At Sono Bello, America’s leading cosmetic surgery specialist, nurses play a crucial role in transforming patients’ lives through innovative body contouring procedures. With over 150 board-certified surgeons who have performed more than 300,000 laser lipo and body contouring procedures, Sono Bello offers a unique and rewarding environment for nurses looking to make a meaningful impact.
We spoke with two dedicated Sono Bello team members – Domenica Tenerelli, Associate Practice Manager and LVN, and Mirina Soulopulos, Lead Clinician – to gain insight into what makes nursing at Sono Bello such a fulfilling career path. Their experiences highlight the opportunities for growth, the supportive company culture, and the life-changing impact nurses can have on patients’ lives.
A Fresh Perspective on Nursing
For many nurses, the transition to aesthetic medicine can be an exciting change of pace. Domenica, who has over 12 years of nursing experience in various settings, was drawn to Sono Bello for its positive approach to patient care.
“This is my first time in aesthetic medicine,” Domenica explains. “People want to be here versus they have to, so I think it’s a different mindset for some patients.”
Mirina, who previously worked in a nursing home, echoes this sentiment: “It’s a way for people to feel better about themselves. That drove me to be a part of this.”
Both nurses emphasize how Sono Bello’s focus on elective procedures creates a more uplifting atmosphere compared to traditional healthcare settings. “It’s happier. It’s a better pace,” Mirina notes. “It’s going from people needing to be seen because they have chronic diseases or illnesses… going from that to being in a happier environment was the biggest thing for me.”
A Day in the Life: Variety, Connection, and Transformation
No two days are alike for nurses at Sono Bello, but the common thread is meaningful patient interaction throughout the entire treatment journey. A typical day involves:
1. Prepping the center and welcoming patients.
2. Conducting pre-operative education and preparation.
3. Assisting with procedures.
4. Providing post-operative care and follow-up.
5. Offering ongoing support and education throughout the recovery process.
Domenica describes the flow: “Post-ops and pre-ops, educating patients, following up with patients, prepping them for the procedure, medicating. There are a lot of administrative duties, but you also have clinical duties, which is nice because you get a little bit of both.”
Mirina adds, “Getting to dive in, see patients in their pre-ops, post-ops, being able to prep patients for their surgeries, being able to educate them and make sure that they’re well-informed…checking in to see how surgery patients are doing as they’re having their operations.”
This variety keeps the work engaging, while the ability to follow patients through their entire transformation journey provides a sense of continuity and fulfillment.
Building Trust and Changing Lives
One of the most critical skills for nurses at Sono Bello is the ability to connect with patients on a deeper level. This involves:
1. Active listening and empathy.
2. Tailoring communication to each patient’s needs.
3. Providing thorough education and setting realistic expectations.
4. Offering emotional support throughout the process.
“Connecting with your patients is a huge thing,” Domenica emphasizes. “You have to read the room with a patient. Once you get to that point and you understand the patient, then the rest of the communications are a little easier because you’ve laid the foundation.”
Mirina stresses the importance of picking up on subtle cues: “Being able to read body language very well and small communication cues. Sometimes you just need a different explanation in a different perspective, being able to read those social cues is important.”
This attentiveness to patient needs can lead to profound moments of connection and transformation. Mirina recalls a particularly moving experience with a patient in her late 60s who had recently gone through a divorce:
“She started crying and said, “No one has ever been excited the way that you are about what I did for myself.’…She broke down crying and was like, “Thank you for showing me how other people should treat me and how I should treat and see myself.”
These moments of genuine human connection and personal growth are what make nursing at Sono Bello so rewarding.
Tools for Success: Comprehensive Support and Resources
Sono Bello invests heavily in providing nurses with the tools and resources they need to deliver exceptional patient care. This includes:
1. A robust intranet with extensive learning and development resources.
2. Quick-response support ticketing system.
3. Accessible policies and procedures.
4. Opportunities to connect with peers across the company.
Domenica praises the company’s commitment to education: “Sono Bello is awesome in that they have so many resources for us. We have a whole intranet, and we have a bunch of different pieces in that intranet that we can access. Daily I’m on these resources finding documents that I need to pull or finding out what the protocol or policy on something is.”
Mirina appreciates the culture of collaboration: “I have been able to connect from Sono Bello with other lead clinicians throughout the company. It’s like having a phone-a-friend and even though we’re all doing the same job a little bit differently across the company as a whole, we’re all still together and no one is alone.”
This combination of comprehensive resources and a supportive network ensures that nurses have everything they need to provide the highest quality care to their patients.
Why Nurses Choose Sono Bello: Growth, Balance, and Fulfillment
For both Domenica and Mirina, the decision to build their careers at Sono Bello comes down to these key factors:
1. Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
2. A positive, supportive work environment.
3. Meaningful patient interactions and transformations.
4. Work-life balance and employee appreciation.
Mirina emphasizes the growth potential: “There’s a lot of growth here with Sono Bello. I started in the Operating Room and now I am the Lead Clinician of an entire surgical center. I’m an LPN as well, and Sono Bello is helping with tuition reimbursement for me to become an RN.”
Domenica values the positive culture and work-life balance: “The work-life balance is huge. Sono Bello really values its employees. I can’t say I’ve ever seen somebody walk in and say, ‘I hate being here,’ not once, and I’ve been here two years.”
Both nurses also appreciate the company’s commitment to promoting from within and providing diverse career paths. “Sono Bello loves promoting within their own company,” Domenica notes. “They want people to grow, and they offer that opportunity. You don’t have to just stay in this little box. They really offer such an opportunity for you to really get into whatever it is that you want to do.”
Advice for Prospective Nurses interested in working at Sono Bello
For nurses considering a career at Sono Bello, Domenica offers this advice: “Be patient with learning because this is a whole different ballpark than whatever you knew before working in a nursing home, a hospital, or a doctor’s office. If you understand that from the beginning, learning and just going through training and stuff will be so much easier.”
The transition to aesthetic medicine may require a shift in perspective, but for nurses looking for a fulfilling career that combines clinical skills with genuine patient transformation, Sono Bello offers a unique and rewarding opportunity.
In conclusion, nursing at Sono Bello provides a refreshing change of pace from traditional healthcare settings. With its focus on positive patient outcomes, comprehensive support systems, and opportunities for growth, Sono Bello offers nurses the chance to build meaningful careers while making a lasting impact on patients’ lives. For those seeking a dynamic, uplifting work environment in the field of aesthetic medicine, Sono Bello presents an exciting path forward in the nursing profession.
Discover a beautiful career in Aesthetic Medicine with Sono Bello by viewing and applying for our open roles here.
