More Arizona health care workers pursuing jobs in aesthetic nursing

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona is facing a critical nursing shortage that is straining hospitals across the state, especially in rural areas.

Now, a new trend is emerging, with more nurses pursuing careers in aesthetic nursing.

“It is just a whole different type of nursing. It is more of a friendship, relationship building,” said Brittni Allred.

Allred worked full-time as an emergency room nurse for more than a decade.

She said burnout and patient aggression pushed her to make a change.

According to government data, health care professionals are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than workers in other fields.

Allred now owns The Needle Fix in Peoria and specializes in Botox and filler injections.

She said it comes with less stress and higher pay.

“Switching out of a hospital setting had a huge impact on my mental health. I feel like before I would come home and not have the patience or sympathy that my kids would need from me because I gave that to grown adults who treated me poorly,” said Allred.

Dr. Tanya Carroccio followed a similar path. She founded the holistic wellness clinic Benehealth in Surprise after working in hospitals for 30 years.

She is also a professor at the ASU Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation and is tracking this trend firsthand from students.

“There are quite a few that say they want to be in some kind of outpatient setting,” said Carroccio. “Not many are wanting to be in the hospital, not wanting to be in bedside role, which is concerning.”

The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis predicts our state will have nearly 30,000 fewer registered nurses than needed in the state by next year.

“When you start to see that burnout, they are going to look for other positions. I need balance. I need something that is going to make me feel good,” said Carroccio.

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