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A med spa without a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) is like getting a facial without having a proper skin care routine.
Sure, it works, but it’s not reaching its full potential.
LPNs are the backbone of med spas, ensuring safety, high quality client care, and compliance. They’re the trusted faces, steady hands, and problem-solvers behind the scenes of day-to-day med spa operations.
But what does it take to hire an LPN who can do all that 🤔
This blog includes everything you need to know — from the must-have qualifications to the step-by-step hiring process of LPNs.
Let’s get into it!
What qualifications are required to hire an LPN for a med spa?
Just like opening a med spa requires specific licenses, LPNs must also meet certain qualifications to work in this setting.
Let’s break it down…
🎓Education and training
To legally work in the fast-paced med spa world, LPNs need the right education and training for the role they apply for.
Here’re the education and credentials you should look for when hiring LPNs:
With these credentials, LPNs are all set to take on the role and ensure clients are in good hands.
🏛️State licensing
In the US, nursing is a licensed profession, LPNs included.
Each state has a separate Board of Nursing that sets the rules and issues licenses.
In some states like Arkansas, the Nursing Board states that performing aesthetic procedures is not within the scope of practice for LPNs.
Meanwhile, LPNs (LVNs) in Texas can perform medical procedures under a physician’s supervision, including injectables like Botox and dermal fillers.
That’s why, before hiring, med spas should:
✔ Check the LPN’s license with the state Board of Nursing: Ensure it’s active and valid
✔ Confirm there are no restrictions or disciplinary actions: Verify that there are no violations that limit their ability to work in certain roles
✔ Stay on top of state-specific LPN regulations: Know what procedures LPNs are allowed to perform in the area your med spa is based
Keeping up with these requirements ensures your med spa stays compliant, minimizes legal risks, and delivers safe and quality care.
💉Specialized training for med spa procedures
Some treatments require additional aesthetic training, which can be obtained through accredited courses, workshops, or hands-on practice programs.
Organizations such as the American Society of Plastic Surgical Nurses (ASPSN) offer a wide range of certification exams to validate a nurse’s expertise in fields like:
- Injections: Precision is key for injectables and derma filler procedures, which means that LPNs need training to ensure safety and effectiveness.
- Laser treatments: Skin resurfacing and laser hair removal aren’t plug-and-play procedures. LPNs need specialized training on laser settings, skin safety, and protocols.
- Chemical peels: Proper training is essential to avoid burns or hyperpigmentation and achieve the best results.
If an LPN candidate has certifications from some of these trainings, among other qualifications, they can take your med spa to the next level.
🗣️Qualities to look in an LPN during the interview process
An ideal LPN candidate should be the full package: skilled, passionate about patient care, great with patients, and a good fit for your med spa culture.
That’s why, during the interview, focus on their qualities, such as:
- Clinical expertise and precision – A steady hand and attention to detail are critical in aesthetics. Your LPN should follow protocols flawlessly.
- Compassion and patient care – A great LPN understands the client’s standpoint and provides both expert care and emotional reassurance.
- Strong communication skills: Patients need clear explanations of procedures. Your LPN should be able to explain things without using medical jargon.
- Good time management: Med spas are fast-paced work environments. A quality LPN knows how to balance efficiency with quality care.
- Team player: Med spas thrive on teamwork. Your LPN should collaborate seamlessly with providers, estheticians, and front-desk staff.
Steps to follow in the hiring process for LPNs
Vetting and hiring the right LPNs takes a strategic approach.
If you’re not sure where to start, follow these steps to find the right fit for your specific requirements.
🎯Define your needs and expectations
First things first, you’ve got to have a clear idea of what you’re looking for.
You’re not just looking to fill a role. You need someone who will fit in with your team and understand aesthetics and how med spas function.
To target-approach this, here’s what you can do:
✅Outline what you need: Do you need an LPN for post-treatment care, assisting with consultations, or supporting procedures? Should they have 1-2 years of experience or are are you willing to train the right candidate?
✅Check state regulations: Always check with your state’s nursing board. Some states allow LPNs to inject injectables under supervision, while others limit them to post-care.
✅List must-have qualifications: A valid LPN license is required; certifications from specialized centers are a plus.
✅List specific skills: Look for LPNs who have clinical expertise, strong patient care skills, are detail-oriented, and have excellent patient communication skills.
Once you define these factors, you’ll be set to hire an LPN who fits your med spa’s needs.
📝Create a job description and get the word out
Crafting a job description is like setting up an appealing med spa storefront — if it’s not clear and eye-catching, no one will stop and look. Here are the key elements to include and make yours stand out:
✅A job title: Keep it clear and simple, like “Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) – Med Spa”
✅Company overview: A brief intro to your med spa business, where it’s located, and what makes it unique
✅Job summary: An LPN who can perform and assist with treatments, ensure patient safety and care, prep clients, document progress, and handle admin tasks, etc
✅Key roles and responsibilities: List all LPN responsibilities, like performing treatments, assisting with consultations, maintaining records, and educating clients on aftercare, etc
✅Required qualifications: Specify that it’s mandatory for candidates to have a valid LPN license for your respective state and a certain number of years of experience in a medical or aesthetic setting
✅Preferred qualifications: Mention any desired but not required qualifications like experience in certain procedures or familiarity with medical software
✅Compensation and benefits: Provide an overview of a competitive salary, benefits, and perks such as health insurance, continuing education opportunities, etc
✅Work schedule: Clarify expected working hours such as full-time, part-time, evenings and weekends
✅Application instructions: Include a clear call to action on how they can apply to the job
This structure will ensure your posting is comprehensive, clear, and appealing to potential candidates.
🔍Source and screen qualified candidates
Once the net is cast, you’ll receive candidates’ resumes and cover letters. You can shortlist the candidates who meet your criteria by:
- Only selecting candidates with a valid license and experience in a similar medical setting. If you’re a med spa, you want med spa experience.
- Prioritizing candidates with expertise in injectables and laser therapy
- Looking for candidates who can demonstrate excellent patient care, strong communication skills, attention to detail, and good organizational skills
By doing this, you can pinpoint the most qualified candidates.
🗣️Conduct effective interviews
Determine who will conduct the interview — the hiring manager, lead nurse, spa owner, or a combination of them. Involving multiple perspectives in this process helps assess the candidate’s fit while reducing individual bias.
Start with an icebreaker question that is light and open-ended, such as:
“What inspired you to pursue a career as an LPN?”
Then, move to other key and carefully crafted questions that will help you gauge whether the candidate truly fits the bill, such as:
💡 Pro tip
Body language accounts for 55% of a person’s credibility. When doing the interview, pay attention to the candidate’s posture, eye contact, and comfort level, as they reveal confidence and their ability to handle stress.
🏅Verify credentials and check references
Once you’ve selected your top candidates, you should ensure they’re trustworthy.
For that, you’ll have to verify their credentials and look for any red flags, such as criminal records or inconsistencies in their application. You can start by:
- Verify diplomas and certifications: Contact their nursing school and training centers
- Confirm LPN license validity: Reach out to the state nursing board to check if their licensure is valid and active
- Check references: Call or email previous employers to verify work ethic and performance
You can also conduct a criminal background check to ensure the candidate has no healthcare-related offenses, such as fraud, abuse, neglect, or drug charges.
💰Make a competitive offer
To close out the hiring process for an LPN, offer a competitive salary.
Nursa reports the national average is $60,790 annually or $29.23 per hour. However, local factors can impact pay rates.
Check local job boards to stay competitive and ensure your med spa offers candidates a strong, competitive income.
But a competitive offer isn’t just about the paycheck. It should also include some benefits to make your med spa stand out, such as:
- Health insurance
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Commission bonuses
- Staffing discounts
Also, be upfront about job expectations. Let your LPN candidates know what shifts they’ll be working, the types of patients they’ll care for, and whether you’ll need them to cover the weekends.
Simplify your staff management and clinic operations with Pabau
Hopefully, this quick hiring guide has given you some much-needed insight into how to vet and hire the right LPNs for your med spa.
But, hiring is just one piece of the puzzle. You still have to successfully manage LPNs, your other staff, and your med spa as a whole. And that’s a lot of work.
But you don’t have to do it alone — Pabau can help! It’s an all-in-one practice management software that will support you with patient management, scheduling and booking, marketing, managing inventory, and lots more.
It can also help you streamline staff management:
🪄Expand your team without adding to your admin: Schedule, commission, and pay your staff – hassle-free and error-free!
🪄Create unique staff profiles: Keep all your team information in one place!
🪄Organize your day (and your employees): Have a clear, visual layout of the daily schedule that helps you and your team see exactly what’s booked!
🪄Track your staff’s performance with ease: Get an overview of each team member’s completed appointments, cancellations, and generated revenue!
🪄And more…
Ready for effortless med spa management? 👉 Book a demo today and discover what Pabau can offer!
