The Hustle
Years in Tampa Bay
12
Hustle (job)
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-CRNA/Nurse Injector
What do you do?
I am an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse with a board certification in Nurse Anesthesia. I am the Owner and Nurse Injector at Spindrift Aesthetics. I provide injectable treatments (Botox, fillers), medical-grade skin care and pharmaceutical weight loss.
Why do you do it?
I opened Spindrift Aesthetics because I wanted to curate a unique experience for patients seeking medical aesthetic treatments. I didn’t want this to be another “run of the mill” medspa. I wanted to create an intimate, one-on-one experience between the patient and the provider. I think that having aesthetic treatments can be daunting and overwhelming. I wanted my patients to have time with me to discuss treatment goals and modalities to accomplish those goals. I enjoy time with my patients to educate them on their choices and help them create a treatment plan that meets their needs. Aesthetic medicine is a journey across the lifespan. Creating this unique and long-lasting professional relationship with my patients is essential to helping them achieve their aesthetic outcomes and goals.
What was your Catalyst? (How did you get started?)
Nursing has brought me many amazing experiences. I spent six years as an ICU nurse in Pittsburgh, gaining valuable experience and making amazing, long-lasting relationships. I moved to Tampa Bay in 2011 to pursue my Master’s degree in Nurse Anesthesia, and I’ve been practicing anesthesia since 2013 in the St. Pete/Tampa Bay area. In 2018, I started reading and becoming interested in Aesthetic Medicine. I attended some Botox and Filler training and was growing more interested in a career in aesthetics; I just wasn’t sure how to make that transition. I’ve always wanted to have my practice. I knew that was a goal from the get-go.
I spent time working for very reputable plastic surgeons in the area but never really had the opportunity to make it a full-time job. Honestly, I was scared I would fail as a small business owner. I had an amazing career as a Nurse Anesthetist, and I think it’s hard to leave a comfortable career. In March of 2023, a dear colleague suffered a massive stroke at work. I was one of the first at their side and spent the rest of my day caring for them. This person was only 34 years old. This was my catalyst. This was my ‘stop thinking about it and do it’ moment. It was that slap in the face moment reminding you that life is short. So I leaped. And that’s how Spindrift Aesthetics came to life. It’s been a dream for so long; now it’s my reality. I have the best support of friends and family. I’m so grateful for the ability and opportunity to make this dream a reality.
What’s a common misconception or unknown aspect of what you do?
The most common misconception is that aesthetic treatments make you look unnatural. With anything, yes, it can be overdone, BUT that’s not the approach at Spindrift Aesthetics. Everyone has natural beauty, and the goal of any treatment should be to enhance that natural beauty. Aging is a process that affects all of us. My approach is to assess the individual’s natural beauty and skincare needs to curate a personalized treatment plan that uses the appropriate products and dosages. Aesthetic treatments are not a one-size-fits-all.
What’s the most challenging part of your Hustle?
I think right now, the hardest part is seeing past the present. Opening a business is hard work and full of challenges. I think during this time it’s easy to feel defeated and that fear of failure can easily creep up in the back of your mind. I constantly check in with my fellow business owners and read a lot of motivational books as well as listen to a lot of business-oriented podcasts. I focus on all the positives and accept the negatives as learning experiences, not as setbacks or failures.
What’s the most valuable piece of business advice/insight that’s helped you?
The best advice that I think echos across the aesthetic community is to invest in your education and training. Aesthetic medicine is exceedingly dynamic and as a provider it’s so crucial to keep up on your skills, training and product education. This allows you to advance your practice, and your outcomes, and improves patient safety. Education is something you never quit engaging.
