Foot care training

After a year of meetings and planning, I have decided not to incorporate with the non-nursing business partner and his wife I have been meeting with. I think it is great, Lois, that you have found nurses who you can share the journey with and I wish you all good things. I have not regrets, and because of all these business meetings, I now have good liability coverage and a great office with all the "bells & whistles". I would have done none of that if not for the thought of this partnership. I have found I can afford all of this on my own and now have my independence back. I have to pay them back some expenditures, but better now than after forming any legal bindings.

My husband and I will incorporate out business, so it will be 100 % ours. I was finding that I really did not like the "business" mentality that does not take into consideration any emotional factors. I am relieved to have my autonomy back. Tomorrow I meet with a lawyer from the SBA regarding incoporating. I am also going to see about getting a microloan to get some products into my office.

I have been selected to be on the Exam Committee for Foot & Nail Nursing Certification process and will go to Kansas City next month to meet with the 4 other nurses who are also on it. I am so thrilled. So things are progressing.

I did a homeless shelter clinic the other night and plan to get more involved in that arena when time permits. Did you know that one of the most helpful things you can do for those with, what I call "mush foot" ( very wet feet from walking in wet shoes and socks for long periods of time) is to soak them in tanic acid (tea water). The tanic acid helps the feet expel moisture after the soaking. So that is your tip for the day!

So, my fellow foot soldiers, keep on keeping on.

You have made my day! Thank you for responding to my post.

I am excited about the changes that have taken place over the years with my business. And, I am excited for you and the changes you are planning. I knew that no matter what kind of business structure I maintained, I would be doing foot care..and since my focus has never been on 'the money', my concerns were not great when thinking about 'what to do' as far as expanding. My concerns came when I became aware that the demand for this nursing service was growing and I might have to stop taking new referrals. That thought bothered me greatly. All I can say is that when the time was right the right nurses came along side and filled in the gap, so to speak. I call these happenings, 'serendipities'.

I, too, have provided foot care in inner cities. Missions and soup kitchens have been supportive. I am hoping that with the additional nurses on board now, I can get back to doing more foot care in those areas where it is so badly needed.

Nothing would please us more than being able to participate in the certification process which you mention. How would this be possible for us? If you could give me more information on this, I and the nurses who work along side of me, would be very grateful.

Olive oil is a wonderful softener and conditioner for callused areas, dehydrated skin and dry, brittle nails. I lightly massage it into the affected areas after the foot soak and before filing or cutting. I found that by using the olive oil cooking spray I could cover more area and it's far less messy.

Peace,
LoisJean

WOW!! I am so impressed with all the information thats been shared here and am equally impressed with you all and your success in creating a very much needed service. You've taken a need that isn't being met by others d/t lack of time or for whatever reason and capitalized on it. Your courage and digilence are an inspiration to all nurses that are sick of the system and want to make a change for themselves. Congratulations and I wish you all continued success!

I had to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding information on the credentialing exam committee. I think it is ok that I have mentioned that there will be process in the future but will have to find out how much I can say. I do know that the process will be open only to RN's, but at least RN's with A.S. degrees will be eligible. Some credentialing processes are only for nurses with B.S. degrees or higher. WOCN is hoping to have this test available by next year some time.

It is interesting that you mention olive oil Lois. Last summer I started making my own medicinal salves and use olive oil as my base oil. Last October I presented at the foot care nursing course in Winnipeg. My presentation was called " How to Incorporate Your Hobby into Your Business ". I did a slide show on making a medicinal salve. If anyone want the handouts for this, please pm me and I will email you back my recipe. It is really fun to be able to use something you make on your clients. And even better, it works!

Unfortunately WOCN is for BSN's only and you have to have verification of 4000 hours of wound care within 5 yrs of taking the certification test....Unfortunate because they (WCON) are eliminating a large group of diploma nurses that I'm sure are more than capable of performing this type of care...such a poor and shameful decision!

On the other hand I think your medicinal salve sounds great and I'll be emailing you for the receipe if its ok....

You are wrong about the BSN requirement. The WOCN did a survey and found out that most of the RN's who are doing foot care are associate degree nurses. THIS CERTIFICATION WILL BE FOR ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSES TOO. :hatparty:

Too bad they didn't include LPN's in their survey. LPN's like me are very capable of providing this type of service. I would have liked to be included too!

Unfortunately WOCN is only a RN organization. You need to contact your board of nursing and take the bull by the horns and make it happen! There are hundreds of LPN's in Canada with their own businesses and they are very organized. It needs to happen here in the states and it takes people like you with strong feelings to make it happen. Remember, this is a new field of nursing and it takes grass roots efforts to get these things organized. It is not going to magically happen. So you go girl! Make it happen. Do not wait, because you could be on the ground floor of some very exciting things. Take the initiative. There are many LNP's, it seems, who are writting in on this discussion board. Organize yourselves. If you do not, I bet you will always regret it. Call your state board and talk with a nurse consultant and see what they say.

I don't have a computer at my new house and I ask your understanding in answering my question, as this is a long thread and it may have already been answered. My professional and personal lives are currently in disarray, and my time is very limited. Where can I find a class in foot care such as the one refered to in Ontario? Can anyone give any specific information? I could travel if necessary.
Thanks very much,
Carrie