Foot care training

ehresources · Jul 12, 2005

Doing foot care is never going to be easy on the neck and back! The ideal is to have a chair that lifts the client, tilts them back etc. I work with the clients in podiatry chairs, gerichairs, raised recliners or any other type of chair. I have a Rubbermaid toolbox/stool that I sit on. It's just the right height for me and my clients. I find it too hard on my legs to be on the floor. The client's foot is on the chair leg rest or on my lap. Occasionally, they're in bed & I sit on my stool at the end of the bed. It depends on the client & where I am. There is a leg rest that you can buy to help support the client's leg. You have to be careful that they are not straining their hips & knees. The first thing I do is get myself & my client in a comfortable position. Hope that helps. I'd love to hear more from others about how they operate.

J

I am always revitalized by reading the entrepeneur posts here at Allnurses and have read this thread with interest!
I have a silly question about the basics of foot care...do you provide the care from the position of a shoe salesman ie on your knees with feet on a small stool? Or do you have more comfortable position such as on the bed or with feet up on the couch, etc.
I am trying to think of a comfortable position ergonomically to provide this care..LOL!

mattsmom81 · Jul 12, 2005

Thanks for answering...I DO have back and neck problems...which is why I was wondering! :)

ehresources · Jul 12, 2005

I have been doing foot care for over 10 years in many settings and a sore back does seem to go along with the work. What I find that works best for me is to remind myself constantly while providing care to watch my back. It's easy to get lazy & tired and then start to slouch. Bend at the hips and try to keep your back & neck as straight as possible. I also stretch every time I stand up between clients. I need that minute or two to move and realign everything. The other thing that has helped me is Pilates. The exercises are gentle, help you stretch and work on increasing the strength of your core muscles which help support your back. A good instructor can help you modify them if necessary. My favorite instructor always showed the moves at 3 different levels of difficulty so you could gear the class to how you were feeling. It's been a real back-saver for me!

The hard part is that we are always trying to accommodate the environments we're working in like people's homes, nursing homes where the clients are in special chairs, beds and haver to work around equipment and footrests etc. etc. etc. It is a real health & safety issue. While we do our best to protect ourselves, sometimes the job has to be done any way you can do it and clients don't/can't always assist in making it comfortable for both of us. Another one of the challenges of this job, I guess.

Good luck,

J

Thanks for answering...I DO have back and neck problems...which is why I was wondering! :)

guest*** · Jul 18, 2005

When I do home visits I sit on the floor in a stadium seat, sort or Janpanese style, with the client sitting in a comfortable chair. Since using this method I very rarely have back discomfort. You can get these seats at sporting good stores. It was the best investment I ever made!

pmsrn76 · Jul 31, 2005

I have, only today, found allnurses.com. I was sent by my employer to the foot care course in 1997, then taught by Teresa Kelichi and an associate, in Charleston, SC. It was an 18 hour course then and the knowledge I obtained that weekend has been invaluable to me. It has allowed me to provide, with confidence, a service no other non-specility nurse employed by the company I work for can provide. Does anyone know of a source for monofiliments or is anyone making their own?

JoFloRN · Sep 19, 2005

Hi! I'm new to allnurses.com and have read through (I think all) the posts on foot care training. I've been searching for training in Texas. So far, unsuccessful. Are there any foot care nurses in Texas? I've been an RN 18 years, and am also a registered massage therapist with a certification in geriatric massage. I'm wanting to start a practice to include foot/nail care in addition to massage. I would appreciate any input. Thanks! :nurse:

footsavvy · Sep 25, 2005

There are foot care courses listed on the wocncb.org website. Look at the links that take you to foot nurse certification information. They have a resource list.

JoFloRN · Sep 26, 2005

Thanks. I have found that web site, and it does offer some good information. I was wondering if anyone knew of any training courses offered in Texas as well, and if there are nurses in Texas doing this kind of work. Anyone know if there is a market for this in Texas or is it pretty much taken over by podiatrists?

footsavvy · Sep 26, 2005

There is a market for foot care nursing everywhere. No courses in Texas that I have ever heard of, and I am fairly well informed of what is out there.

JoFloRN · Sep 26, 2005

Thanks. I appreciate your feedback.

vstar1rn · Nov 28, 2005

Hello everyone. I am very much interested in starting my own foot care business. I have been told that I do not have enough experience to pursue this. For those of you unable to travel the Medical University of South Carolina has their foot care program on a 4-part dvd. You can purchase it and when you are ready apply to take the certification exam through the wocn. Their web address is www.musc.edu click on continuing education. I have not received it yet, so I can not comment on it. If anyone has taken the certification exam and know of any additional reading material that may be helpful to me, please let me know. I am very excited about this and looking forward to a future in providing foot care. I have read every post regarding foot care and already have lots of ideas. First on my agenda is getting certified. I hope I have helped someone.

vstar1rn · Nov 28, 2005

Some of my coworkers feel I am getting in over my head. They feel this way because I have only been an RN for 5 months. Prior to this I was an LPN for 4 years. My entire nursing career has been in home health and long term care. After seeing the condition of our clients feet, I started searching for teaching material for them, and discovered that I can gain certification and do this full time. My plans are to become certified and work with a podiatrist or several, on a part-time basis for a year or two or until I feel confident enough to do this on my own, and then seek out nursing homes, group homes, etc. If anyone has any advice or would like to share anything with me, I am all eyes:uhoh3: . Thanks