The BACN has always placed enormous emphasis on its role within the world of aesthetics in terms of standards setting and the need to establish aesthetic nursing as a ‘specialist’ role. This emphasis can be evidenced by the 2013 publication of the Competency Framework for aesthetic nurses. This followed on from the original project undertaken by the RCN Aesthetic Forum, which contained a number of current BACN nurses. It was the first framework of its kind, and concentrated on:
The past 5 years have seen the debate about standards, competencies, regulation, supervision, assessment methodologies and the accreditation of training and prior learning. The BACN has contributed to this debate and in 2018 the BACN Board decided to take a step back and review its future role and priorities with regards to education and training. This review resulted in:
Objectives and way ahead
The ultimate objective of this activity is to establish aesthetic nursing as a ‘speciality’ and to underpin this with the appropriate building blocks, frameworks, competencies and career structure. We envisage this to be a 12-month project that will culminate in the publication of a Competency Framework for the Specialist Aesthetic Nurse, a Recommended Career Structure for the Aesthetic Nurse, and specialist Standards of Practice for the Aesthetic Nurse. We will seek to use the expertise and experience from the top aesthetic nurses in the UK, but also draw on a broader range of expertise across the sector.
The BACN Education and Training Committee has now been established and is jointly Chaired by Mel Recchia and Anna Baker. The committee will first work on the standard writing, and a separate sub-group will concentrate on the BACN Career Structure and Competency Project. The BACN welcomes interest from any individual who would like to join these working groups and contribute to the programme over the next 12 months. This project will use the expertise and experience of the top aesthetic nurses in the UK and also draw on a broader range of expertise across the sector, including:
Following the first meeting in January, an initial Work Programme focusing on the BACN Aesthetic Nurse Standards and Competency Framework was agreed.
Key tasks were:
A critical part of this process will be the involvement of all BACN members and utilising the experts from across the membership. BACN Chair, Sharon Bennett, said:
‘We recognise the urgent requirement of this major project to develop “Specialist Aesthetic Nurse” Standards, to review and expand our Competencies and create a career structure. The BACN believes that doing this will contribute enormously to the development of nurses wishing to enter the sector and to be able to categorise the capabilities of existing aesthetic nurse practitioners for the broader benefit of the public seeking safe and effective treatment.’
As we begin a new year, we have our regional meeting dates set up across the country and look forward to the educational opportunities and peer group gatherings they offer. We will be offering bursary opportunities to members and will be offering Cadaver Dissection days (dates to be confirmed) and other workshops. We have already enjoyed the annual Journal of Aesthetic Nursing conference in January and many of us will be looking forward to other conferences both here and abroad, such as ACE (London), IMCAS (Paris), AMWC (Monaco) and our own BACN conference in November.
For information on becoming a member of the BACN, please contact glewis@bacn.org.uk.