REGISTERED NURSE – COSMETIC LASER PRACTITIONER & CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR

REGISTERED NURSE – COSMETIC LASER PRACTITIONER & CLINICAL INSTRUCTOR

Southeastern Health & Wellness Institute (SEHWI)

Department: Laser Lab

Position Type: Part-Time

Schedule: 2–3 Days Per Week

Primary Schedule: Tuesday–Wednesday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; Thursday, 8:00 AM–1:00 PM

Reports To: Physician/Medical Director, Physician Assistant Team, and Institutional Administration

Location: Columbia, South Carolina

POSITION SUMMARY

Southeastern Health & Wellness Institute is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse with cosmetic laser and energy-based device experience to serve in a unique dual clinical and educational role within the Institute's Clinical & Aesthetic Sciences operations.

The Registered Nurse – Cosmetic Laser Practitioner & Clinical Instructor will provide cosmetic laser and advanced aesthetic services to appropriately evaluated patients under the Institute's established medical oversight structure, physician/PA protocols, standing orders where applicable, and applicable South Carolina laws and professional standards.

A central component of this position is experience with ablative laser procedures. The RN will work collaboratively with the supervising physician and Physician Assistant team in the evaluation, treatment, monitoring, documentation, and follow-up of patients receiving advanced cosmetic procedures.

In addition to providing patient care, the RN will serve in a clinical teaching and demonstration capacity, helping SEHWI students and eligible healthcare professionals understand laser science, patient assessment, treatment preparation, clinical safety, infection control, documentation, post-procedure care, and professional standards within the appropriate scope of their respective training and credentials.

ESSENTIAL CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Registered Nurse will:

• Perform cosmetic laser and energy-based procedures for which the RN has documented education, training, competency, and authorization under the Institute's medical protocols and applicable South Carolina requirements.
• Provide ablative laser treatments when appropriately ordered, delegated, supervised, and permitted under applicable law, professional scope, and institutional medical protocols.
• Collaborate directly with the supervising physician and Physician Assistant team regarding patient evaluation, treatment selection, treatment parameters, contraindications, complications, and follow-up.
• Conduct and/or participate in pre-treatment patient assessments in accordance with established protocols.
• Review patient medical history, medications, allergies, previous aesthetic procedures, contraindications, and relevant risk factors.
• Verify informed consent and required clinical documentation prior to treatment.
• Perform appropriate skin assessment and document findings relevant to treatment planning.
• Prepare patients and treatment areas for laser procedures.
• Follow established protocols for treatment settings, endpoints, documentation, and post-treatment care.
• Recognize expected versus abnormal tissue responses during and following laser treatment.
• Identify potential adverse events and immediately initiate appropriate clinical and emergency response procedures.
• Provide patients with clear pre-treatment and post-treatment instructions.
• Conduct or assist with post-procedure follow-up and escalation to the physician or PA when indicated.
• Maintain complete, timely, accurate, and confidential patient records.
• Maintain strict adherence to HIPAA, OSHA, infection-control requirements, manufacturer instructions, and institutional policies.

ABLATIVE LASER & LASER SAFETY RESPONSIBILITIES

Because this position involves advanced laser procedures, the RN will be expected to maintain a strong working knowledge of laser physics, tissue interaction, treatment endpoints, patient selection, contraindications, and complication management.

Responsibilities include:

• Demonstrating safe operation of assigned ablative and non-ablative laser systems.
• Completing manufacturer-specific training and competency verification for devices used by the Institute.
• Following device-specific treatment protocols and medical orders.
• Understanding wavelength, fluence, pulse duration, spot size, treatment depth, thermal injury, tissue ablation, and appropriate clinical endpoints.
• Participating in laser safety procedures, including controlled treatment areas and appropriate warning signage.
• Ensuring appropriate wavelength-specific protective eyewear is utilized.
• Supporting proper plume/smoke evacuation when procedures generate laser plume.
• Performing and documenting equipment safety checks as required.
• Immediately reporting equipment malfunction, unexpected treatment response, or safety incidents.
• Participating in emergency preparedness and adverse-event response related to laser procedures.

TEACHING & CLINICAL EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITIES

This position is specifically designed to combine real-world patient care with clinical education.

The RN will:

• Provide classroom, laboratory, and clinical demonstrations related to cosmetic laser procedures and advanced aesthetic medicine.
• Teach foundational concepts of laser physics, light-tissue interaction, ablative versus non-ablative technologies, patient selection, contraindications, and treatment safety.
• Demonstrate appropriate patient consultation and assessment techniques.
• Demonstrate treatment-room setup, equipment preparation, safety checks, infection-control procedures, and patient positioning.
• Demonstrate appropriate use of personal protective equipment and laser-specific eye protection.
• Teach recognition of appropriate clinical endpoints and adverse reactions.
• Provide instruction regarding pre-treatment and post-treatment care.
• Demonstrate professional clinical documentation and medical photography practices.
• Reinforce HIPAA, patient privacy, informed consent, professional boundaries, and ethical patient care.
• Assist SEHWI faculty in connecting classroom instruction with real-world clinical practice.
• Participate in hands-on skills training and competency evaluation as assigned.
• Provide mentorship and constructive feedback to students and healthcare professionals participating in approved training.
• Model professional communication and interdisciplinary collaboration with physicians, PAs, nurses, medical assistants, and other members of the healthcare team.

Student participation will always be limited to activities permitted by the student's credential, educational program, applicable law, institutional policy, and level of demonstrated competency. Observation or instruction does not independently authorize a student to perform a procedure outside their lawful scope.

PATIENT SAFETY & QUALITY ASSURANCE

The RN will actively participate in SEHWI's clinical quality and patient-safety initiatives, including:

• Reviewing treatment protocols and clinical workflows.
• Monitoring compliance with established medical protocols.
• Participating in periodic competency assessments.
• Assisting with laser safety audits and treatment-room inspections.
• Reviewing adverse events, near misses, and clinical concerns with the medical team.
• Supporting corrective and preventive action when indicated.
• Maintaining current knowledge of evidence-based aesthetic nursing practices.
• Ensuring clinical supplies, emergency equipment, PPE, and laser safety equipment are available and properly maintained.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates must possess:

• Current, active, and unrestricted Registered Nurse license in South Carolina or other authorization permitting nursing practice in South Carolina.
• Graduate status from an accredited/approved professional nursing education program.
• Current BLS/CPR certification.
• Documented professional experience performing cosmetic laser or energy-based aesthetic procedures.
• Prior hands-on experience with ablative laser procedures strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of laser safety, patient selection, contraindications, treatment endpoints, and post-procedure care.
• Ability to work collaboratively under established physician/advanced practice provider oversight and clinical protocols.
• Strong clinical documentation skills.
• Excellent patient communication and education skills.
• Ability to teach and demonstrate clinical procedures in a professional educational environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference may be given to candidates with:

• 2 years of aesthetic nursing, dermatology, plastic surgery, medical spa, or cosmetic laser experience.
• Experience with fractional ablative resurfacing technologies.
• Experience with multiple laser wavelengths and energy-based modalities.
• Formal laser safety education.
• Laser Safety Officer training or certification.
• Experience working directly with a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, cosmetic physician, PA, or NP.
• Experience managing post-laser patient care and potential complications.
• Previous clinical teaching, precepting, staff training, or nursing education experience.
• Experience teaching adult learners.
• ACLS certification.

PROFESSIONAL EXPECTATIONS

The successful candidate must demonstrate exceptional professionalism, clinical judgment, attention to detail, and commitment to patient safety. Because SEHWI is both an educational institution and a clinical training environment, the RN must be comfortable functioning as both a patient-care professional and educator.

The RN is expected to model the standards students should ultimately carry into their own professional careers, including patient-centered care, clinical ethics, safety, professionalism, communication, documentation, and respect for professional scope of practice.

WORK SCHEDULE

This is a part-time position anticipated to require 2–3 days per week.

Tuesday: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Wednesday: 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

Thursday: 8:00 AM–1:00 PM

Final scheduling may be adjusted based upon patient scheduling, educational programming, clinical demonstrations, and institutional needs.

PHYSICAL & CLINICAL REQUIREMENTS

The position may require the ability to:

• Stand for extended periods during procedures and instruction.
• Position patients safely for treatment.
• Operate laser and aesthetic equipment.
• Wear appropriate PPE and laser safety eyewear.
• Perform repetitive clinical movements requiring fine motor control.
• Respond appropriately during clinical emergencies.
• Maintain visual attention to treatment endpoints and changes in patient condition.

SCOPE OF PRACTICE & MEDICAL OVERSIGHT

All clinical duties performed in this position are subject to the individual's professional licensure, documented competency, applicable South Carolina law and regulatory requirements, physician-approved protocols, manufacturer requirements, and SEHWI policies.

Employment in this position does not independently authorize any procedure that would otherwise fall outside the RN's lawful scope of practice. Procedures requiring physician or advanced-practice evaluation, authorization, presence, supervision, or other oversight will be performed only when those requirements have been satisfied.

SEHWI reserves the right to restrict individual procedures based upon credentialing, competency verification, medical direction, equipment-specific training, or changes in applicable regulatory requirements.

POSITION PURPOSE

This position supports Southeastern Health & Wellness Institute's commitment to combining science, clinical excellence, patient safety, and high-quality occupational education.

Through supervised patient care and clinical education, the Registered Nurse – Cosmetic Laser Practitioner & Clinical Instructor helps create an environment where students can observe the connection between academic knowledge, advanced technology, interdisciplinary medical practice, and exceptional patient care.

Pay: $35.00 - $45.00 per hour

Expected hours: 24.0 per week

Work Location: In person

Salary : $35 - $45