The post: Cosmetic Nurse, Vermilion Cosmetic Clinic
The post holder: Donnamarie McGrillen
Care, compassion and good communication skills are at the heart of Donnamarie’s role as a Cosmetic Nurse at Vermilion Cosmetic Clinic.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
After I graduated, I got a job as a registered nurse with the Belfast Trust. Alongside this I trained to be a cosmetic nurse and have been practicing aesthetics ever since. I launched Vermilion Cosmetic Clinic in 2018 and recently opened my new clinic on the Saintfield Road in Belfast. I am also currently studying a part-time Masters at Queen’s University Belfast in Advanced Professional Practice.
What was your favourite subject at school?
I loved studying science so a career in Nursing was a natural progression. Nursing is considered a balance of art and science – you study for years to understand the intricacies of the human body and there is an art to caring for patients. The role of a nurse bridges both.
Did you go on to further/ higher education, if so what did you study and where?
Yes, I undertook a nursing degree which I started at Trinity College and then completed at the Ulster University.
How did you get into your area of work?
I have always had a keen interest in aesthetics and after starting my career as a registered nurse, I knew this was something I wanted to explore as I saw a niche in the market for a cosmetic clinic that offers natural results and bridges the gap for education in medical skincare.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
I always wanted to work in the medical field, especially with women. which is why I started my career as a women’s health nurse. My career has naturally progressed into the aesthetics industry and I have such a passion for the work I do and the positive impact it has for my patients.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
Yes, and whilst I am a qualified aesthetics practitioner, unfortunately, the industry is not regulated, which means that some people are practicing without the correct experience and training. I am very passionate in supporting the regulation of the industry and Vermilion Cosmetic Clinic is registered with Save Face, the national register of accredited practitioners, and with best practice cosmetic organisations ACE Group and BACN. I would advise anyone wishing to have any type of cosmetic treatment, to do their research and make sure they are only being treated by a qualified and experienced practitioner.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
I believe training and experience are essential.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
Nurses should have excellent communication skills as it’s important to listen to your patient’s needs, wants, and concerns and be able to respond to them appropriately. To be a good nurse, you need to have the qualities of care, compassion and communication – these are the three core principles of nursing.
What does a typical day entail?
I start my day with a meeting with the clinic manager to discuss what needs done for the various business requirements. As well as treating patients in the clinic with skin and aesthetics treatments, we also offer a virtual skin clinic and have online retail sales, so it is important that we plan our day to keep on top of everything. We then prepare for the following day by reading the consultation forms and ensuring we have all the supplies ready to safely complete each patient’s aesthetics procedure. Then it’s on to that day’s appointments and preparing for my patients.
Vermilion Cosmetic Clinic offers a wide range of non-surgical procedures including a wide range of aesthetics, dermal fillers and specialist skin treatments so throughout the day I will be carrying these out.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best part is how we make patients feel when they see the results. The most challenging aspect is the increased demand for the services and treatments we provide and being able to accommodate the growing patient numbers.
Why is what you do important?
Helping people feel the best version of themselves is so important. Making an impact by giving time and attention to people is one of the greatest gifts on earth. My journey through nursing has instilled such discipline and I have an authentic passion for putting people first. It is so important to remember how you can make people feel.
How has Covid-19 impacted your business/role?
Initially, I had planned to open the new clinic in Summer 2020, but due to Covid-19, it didn’t open until December. Because of lockdown, it had to close after only operating for a few weeks before reopening following the easing of restrictions in April.
What adjustments have you had to make?
As a patient-facing clinic, I had to adapt my business strategy and introduce complimentary digital consultations for skin and aesthetics to help our patients with their skin enquiries. This proved very successful and we have continued to offer this as a service to clients as we still have lots of demand for it, which benefits our online skincare shop and means we can reach a wider customer base.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Get the relevant training and as much experience as possible to instil discipline and authentic passion to acquire the skills you need and ultimately be able to put the needs of your patients first.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
I could see myself owning my own business in IT innovation. Vermilion Cosmetic Clinic offers a paperless service, we have our own app and I am really interested in the online side of the business – our online sales thrived over lockdown and I think it’s because of this.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Have confidence and believe in yourself.
Describe your ideal day off.
A long, slow morning with a leisurely breakfast catching up with family and friends. Working in such a busy environment, there’s nothing I love more than taking it easy and switching off.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Preparation is key. Do your research and contact the leading businesses that are experts in the field you are interested in to find out if they have any relevant opportunities available so that you can learn from the best.
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