For Dr. Alexandre de Oliveira, choosing his profession came precisely from his calling. He currently works as a nurse in the hospital setting while he specializes in Aesthetic Nursing, and he says he always knew which field he wanted to pursue.
“Nursing has been a gift of mine since I was a child, I already liked taking care of people, so when I started college and saw new horizons” he says.
After completing his undergraduate degree in Nursing, Dr. Alexandre was determined to pursue a career in public health, so he took postgraduate programs in family health, cardiology, geriatrics, and management.
After many years working in the field, he decided to move forward with his dream of becoming an Aesthetic Nurse: “Actually, aesthetics is a longtime dream. Since I finished my degree I already intended to go into this field, but I kept putting it off and in the end I only managed to study it now”.
Starting his Postgraduate Program in Aesthetic Nursing in 2020, Dr. Alexandre rediscovered himself in a field that, although very different from the shifts he is used to, won the dedication of the future aesthetic professional.
“I still work in the hospital, but aesthetics is my future. For now I am still crawling and learning a lot in this new specialization, but Aesthetic Nursing is my professional goal now” he says.
Changing fields can be a complicated process for some professionals. That is because, in the transition from the hospital setting to Aesthetic Nursing, changes in work routine, schedules, and earnings are just the beginning, but for Dr. Alexandre the outcome of this move is positive.
“It is good to work with image and improve patients' self-esteem. It benefits both the person and us as professionals, because it is rewarding to be able to work on an aesthetic dysfunction and change something that has such an impact on that patient's life and psychology” said the postgraduate student.
Men in Aesthetic Nursing
Just as nursing is said to be a women's field, aesthetics is also considered a profession meant for women, but according to Dr. Alexandre it is a matter of calling. In this way, men who enter aesthetics break down that barrier, “In my opinion, the gender question does not really exist. The most important thing is to enjoy it, be dedicated, and have the gift for dealing with the health field. The rest does not matter. Today there are already many men working in aesthetics.”
Ignoring any kind of prejudice for being a man in the field of Aesthetic Nursing, Dr. Alexandre says that the financial return caught his attention, but it was not the only attractive factor. “Not just the financial side, but also the nurse's autonomy. Because in the hospital we are very restricted when it comes to performing procedures, and in aesthetics you have your individuality”, explains Dr.
Finishing the practical part of his specialization, the professional has already started treating a few friends and family members to further sharpen his hands-on skills, but for now he balances both professions. “I work at the hospital in the morning and in the afternoon I work with aesthetics. In the future I plan to set up my own clinic and start promoting it. For now I am balancing the hospital and aesthetics, until the time comes when I can give one of them up,” he explains.
Already thinking about his next steps in Aesthetic Nursing, Dr. Alexandre says his expectation is to reach an ever-larger audience. “As I develop professionally I want to grow and expand my clientele. In the future my dream is aesthetics, and that is what I am investing in,” concludes the future specialist.
Sarah
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
