COSMETIC & SURGICAL REGISTERED NURSE
Alabama Surgical Arts is seeking an energetic, highly motivated Registered Nurse to join our cosmetic and surgical team. This is a dynamic, hands-on position for an RN who enjoys combining clinical nursing, cosmetic medicine, surgical care, patient education, and exceptional customer service.
The ideal candidate is confident, friendly, organized, quick on their feet, and able to move comfortably between patient consultations, treatments, surgical responsibilities, and postoperative care. We are looking for someone who can think critically, anticipate the needs of both patients and providers, and maintain a calm, positive presence in a fast-paced environment.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
Cosmetic Consultations and Patient Education
- Conduct comprehensive neurotoxin and dermal filler consultations.
- Review patient concerns, treatment goals, medical history, previous cosmetic treatments, medications, allergies, and potential contraindications.
- Educate patients about available treatment options, expected outcomes, limitations, risks, recovery, and recommended maintenance schedules.
- Assist in developing individualized cosmetic treatment plans in collaboration with the treating provider.
- Conduct initial surgical consultations, including gathering medical history, discussing patient goals, reviewing procedure information, and explaining the surgical process.
- Recognize when a patient’s concerns, expectations, medical history, or symptoms require further assessment by the surgeon or another provider.
- Take standardized clinical photographs and maintain accurate treatment documentation.
- Provide appropriate follow-up education and assist with management of patient questions or concerns after cosmetic treatments.
- Recommend physician-approved medical-grade skincare products and develop individualized skincare routines based on patient needs, procedures, and treatment goals.
- Educate patients on proper skincare use, sun protection, pre-treatment preparation, and post-treatment care.
Surgical and Perioperative Nursing
- Complete preoperative appointments and assessments for surgical patients.
- Review medical history, medications, allergies, laboratory results, required clearances, surgical instructions, and postoperative expectations.
- Confirm that required forms, testing, prescriptions, photographs, consents, and surgical documentation are complete before surgery.
- Provide detailed preoperative and postoperative education to patients and caregivers.
- Circulate in the operating room while maintaining patient safety, sterility standards, accurate documentation, and compliance with established surgical protocols.
- Assist the surgeon, anesthesia team, and surgical staff as needed throughout procedures.
- Prepare the operating room, equipment, supplies, medications, positioning devices, and necessary documentation for scheduled procedures.
- Participate in surgical counts, specimen handling, implant or product documentation, and room turnover according to facility protocols.
- Monitor patients throughout the perioperative process and immediately report changes in condition to the appropriate provider.
- Assist with postoperative recovery, discharge preparation, caregiver education, and safe transfer of patients.
- Maintain familiarity with emergency equipment and assist during urgent or unexpected clinical situations.
- Follow infection-prevention, medication-safety, HIPAA, OSHA, and facility policies at all times.
Postoperative Care and Recovery Protocols
- Follow surgical patients through all stages of the recovery process.
- Implement and reinforce individualized recovery protocols ordered by the surgeon.
- Conduct postoperative assessments and communicate concerns promptly to the surgeon or appropriate provider.
- Assist with dressing changes, drain education and removal when ordered, suture or staple care, wound assessment, and other postoperative services within the RN’s training and scope of practice.
- Monitor for potential postoperative complications and recognize when immediate provider intervention is needed.
- Provide hands-on postoperative caregiving and patient support as assigned.
- Educate patients and caregivers about medications, activity restrictions, garment use, incision care, hydration, nutrition, warning signs, and follow-up requirements.
- Maintain consistent communication with surgical patients and document all postoperative interactions accurately.
- Coordinate postoperative treatments and services included in the facility’s recovery protocols.
- Ensure patients receive compassionate, reassuring, and responsive care throughout recovery.
IV Therapy and Wellness Services
- Perform patient assessments and review health history before IV therapy.
- Start peripheral IVs, administer ordered IV fluids and therapies, and monitor patients throughout treatment.
- Start IVs for oral surgery patients and assist with pre-procedure preparation as requested.
- Recognize and respond appropriately to IV complications, adverse reactions, infiltration, vasovagal episodes, and changes in patient condition.
- Maintain accurate medication, lot number, dosage, treatment, and patient-response documentation.
- Educate patients about IV therapy, hydration, expected benefits, possible side effects, and aftercare.
- Maintain emergency readiness and follow all established medication-administration protocols.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
- Prepare and screen patients for hyperbaric oxygen therapy according to established protocols.
- Educate patients about the treatment process, safety requirements, contraindications, and expected experience.
- Operate hyperbaric equipment after completing required training and competency validation.
- Monitor patients before, during, and after treatment.
- Identify signs of distress, pressure-related complications, oxygen toxicity, or other adverse reactions and respond according to protocol.
- Complete all required safety checks, treatment documentation, and equipment maintenance logs.
- Keep the treatment environment clean, organized, and prepared for the next patient.
Hormone and Wellness Consultations
- Assist with hormone replacement therapy consultations under the direction of the prescribing provider.
- Obtain and document relevant health history, symptoms, medications, treatment goals, and previous therapies.
- Educate patients about provider-recommended treatment plans, medication administration, laboratory monitoring, follow-up schedules, and potential side effects.
- Review laboratory results with the prescribing provider and communicate provider-approved recommendations to patients.
- Coordinate follow-up appointments, medication refills, repeat laboratory testing, and ongoing patient communication.
- Promptly escalate abnormal findings, new symptoms, or treatment concerns to the prescribing provider.
- Maintain patient confidentiality and ensure all care is performed within applicable nursing scope, provider orders, and practice protocols.
Laser and Aesthetic Services
- Perform approved laser and energy-based treatments after completing required training and competency verification.
- Conduct pre-treatment assessments and confirm patients are appropriate candidates under established protocols.
- Educate patients about treatment preparation, expected results, potential risks, downtime, and aftercare.
- Perform treatments safely and consistently within the RN’s authorized scope of practice.
- Document treatment settings, areas treated, patient response, products used, and aftercare instructions.
- Monitor treatment outcomes and communicate complications or unexpected reactions to the supervising provider.
- Maintain treatment rooms, equipment, supplies, safety eyewear, and required laser documentation.
- Participate in ongoing product, device, skincare, and procedure training.
Clinical and Administrative Responsibilities
- Maintain complete, timely, and accurate electronic medical records.
- Review schedules in advance and prepare for upcoming consultations, procedures, and treatments.
- Return clinical patient calls and messages in a timely, professional manner.
- Assist with prescription coordination, laboratory orders, clearances, and outside medical records as directed.
- Track required patient follow-ups and help ensure continuity of care.
- Maintain medication, injectable, skincare, surgical supply, and treatment-room inventory.
- Monitor expiration dates, storage temperatures, lot numbers, and restocking needs.
- Clean and prepare clinical areas and equipment according to established protocols.
- Participate in staff meetings, training, competency assessments, and quality-improvement initiatives.
- Help develop and maintain clinical protocols, patient education materials, and standardized workflows.
- Assist other departments and team members when patient-care needs require additional support.
- Represent the practice professionally in person, over the phone, and through electronic communication.
- Support a positive patient experience from the initial consultation through treatment, surgery, and recovery.
- Perform other clinical and patient-care duties within the RN’s training and scope of practice as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required:
- Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in the State of Alabama.
- Current BLS certification.
- Strong IV-starting and medication-administration skills.
- Excellent clinical judgment and the ability to recognize and respond to changes in patient condition.
- Strong written, verbal, and patient-education skills.
- Ability to maintain accurate and timely medical documentation.
- Ability to protect patient privacy and maintain strict confidentiality.
- Willingness to complete required training for cosmetic procedures, lasers, hyperbaric therapy, hormone-related services, surgical care, and practice-specific protocols.
- Ability to stand for extended periods, assist with patient positioning and transfers, and perform the physical responsibilities associated with perioperative nursing.
- Availability to support surgical schedules and patient-care needs, which may occasionally extend beyond normal business hours.
Preferred:
- Cosmetic, plastic surgery, facial surgery, operating room, PACU, recovery, emergency, critical care, dermatology, or aesthetic nursing experience.
- Previous experience circulating in an operating room.
- Experience with cosmetic consultations, medical-grade skincare, lasers, IV therapy, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
- ACLS certification.
- Experience working in a boutique, elective, or concierge-style medical practice.
- Familiarity with electronic medical records, clinical photography, patient follow-up systems, and inventory management.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Our ideal Cosmetic and Surgical RN is:
- Fast-paced and highly productive without sacrificing accuracy or patient safety.
- A critical thinker who can assess a situation, identify concerns, and take appropriate action.
- Quick on their feet and able to adapt when schedules or patient needs change.
- Warm, bubbly, friendly, and genuinely comfortable connecting with patients.
- Compassionate and reassuring, especially when caring for nervous or recovering surgical patients.
- Polished, professional, and mindful of the elevated patient experience expected in a cosmetic practice.
- Open-minded, receptive to feedback, and eager to learn new procedures, products, and protocols.
- Detail-oriented and committed to completing documentation and follow-up responsibilities.
- Dependable, punctual, and willing to take ownership of assigned duties.
- Comfortable working closely with physicians, anesthesia providers, nurses, surgical staff, oral surgery staff, and administrative team members.
- Team-oriented and willing to step in wherever needed.
- Organized and capable of managing several responsibilities without becoming overwhelmed.
- Confident enough to communicate concerns while remaining respectful and collaborative.
- Ethical and committed to honest, medically appropriate patient recommendations rather than high-pressure sales.
- Motivated to grow with the practice and contribute ideas that improve patient care, efficiency, and the overall patient experience.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THIS ROLE
A successful Cosmetic and Surgical RN will provide safe, consistent clinical care while helping every patient feel welcomed, informed, and supported. This individual will anticipate needs, follow through on responsibilities, communicate concerns promptly, and contribute to a smooth experience across consultations, procedures, surgery, and recovery.
This position is ideal for a nurse who enjoys variety, wants to expand their skills within cosmetic and surgical medicine, and thrives in an environment where clinical excellence and exceptional patient service are equally important.
All clinical services must be performed in accordance with the RN’s education, demonstrated competency, applicable Alabama scope-of-practice requirements, provider orders, and facility protocols.
Pay: $30.00 - $35.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Opportunities for advancement
- Paid time off
- Paid training
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you currently hold an active, unrestricted Alabama Registered Nurse license? If not, please explain your current licensure status.
- Briefly describe your nursing background and how many years you have worked as an RN.
- What experience do you have with surgery, operating-room circulation, preoperative care, postoperative recovery, or caring for surgical patients?
- Please describe your experience starting IVs and your current level of confidence with IV placement.
- What experience do you have with cosmetic consultations, neurotoxins, fillers, lasers, skincare, hormone therapy, IV therapy, or hyperbaric therapy? Training may be available, so please be honest about your current experience.
- Why are you interested in cosmetic and surgical nursing, and what attracted you to this position?
- You are preparing a surgical patient, an IV patient is waiting, and a postoperative patient calls with a concern. Briefly explain how you would prioritize these responsibilities.
- Describe a time you noticed a patient-safety concern or potential mistake. What did you do?
- This position includes patient care, consultations, documentation, patient calls, room preparation, cleaning equipment, stocking supplies, and helping other departments. How do you feel about working in a role with this much variety?
- Please describe your availability, including your ability to work occasional early mornings or remain later when a surgical day runs longer than expected.
Work Location: In person