Skin Care Nurse Job Description
A registered nurse with at least two years of work experience and an interest in dermatology may find the position as a dermatology nurse to be rewarding. Certification by a state board of health in the field of dermatology is an additional requirement. Positions often are found in a hospital's dermatology unit or in a dermatologist's private practice.
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Professional Responsibilities
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A nurse working in dermatology assists a dermatologist in the treatment of patients. A dermatology nurse assists the dermatologist in the education and treatment of patients. The nurse may perform procedures, such as a biopsy, excisions or cancer screenings, under the supervision of the dermatologist. A nurse also may help perform diagnostic testing and analysis of results. Operating medical machinery is a necessary part of this job.
Other Required Skills
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A dermatology nurse needs to be a meticulous recorder of patient information. Excellent interpersonal communication skills are a must, as the ability to extract information during patient history interviews will be dependent upon this skill set. The nurse must be able to carefully and easily explain a treatment and follow-up plan to a patient.
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Education and Work Experience
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A bachelor's degree in nursing and specialized experience are the basic requirements. A candidate must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and a valid state registered nurse license, in addition to having certification as a dermatology nurse. The state licensing exam leading to the title of registered nurse is administered by the National Council Licensure Examination. There may be additional barriers before attaining the license, other than just satisfactory completion of the licensing exam and a nursing degree, so it is important to contact the specific state Board of Health for further information.
In order to become certified as a dermatology nurse practitioner, a nurse with a valid state registered nurse's license, 2,000 hours of dermatology work experience and, in some states, a master's degree in dermatology, would need to submit an application to the state Board of Health and complete the certification exam.
Job Outlook
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Industry growth for nurses is expected to remain quite high. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not give projections on the specific field of dermatology nursing, though it does give a projection for the field of registered nursing as a whole. It projects a job growth rate of about 22 percent for the time period of 2008 to 2018.
Salary
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A dermatology nurse is one of the highest paid nurse specialities. According to Payscale.com, the average salary for a dermatology nurse is $39,328 to $100,451 depending on years of experience and location. This figure is current as of March 2010.
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References
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