In NSW currently, 1.7% of all notifications to the Nursing and Midwifery Council are related to cosmetic/ aesthetic nursing practice.

Notification themes are highlighting concerns beyond those conventionally expected within the regulatory conduct, health and performance pathways. They raise issues regarding business processes, competitive practices, client expectations often seeking arbitration, advertising and social media. These are often provided to the regulator with 'before and after' photos in the hope that the regulator may intervene and assist with gaining financial compensation for the notifier.

Read our Case Study about Ava*, a registered nurse who opened a business specialising in cosmetic injectibles.

*name has been changed to maintain confidentiality

For nurses working or thinking about practicing in cosmetic/aesthetic practice, it is imperative you are aware of regulatory updates. A good starting place is the NMBA position statement on Nursing and cosmetic medical procedures and the Poisons and Therapeutics Goods Act 1996. If there is a notification made about your practice in this setting, you will be asked to provide further information on how you comply with these requirements.

Within this document you will find links to the NMBA’s standards, codes and guidelines which set the regulatory requirements within which nurses working in the area of cosmetic medical procedures must comply, to ensure ongoing competence and safe practice. Additionally, there is a link to the Medical Board of Australia’s (MBA) Guidelines for registered medical practitioners who perform cosmetic medical and surgical procedures (MBA guidelines). All nurses working in cosmetic medical procedures should be aware of the MBA guidelines.