I hate to say it, but the nights are getting longer, and Christmas is now fast approaching! For many, it will be the busiest time of year in clinics. It can often be a struggle fitting in patients with last-minute appointment requests and we usually end up working longer hours trying to accommodate everyone. While the nursing profession is known to be stressful (Afriyie, 2020), and it is good for business to be busy, it is important to remember to make time for yourself, as well as your patients. Kutluturkan et al (2016) recommend that factors such as workload and time pressure need to be suitably managed to minimise burnout in nurses. This in turn will improve work performance and, consequently, the safety and satisfaction of the patient.
Peer support
Peer support is also a must, as many aesthetic nurses work in isolation (Baker, 2020). It can help to develop the role of the aesthetic nurse and promote learning. The British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) regional meetings provide the perfect opportunity to meet and network with other members, discuss case studies and learn more about specific treatments or products. There are nine regional meetings planned between now and the end of 2022. These include meetings in the south coast, Leeds, Scotland, Newcastle, Belfast, London, Birmingham, Bristol and Manchester. New members and those attending their first regional meeting are always made to feel welcome.
A growing community
The BACN has recorded record membership numbers after the COVID-19 pandemic. Numbers are currently around 1100, which is an increase of 350 following pre-COVID numbers. I recently spoke with two new members of the BACN and discussed their reasons for joining the association. Nurse Prescriber Lucy Dewhurst told me that she joined the BACN to network and meet with like-minded professionals who promote patient safety and excellence in practice. Lucy commented that, as a member, she can access educational opportunities, peer support and conferences.
Claire McCausland, who is a nurse educator, said, ‘I was so relieved to find the BACN. Being new to aesthetics, I was shocked by the lack of regulation, national standards and training needed to be able to commence in this area of nursing. There are no other fields of nursing where you can attend a 1-day course and off you pop to be an independent practitioner, so when I completed my training day, I spent months researching, trying to build a network of support and doing as many courses as I could. When I discovered the BACN, it was like finding my tribe. I was able to speak to like-minded nurses and gained so much support and guidance. I attended the BACN conference not knowing anyone, but as soon as I walked in the door, I was approached, welcomed and introduced to others. What a fantastic experience listening to highly experienced nurses in this field. I learned more in 6 hours than I had on numerous courses (which cost me thousands of pounds). My recommendation to anyone thinking of a career pathway into aesthetics would be to get in touch with the BACN. My Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration is vital in the different roles that I undertake, and I do not want anything to risk that. There are so many companies that offer training that do not fully understand the regulation by the NMC, and I see so many nurses taking risks with their registration number unknowingly’.
The Autumn Conference
The BACN has received some fantastic feedback from the recent conference, both from delegates and exhibitors. This was the first annual BACN conference in Birmingham since the pandemic, and over 280 nurses attended over the 2 days. This is more than ever before and sets a new record for the BACN. Over 35% of attendees were new to aesthetics, and this was their first time attending a BACN conference.
More than 70% of the speakers were nurses. All of the conference speakers were rated at least an eight out of 10 by attendees, and 94% said they would recommend the event to other aesthetic nurses. Over 10 CPD points were available over the 2 days, which can go towards revalidation.
The event also attracted a record number of exhibitors and sponsors. The programme included several amazing treatment demonstrations and presentations in some new areas. These included the psychological issues associated with aesthetic treatments and patients, an update on regulation, becoming Care Quality Commission (CQC)-registered and dealing with VAT issues. There was an inspiring talk from Lorna Bowes, (one of the original members of the BACN), discussing her journey from nurse to aesthetic nurse and now a highly successful entrepreneur and distributor.
Conference attendees were invited to participate in a survey and share their feedback. Here are just a selection of some of the comments that were sent to the head office following the conference:
‘This was my first BACN conference, and, as a fairly new aesthetic nurse, I found the day absolutely phenomenal. I left feeling more confident, educated and like I now have a safety net of colleagues around me going forward. It was invaluable and cannot wait to go next year!’
‘Great venue, especially the ease of being able to stay and eat all in one place!’
‘Excellent day, far exceeded my expectations, as I have never attended an aesthetics conference before’
‘Absolutely brilliant first day and the presentations were fascinating and thought-provoking’
‘I attended the conference unsure of what to expect. I was extremely astonished by the level of professionalism, knowledge and expertise shown at the conference. Extremely informative and very well organised’
Assessor qualification
At the BACN conference, Paul Burgess (BACN chief executive officer) launched a new assessor programme for aesthetic nurses working with MAP IQ and the VTCT awarding body. This assessor programme has been designed to be specifically for aesthetics and to assess at Level 7. It proved to be hugely popular, with over 40 nurses declaring an interest.
Sharon Bennett, BACN Chair, said:
‘The BACN has always focused on delivering and supporting our nurses' education, training and continuing professional development needs. As we move towards more regulation and the development of the BACN career structure for aesthetic nurses, the requirement for assessors becomes critical. This project enables the BACN to develop its own nurses as assessors, which can be used internally and also gives our members a new skill and qualification that they can use to benefit this specialist area as a whole. The fact the programme was developed by two of our most experienced nurses, Jane La Ferla and Aine Larkin, working with VTCT, makes it even more relevant’.
The BACN were present at the last month's Clinical Cosmetic & Reconstructive (CCR) Expo in London. Gareth, Laura and Bec from the head office were manning the BACN stand. They also enjoyed meeting new members and catching up with current members. It was wonderful to see so many BACN nurses presenting on stage, sharing their knowledge and expertise. They did a wonderful job of representing nurses at a large multidisciplinary event. This needs to be applauded and encouraged more, supporting those nurses who want to develop their presentation skills and fly the flag for aesthetic nurses on stage at conferences.