Provider Highlight: Meet Kristina Gould, Nurse Injector at Urban You Grand Rapids
Kristina Gould is a recent addition to the Urban You team! She’s been working as a nurse injector at The Urban You , the #1 medical spa in Michigan, at our Grand Rapids for the last 3 months. We wanted to give our guests a glimpse into who Kristina is both in and out of UY, so in this interview we covered it all: skincare essentials, Kristina’s background experience in the ER, her favorite Urban You service, and other fun facts!
Could you start off by introducing yourself and your role at The Urban You?
My name is Kristina Gould and I am a nurse injector at Urban You!
What has your health and aesthetics journey been like so far? How did you decide to alter your career path from being an emergency room nurse to a nurse injector?
I have been an RN for 11 years, however, I’ve worked in the healthcare industry for 16 years. While in an ADN nursing program, I worked as an emergency department technician at a small rural hospital, gaining lots of valuable hands-on experience. I was very fortunate that I had a lot of RN coworkers mentoring me during that time. I have always valued education and received many certifications along the way, including TNCC, ACLS, PALS, ABLS, telemetry, and sedation. Fun fact: While working in the ED during the RN portion of school, I also worked as an LPN for a year at a drug rehab facility!
After working as an RN in the ED for over 4 years, with a total of 8 years in the department, I began getting burnt out. I was a single mom throughout most of that period and needed to find an area of nursing with more traditional hours, and less stress. This led me to outpatient surgery, where I was for almost 5 years. Again, working for a rural hospital brought me great nursing experiences. As a surgical nurse, I floated between the OR, PACU, and Endoscopy. I circulated the OR, sedated patients, and recovered them after being placed under anesthesia. During that time, I went back to school to obtain my Bachelors of Science in Nursing.
At the end of 2018, I developed an interest in skincare products and started network marketing. While this wasn’t necessarily for me, it ignited my passion for aesthetics and I dove into learning all that I could. I decided I wanted a change from the hospital setting and started applying and interviewing at medspas and plastic surgeon offices. After a couple of bad nursing experiences, I applied for a position for a local ophthalmology office, thinking, ‘I bet they don’t require weekends or holidays’. That position, as fate would have it, was actually for a nurse injector. I called my husband immediately telling him I accidentally applied for my dream job! I was hired and quickly realized how hugely passionate I am about aesthetics.
Have you always had an interest in skincare and aesthetics? What is the most important part of your skincare routine?
Prior to starting in the industry, I had not received any injectable treatments. I started with skincare products, which is actually such a large part of obtaining great results with injectables. The most important part of my skincare routine is consistency and Tretinoin nightly!
Kristina Gould Before & After Gallery
How long have you been working in aesthetics, and, more specifically, Urban You?
I started in the aesthetic industry in December 2020, and haven’t looked back! I have been at Urban You for just over 2 months.
What, to you personally, is the most rewarding part of being a nurse injector? How does it differ from the most rewarding aspect of being an emergency room nurse?
The most rewarding part of aesthetics for me has been building relationships with clients and helping them gain confidence. Aesthetics is unique to traditional medicine in the respect that clients are choosing to be here - they’re happy to be here. Often nervous and anxious to take a step toward self care, but excited nonetheless. For a lot of clients, this is the first time in a long time that they’ve taken that step, and I get to be a part of that process. So, building a relationship where they can trust that I will provide them with care tailored to their goals, desires, and circumstances is extremely important and rewarding for me.
Helping clients feel their best allows them to (re)gain confidence in themselves. In comparison to emergency nursing, both require a level of vulnerability on the patient's end. However, in emergent situations, patients have no other choice but to be vulnerable and trust the providers to do what’s best for them. That’s rewarding in the sense that you get to help people at their worst or most debilitated state, literally helping to save lives at times. In aesthetics, clients are making the choice to be vulnerable with you about their physical insecurities in hopes that I am able to help them feel better about themselves. I value that immensely.
What is your favorite Urban You service to perform for a client and why?
Truthfully, I don’t have one particular favorite service to perform, and I truly enjoy them all. Aesthetics is a form of self care, and my favorite part to witness is when clients start to see how great they can feel when they start investing in themselves. Whatever service it takes for them to start to build their confidence. To see them developing this level of self love is empowering and incredibly satisfying.
What drew you to The Urban You? Was it the positive and encouraging environment, the fact that you get to help clients rediscover their confidence every day, maybe a combination of the two?
I met Terry at a Master Injector course last fall. In our discussions, I became drawn to The Urban You because collaboration and continuing education appeared to be a priority. To be surrounded and supported by other injectors who value the importance of continuing education drew me here.
What goals do you hope to achieve at The Urban You?
At Urban You, my main goal is to acquire more skills for my tool belt. To gain as much education, experience, and collaboration as possible, as well as providing my clients with the best possible care. And in just two short months, I have already experienced how valuable that is based on the amazing opportunities I have been fortunate enough to have thus far.
What is the most important part of your life outside of work? How do you like to decompress after a long day of helping guests achieve their aesthetic goals?
The most important part of my life outside of work is my family.
To decompress after work, I often drive home in silence. Building relationships with clients is unbelievably rewarding, as is doing my own self care rituals after work. Remembering to invest in myself is vital. Things like exercise, my church community, and sitting with myself in silence are a large part of how I balance and center myself.
What’s something about yourself that others wouldn’t expect?
Something about myself that others wouldn’t expect? I have a large blended family, that includes 7 children. It is blended in every dynamic one could think of, including adoption. Also, most people are shocked to hear that I have a 19 year old – I never forget to remind them that’s the great benefit/result of aesthetic medicine!
Thank you for your time today, Kristina. How can guests reach you, keep up with your work, and book an appointment with you?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to shed a glimpse into my journey! Guests can reach and follow me on Instagram @injector_kristina! They can also book online with me at theurbanyou.com or call (616)570-0228. I am located at Urban You’s Grand Rapids location and I would love to help you reach your confidence goals!
