Happy new year to all of our readers and contributors. We at the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing kicked off the year in style with the 8th National Aesthetic Nursing Conference, which took place in London on 21st January. It was my first conference as editor, and it was a pleasure to meet so many readers, and to see such high quality presentations.
We began the day with a keynote address from Helena Collier, former Consultant Editor and long-standing contributor to the journal. Helena called upon nurses to join together to create the change they wish to see in this sector, and her optimistic message struck a chord with many delegates. We then saw a debate session on providing aesthetic procedures as a mobile practitioner, in which Cindy Clark and Helen Blanchard put forward their opinions strongly and eloquently. Lucy Glancey then presented on non-surgical body contouring modalities, which tied in with the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing Body Contouring Supplement, which is due to be published in March, and which will cover many of the treatment options available.
The Complications Management Workshop, run by the Aesthetic Complications Expert (ACE) Group, gave delegates the opportunity participate in an interactive session where they could ask questions about managing complications that may arise as a result of non-surgical aesthetic procedures. And to finish off the morning session, Pam Cushing presented on the renewing effects of acids, in which she gave a comprehensive overview of the types of acids available and their indications and contraindications.
After lunch, the programme resumed with a debate on whether social media has helped or hindered medical aesthetics, in which Marion Brown, Helena Collier, Annie Cartwright and Amy Senior put forward their opinions on a topic which has surely affected us all in some way. Although the opinions presented varied, the general consensus was that social media has been both positive and detrimental to this field of medicine, and delegates were left pondering whether the pros outweigh the cons. We then had talks from Harry Singh on how to market your practice effectively, Kevin Hubbard on collaborative working, and Gilly Dickons on how to stay ahead of the competition in this highly competitive sector. To end the day, Miriam Martinez-Callejas gave a talk on hormones and the skin from a pharmacist's perspective.
On behalf of the journal, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who attended for taking the time out of their busy schedule to come together, present, discuss and debate. Your support for the journal is so appreciated, and without a doubt you made the day what it was.
I am delighted to announce that this year, the journal will be running a campaign, both online and in print, focused on the healthcare professional's duty of care towards their patients, endorsing responsibility, safety and the natural enhancement of beauty. The journal is committed to ensuring that the patient's best interests are always at the forefront of any decision-making process, and we feel this campaign is a great way to push this forward. We will be launching the campaign next month, so stay tuned both in the journal and online for some great articles, interviews, debates and suggestions on how to get involved and have your say.