Image credit: Khaki
It’s no secret that the nursing industry needs a change. From nurses opening their own IV hydration businesses to creating apps to take shifts on their own schedule, nurses are using their credentials to create jobs and lives that work for them.
Rachel Yussim, RN, BSN, is one such nurse: she is a Certified Medical Aesthetics Janitor with Persimmon in Sonoma County. Persimmon is a new company that offers home Botox injections and other aesthetic treatments in the Bay Area. Companies like Persimmon give nurses the chance to use their skills in a way that suits them – and Yussim shares how becoming a cosmetic and aesthetic nurse gave her the best of both worlds as a nurse.
Why nursing?
Yussim tells Nurse.org that she chose to become a nurse for different reasons:
- She knew she wanted a job that would allow her to grow and learn constantly.
- She enjoyed the autonomy that would allow her to travel and spend time with her daughters
- It was really important to her to do work that would have an impact and make a positive difference.
“No matter how good or bad my day was, I knew I was helping someone or their family,” she explains.
Yussim was able to find these elements in her work as an emergency and recovery room nurse for 14 years, but eventually she was ready to work with another group of clients. So she turned to aesthetic nursing. She received her certification from Allergan, the company that makes Botox, as well as several days of one-on-one mentoring with different Bay Area lead injectors.
“I love learning about anatomy and discovering new ways to enhance a client’s appearance,” she says. “In aesthetics, we don’t change a person’s face, but rather bring back some of that youthfulness and let what they already have shine through.”
As a certified Botox administrator, Yussim now works for Persimmon, where she visits clients’ homes to administer Botox, among other home treatments. She is also involved in training new providers with Persimmon in anatomy and technique. Persimmon enables clients and nurses to enter the world of aesthetics in a different way, at their own pace and without the need for expensive salons, spas or office visits, and while managing their other responsibilities, such as remote work or children. at home.
According to Yussim, home nursing has many benefits, including cosmetic care. “It’s in the client’s space, so there’s definitely an added level of comfort,” she explains. “They may have their friends with them to participate in treatment or just for moral support. They can be treated easily while their children are napping or during a lunch break. I assemble and disassemble everything myself, so it’s as stress-free as possible.
>> Related: How to Become a Cosmetic Nurse
The future of nursing
Yussim believes his work with Persimmon represents what will only become a growing trend in home care for patients and nurses. “Of course, there will always be a need for inpatient nursing, but I think for less invasive procedures and diagnostics, home care will become more common,” she notes.
And she may be right – companies like Amazon striving to bring home health care to a growing aging population that will undoubtedly need extended home care to the expansion of telehealth, home care may well be here to stay.
Additionally, Yussim points out that on-call work and home care opportunities also have many benefits for nurses. For example, she is able to work as much or as little as she wants, which she finds very useful at the age of life she has now, with young children at home. For example, she plans her work so that she can be home when her children need her, and when her husband is home, so they can all spend time together.
“Their schedules are more rigid, but I can modify mine so that I can spend a lot of time with them,” she explains. “The most important thing for me is being with my children, especially when they are young – I can set my schedule to make sure that remains a priority.”
Of course, there are a few practicalities to consider when working as an “independent” or part-time nurse, as Yussim does. For example, her husband carries the family health insurance and she finds that there is less consistency with her income, although the possibility of additional income is always there if you want to take on more work.
>> Related: How to Become an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner
Nursing, no matter where
For Yussim, however, the evolution of her own nursing career from PACU and ER to administering Botox in the comfort of clients’ homes simply mirrors that of healthcare itself.
“Medicine is constantly evolving and improving and aesthetic medicine is no different,” she says. “There will always be a new and better technique and I love to learn. I also love to hear my clients tell me how I have contributed to brighter mornings when they look in the mirror and feel more refreshed. It’s extremely satisfying to help someone uncover something that’s been hidden.
Plus, she points out that the principles of good nursing care — from critical thinking to compassion to practical skills — remain the same no matter where you provide that care.
“Everyone has different needs and expectations, whether they’re anxious after waking up from surgery or getting Botox for the first time,” she notes. “It’s my job to know what I’m doing, but also to make sure my patient or client is comfortable and confident with my care. Critical thinking is also important. Not all situations can be handled with the same steps every time. Knowing your abilities and being able to make the appropriate adjustments is essential in any medical career.
For nurses looking to follow in his footsteps, Yussim encourages a good work ethic and obtaining the appropriate certifications, while being proactive in your career. The world of cosmetic and aesthetic nursing can be competitive, so it’s important to develop your skills and have a clear path to your goals.
“Don’t expect anyone to teach you everything along the way,” she cautions. “Come prepared every day, get certified and study hard. It’s a competitive industry and your success is often tied to how well you do.
Ultimately, however, finding a way to manage her schedule as a nurse and get into aesthetic nursing at home gave Yussim the work-life balance that so many nurses, in especially those with other responsibilities such as family care, need at this time. .
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity Persimmon has given me to broaden my scope of nursing and embark on a career path that I’ve wanted to pursue for some time,” she says.
