Happy new year! It seems that 2022 crept in without too much pomp and ceremony. As I write the first British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN) column of the year for the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing (JAN), it has given me the opportunity to reflect on the past year, in particular, the achievements that have been made, both collectively and individually.
Adapting and surviving
COVID-19 is still with us and will remain so for some time to come, but, first, a huge pat on the back is due to everyone who has managed to survive in business this past 2 years. I say this with a tinge of sadness for all of those who decided to call it a day or just could not sustain their businesses.
Yet again, I am amazed at the level of resilience and determination that is shown by nurses, and I applaud BACN members who, despite being unable to work in their own businesses due to lockdown, balanced keeping them afloat and supporting their patients while stepping back into the NHS or other sectors to help wherever needed. Following a recent poll carried out among BACN members, I know that a staggering 95% of BACN members contributed and continue to do so during the pandemic. Breaking down the poll, 47 % worked in the vaccination programme; 36% returned to the NHS or other full-time positions; 12% worked elsewhere (either privately or supporting NHS Track and Trace); and 5% had to shield or were unable to return to the NHS or other sectors.
It has been a challenge to say the least, but we have adapted to studying in the virtual world. I know that several BACN members went on to complete the non-medical prescribing (V300) course during 2021 and gained their prescribing qualification by completing the mandatory practice assessment hours in between periods of lockdowns and imposed self-isolation. Many nurses have taken this time as an opportunity to further their own education and professional development. The BACN regional meetings have provided a great platform for learning and togetherness, and a special thanks goes out to all the regional leaders who have been instrumental in our nurses' success.
In-person events
Going forward into 2022, the BACN is excited to announce the first national meeting after over a year apart. The BACN Spring Symposium is a new 1-day event that will be held at the Royal College of Physicians in London, with a range of speakers, including headline sponsor Galderma UK. Along with education content, there will be an opportunity for networking with a drinks reception and canapes that will be held at the venue following the event This is in addition to the BACN Autumn Aesthetic Conference that will be returning in 2022, after the event was previously held in November 2019. The conference is the largest gathering exclusively for nurses working within the specialism of medical aesthetics and brings together BACN members across the country. The event offers a chance for members to get together, network and listen to key opinion leaders cover a range of topics within a medical agenda, and it has a full exhibition space for companies to highlight new product launches and interact with existing and potential customers. The Autumn Aesthetic Conference is taking place on Thursday 15 and Friday 16 September 2022 at a brand-new exhibition and conference venue: The Eastside Rooms, which is in the heart of Birmingham.
Digital events
In January 2022, a new monthly series of digital events launched on the BACN platform. The BACN is working in collaboration with Web Marketing Clinic to bring its members Digital Drop In, a new series of digital events focusing on teaching digital marketing techniques and skills to enhance our members' online presence. Each month, Digital Drop In covers a specialised topic within digital marketing to help nurses grow their brand, both online and offline. These sessions are suitable for all BACN members, from those just starting out in the medical aesthetics industry to experts in the field. Digital Drop In is comprised of one Instagram live session, one Zoom webinar and a monthly blog post. The sessions are hosted by digital marketing expert Alex Bugg.
In January, Alex detailed how to plan your marketing strategy for 2022. The events run as part of a ‘lunchtime learning’ initiative and take place at 1pm. The monthly blog post can be accessed in the resources page in the member's area of the BACN website on the last Friday of each month. At the beginning of this update, I said that 2022 had crept in unassuming, but it should finish with lots of positives to draw upon, conferences to attend and colleagues to meet.