas for plastic surgery nurses include:
Federal Way, WA: $114,802
Santa Clara, CA: $112,774
San Francisco, CA: $112,461
Washington, DC: $110,194
Los Angeles, CA: $109,885
San Jose, CA: $109,620
Fremont, CA: $108,916
San Buenaventura, CA: $108,294
Oakland, CA: $108,215
Marysville, WA: $107,742
Certified plastic surgery nurses can be paid more than a nurse who is not certified, depending on the facility. In general, the more experience and proof of expertise, the more a plastic surgery nurse will be eligible to earn.
Are Plastic Surgery Nurses in High Demand?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic surgeries decreased in 2020, although the COVID pandemic may have contributed to those numbers. However, The Aesthetic Society reported plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures bounced back, increasing 48% in 2021.
All nurses are currently in demand, as the United States is facing a major nursing shortage. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, 24% of US hospitals have reported critical staffing shortages. Plastic surgery nurses should have no trouble finding employment in the current climate.
Additional Resources About Becoming a Plastic Surgery Nurse
To learn more about becoming a plastic surgery nurse, these additional resources may help:
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