Foot care training

There is new information on the nail certifcation at the
www.wocncb.org web site. Look under the newsletter heading and there is information on the eligibility requirements for the Foot and Nail Nurse Certification. Check it out!

Great Coverage Laura! Heh! I saw your name on the list!

How long does the cirtification last? My ANCC for Med/Surg is good for 5 years. I have been keeping up my CEU's. I am looking at Board Certification for Geriatrics next.

Now... how to get started without paying a huge fee for a class, airline, and lodging? Does anyone have a video??? Uh.... I think Lois Jean has talked about doing this.

Night

Right now there are no courses, it is self study and there will be a list of resources and articles from WONCNCB. I think the certification is for 5 years, not sure. You can email the wocncb site, ask Beth. She should know the correct answers. In the future there will be courses popping up. I will post anything I hear about on this site, or you are welcome to pm me. I am sure there will be a Foot and Nail Nurse Association down the line too. This is the start of a whole new specialty in nursing and I am just so excited to be an active part of the process. It is the actualization of years of "creative visualization" on my part, and many other nurses I know of. Truly a dream come true.

Thanks

Congratulations for years of hard work and ending so successfully!

night

Hi Everyone - I've been an RN for 14 years, an LPN for 6 years prior to this. My background is Home Health and Longterm Care. While in the Home Health realm, I happened upon so many older clients who could not care for their own feet, and they slipped through the system because it was their only need. I found myself taking them on during my own time because I couldn't abandon them. I got so busy, that I actually had to find another competent individual to take the clients from me so that I had time to work, etc. In hindsight, I gave away a business. This was 12-14 years ago, when it was less acceptable to do this on your own. Now I'm ready to do again, because I know I can, it's acceptable, and I'm disappointed with nursing otherwise. I live in Wisconsin. My question(s) are: Do I need to form an LLC or something similar? If I name the business something other than my name can I use my social security number or do I have to then go the Tax ID # route? Does anyone recommend just using your own name to keep it simple? Does RN have to appear in the name of the business? Is there insurance other than malpractice that is recommended? Or, is that where the LLC comes in? I'm slightly confused as you can tell. If I can just take off and not visit a lawyer that would be great, but probably not recommended. My husband has an accountant for his business, I intend to use him also. Is it necessary to sit down with him ahead of time or is tax time soon enough? Any and all information is appreciated. Lastly, do I need to inform or ask anything of the board of nursing here? Thanks to all. I look forward to hearing from you.
lilrascal in Wisconsin

If I were you I would do the following. Call the local chapter of SCORE and make an appointment to get some free advice from them. They are great and free. Also, call your local small business administration and do the same. They put on a lot of free and low cost business workshops. There is an incredible amount of help out there for the small business person. The JC's also have many short courses.

I have my own (free) lawyer that is helping me with my business through my local chapter of the small business administration. I have seen him for 3 visits, one hour each. My husband is now going with me to these visits to help as I have a hard time "getting" with the business end of things. I have been in business eight years and am a sole proprietor, but am investigating incorporation. I have way too big of a business now (about 350-400) regular clients) to not know what I am doing. I just wish I had done some of this stuff years ago. I do not think I will incorporate, too complicated, but am still looking into the pros and cons. You can start out as a sole prorietor and then change.

It is not hard to file for a fictiscious business name, and will probably be more memorable to clients. Getting the accountant or a good book keeper on board early on is a great idea. They should be able to help you with many of these questions. Start a seperate business checking account right away. That will really help you sort out things.

There is talk of a Canadian Foot Care Course (48 hours long and very comprehensive) coming to California and possibly Tucson Arizona. Maybe as early as next spring. Anyone interested, pm me and I will put you on a mailing list. THIS WOULD BE A GREAT COURSE! Probably cost about 2,000. But when you think of the potential earning power it will give you, not to mention the peace of mind and thrill of having your own business. It would be well worth the investment. There are times now, doing group homes, that I make $200 and hour. I have a lot of overhead, and these clinics really help cover those costs. I do a great job, the clients are happy and the relatives who I bill, are happy.

Do contact your state board and have them send you the citation in your nurse practice act that covers what you will do by providing foot care services. It may be a very general clause or very specific to feet. I think Wisconsin has some specific verbage, because of Tara Beuschar's work, but I could be wrong. You need to have something in writing to defend yourself when you start getting flack from podiatrists!!! It is worth it. You go girl!

Thanks, for your response. I'm planning to contact the Board of Nursing as well as the small business development center located at the closest University. I'm also thinking that I will attend the class in June offered by Tara Beuscher at the University of Eau Claire here in WI, which is about 2.5 hours away. I'm not familiar with what SCORE is, but I am assuming it is equivalent to our small business development center. Thanks again for your reply, it helped much.

lilrascal

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering where the best tools for foot care can be found. I've read some of the postings that the dremmel is being frowned upon. Any input would be nice. Going shopping soon. Thanks for the help.

lilrascal in WI

I attempted to enroll in the UW Eau Claire Foot and Nail Care Class but it is full for June. I'll go on a list for now. Thanks for the information though. I did order the book that was recommended for Salon Pro's. I'll be meeting with a lawyer soon. Just need good equipment and where to find it. I'm finding out that I came to this site a little late. Not much activity. You're all out doing nail care!

lilrascal

lilrascal (great name, by the way):

I am truly sorry to have not responded to these questions sooner... so without further delay -->
1- Do I need to form an LLC or something similar?

It depends, on a lot, including your state rules etc what is best for you. I strongly recommend taking a business class in your area prior to setting up your business.

I took the one through the SBA (Small Business Association) through the local Chamber of Commerce. I started with the NX=Level Entrepreneur. Score (a computer based business planning support group) is mentioned here on other posts; they have an excellent reputation for support.

Among many things discussed in an Entrepreneurship Class, Business Planning is key to a successful business. Learn how to write a Business Plan and you will learn how to run your business as a business.

2- If I name the business something other than my name can I use my social security number or do I have to then go the Tax ID # route?

a. I think you need a Tax Id # or an EIN #. Everyone says this disclaimer (and for good reason) ----> Talk with your attorney and your CPA about the advantages. I say, in addition to that, take a business class that will help you to network with like minds that are ambitious like yourself, learn to think like a business, and learn how to write and act upon a Business Plan.

3- does anyone recommend just using your own name to keep it simple? Does RN have to appear in the name of the business?

No to both

4- is there insurance other than malpractice that is recommended?

I have only liability (for myself and my corporation). I am sure there are others but again, check with others when you network and an attorney.

5- or, is that where the LLC comes in?

Not sure, I have an S Corp and am incorporated in a different state then WI. My liability insurance is my one through NSO and then for my corp. through NSO.

6-. If I can just take off and not visit a lawyer that would be great, but probably not recommended.

Not recommended.

7- Is it necessary to sit down with him ahead of time or is tax time soon enough?

Sit down with him and figure out what program he/she uses for accounting. It would be nice to say have compatible programs so you can do some of your own bookkeeping and “hand him a floppy” to get your quarterly taxes done inexpensively. Planning ahead makes a big difference (another reason for taking a business class first) .

8- Lastly, do I need to inform or ask anything of the board of nursing here.

I am not familiar with WI. In two of the states I have inquired about, basically, scope of practice is first viewed as whether you can see if it is something that was taught in your basic nursing curriculum, if that answer is a no ----> then you should complete a comprehensive training program including hours of clinical experience, then you can move on to whether the task has become routine in nursing literature and in nursing practice --> then you should ask, does carrying out the skill pass the reasonable and prudent standard for nursing (?), is it in the hiring agency policy and procedure manual (?) (hmmmmm… another reason to have your own business to write your own policy and procedure manual) --- if the answer is a yes, then the task is within your scope of practice…

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I hope this helps you. I am sure you can tell by now what an advocate I am for learning the Business Process and Business Planning. All of the resources I used initially for advice: the Attorney, the accoutant, the business two business consultants, and the CPA, were all FREE. What more could I ask for? Was it "easy" ... no... kind of a lot of work but worth every minute of time I invested.

It is truly wonderful to have this forum (thank you Brian) to discuss these issues and to truly support one another. I may not answer all queries posted here nor can I promise to be timely or to know it all. I am dedicated to the goal of independence in the nursing profession. Come along with me on this journey that is challenging, rewarding, and the future of nursing. We gain so much from the knowledge we give and get from the support on the forum.

night