Foot care training

[kernow]

I have been interested in starting a foot care service for some time now and after reading posts from LoisJean feel this is something I can do. I would like to start out by receiving some kind of training but cannot find anyone who provides this type of course.

I have been in touch with LoisJean who has given me wonderful information about becoming an independent provider performing foot/nail care however I would like to take a course of some description to make myself more prefessional. I found a course titled "Foot & Nail care for Nurses" which sounds absolutely perfect but it is Wisconsin and I live in New York, I cannot find anything else closer to home.

If anyone has crossed this bridge already and can offer any advice I would be extremely grateful.

[sallyspring]

BC footcare nurses. Hi I would love to get your input about sterilizing instruments.

Not every private practise nurse can afford a dry autoclave and the Prestige 2100 is apparently the recommended on for small businesses, but that does not sterilize packages. What do you do once the instruments are cleaned and sterilized. How do you store them? As I read it, Health canada says all instruments must be sterilized, but I don't see where they say it must be sterile. ( I mean sterilize to kill the organisms and store clean and dry?)

[sallyspring]

" I have formed a nonprofit organization to help train doctors in preventive foot care for diabetics in developing countries. It is my hopes to get a grant to cover the costs of a good website and"

google leadership grants.

[sallyspring]

Hi Ciege, I actually work in a library that serves the long term care community in the province of Alberta. We also provide materials to educators training staff to work in LTC, so we do actually have a few training videos for foot care, but nothing current. One of our videotapes came back mangled last week so I'm trying to replace it, just not finding anything out there and was very hopeful when I saw a post that said someone here was producing one. MAVC (Medical Audiovisual Communications) does actually have a couple of videos that we have here in our collection: Foot Assessment and Care; and Hand, Foot and Nail Care. The second has been updated and we'll probably get it but I was hoping for more. Did the Emory foot care course use videos? Thanks!!

Cindy Lazenby is producing one. She has promised to let me know when she hahs it completed as well as a refreher for advanced foot care nurses. and an educator's course. She wrote the footcare book the my course used. I can't remember which Ontario college/university she is teaching at

[sallyspring]

" I would like a simple video to show patients as well as one for teaching staff members. "

I found a lovely PDF file on cutting toenails. There is a brtish site with good teaching too. I have just changed computers so I have to search for all my links

[sallyspring]

I buy my N95 from Home hardware. Great quality and fit.Do you have a source for dust extractors? The only ones I see here are not portable for home visits and cost the earth.

[sallyspring]

Hi All,

I hope this clarifies some issues/questions that have been posted recently. Foot care is considered a clean procedure but that does not mean that sterilzation of tools between clients is not essential, especially due to the potential for injury and infection. The simplest product (and safest) for cold sterilization is accelerated hydrogen peroxide. The brand I use is the Accel CS20 by Virox. There are other brand names available (I am in Canada but I do know there is soemthing in the US). For a mask, I use an N95 as it is the best protection available. Whatever products you use, it is imperative that you read the manufacturers instructions and MSDS documents - not only about using the product but also about disposal of it. Pricing will vary depending on how you set up your business. Start with a base salary (what you want to earn per hour or person) and then add all your expenses. That should give you a ball-park figure. Don't forget things like travel time. Having solid policies and procedures/protocols in place when you set up your business/practice is critical. The first few can be tough but then they get easier - I promise.

A word of advice: Always practice to the highest standard! It is the best for you and your clients and it is probably only a matter of time before it becomes the minimum standard.

For the nurses in Vancouver - good luck with your conference. Link up with Foot Care Canada and other resources (such as those that host conferences elsewhere in Canada).

I would be interested in the Alliance if someone wants to PM me

Here in NL, the health care authorities have set autoclaving as their Provincial standard. There is no set standard or organization for private footcare nurses, but to practice, you must have the course. The VON gives their nurses an autoclave, but I am not sure what type.

I am just in the process of setting up a business and I have been in contact with my nursing association who so not have a special interest group and checked all the information on the Health canada web site as well. The best instructions I found was from a site called Virox.

I was trained to use the Accelerated hydrogen peroxide but worry about rusting. Maybe you can ask the local hospital about autoclaving.

I plan to get a Prestige and follow the Virox instructions that reflects HC info..

I plan to retire from my full time job next year and once I have more free time, I plan to try to get a group here so we can have regular meetings. Most by teleconference withan annual workshop etc.

One of our Aboriginal groups developed a lovely poster with actual people showing how to care for your feet. I was able to get a couple that I can laminate and put on a ring along with other information so that the client can read them during car/waiting.

[sallyspring]

Hi

I'm new to this...but would like any information on setting up a foot care business any canada or getting in touch with someone who as...

I' m a RN living in Northern Alberta..planning on taking a Foot care course in the near future.....

I am in the process of doing this.

I did up a business plan, marketing plan and 12 month cash flow, applied to my municipality for permission to run a homebased business. This is in case I need to apply for funding.

I started collecting my instruments as I can, planning to have 10 kits. I have researched a lot of suppliers of tools, instruments and creams.( Just google foot care instrumnet suppliers in Canada). There is a foot care group in Alberta and I think that there is a workshop planned for early next year.

There is a company in calgary that sells burrs at reasonable prices and one in Ontario that imports the Gewhol line pf products. Surgico medical suppiles inc does the Alpresan line ( lovely callus softener and nail conditioner).

I have developed my own questionaire, intial exam form, consent form, flow sheet, referral sheet and incident reporting form.

I have asked a friend to set up an accounts system in excel ( I have to pay her), and bought generic duplicate receipt books at the dollar store, and ordered a stamp with my logo and business address to use on them.

My brother says not to do this under the table as the benefits of doing it right outweigh the other. He says that there are a lot of expenses to claim.( computer, filing, building maintenance,hydro, heat,etc to name a few)

I went to anyone I thought could give me letters of support too.

I plan to develop a set of standards for my business in case I need to hire anyone else, but that is for later.

Oh! I got a business number from canada revenue and I have to charge HST and can claim back the HST I pay on anythign I buy.

In Nl, there is a women's entrepenurial association her in NL and I joined that too. They gave help with a business plan. email me at [email protected] if you wish.

[sallyspring]

Greetings! and all is well, but very, very busy- (which is a good thing and would be an even better thing if I were 20 years younger!)

I have a foot care client who is a Veteran. He has IDDM and can be considered brittle. When my services were requested by his physician, he was in the healing stage of a ulcerated corn. He had a history of ingrowth of both great toes. The Veteran's would not pay for nor reimburse him for the added depth shoes that I suggested he wear and which were ordered by his doctor.

However, when he developed Charcot's Foot, the expense of added depth shoes and brace were completely covered. This puzzled me. There has been somewhat of a stir in the nursing community over the idea of Orthotic Specialities as a career change. It's a very interesting field...might be worth investigating.

And, once again, for Raduda and others interested: LPN's too, can provide foot care. If you question this please PM me.

To give an example of one of our foot care clinics set up 2 x a month at a local Senior Center: I set a fee for service. People sign up. Care is given and payment is made. 10% of my earnings are donated back to the center at each clinic visit. (This center does not request a rental fee from me...so, I donate an amount to them in appreciation.)

I will try to get back onto this board on a regular basis. With a new nurse on board and a huge increase in referrals, I have had to spend almost every waking minute 'on the job', so to speak.

Miss all of you so much...but, I'm still here...still going strong!

Peace,

Lois Jean

How do you PM?

[sallyspring]

I have a question I am hoping I can get some help with. I need to make a consent form for my foot care clients. Do any of you use one? I need to know what information I need to put on there. And if the Patient cannot sign for himself, and there is not a family member present, what then?

Thank you in advance!

Tutti

I have one developed for my business. I put it on the back of the questionaire that the clients complete on the first visit. I have somethinglikethis Name, age, I ......... consent to receiving footcare from.................

This consent is valid for 12 months unless I withdraw my consent.

Signature.................Date

Relationship to client...................... Who cannot sign because...................

Witness...............Date

Renewal date...... Signature.................Witness.....................Date

[sallyspring]

I spoke with 2 nurses from the certifiying board at the WOCN the other day and got some good news. This certification process is going to be open to Associate Degree nurses. I was first informed several years ago, when this was just an idea, that it would be for Bachelor Degree nurses and higher. Apparently they did a survey and found that most of the nurses doing foot care are A.S. nurses. So this is really good news. Now the LVN's/L.P.N.s need to go to their governing bodies and see how to get something going for them. It is very exciting to see this finally happening. It looks like I may be one of the nurses on the Exam Committee for this process and I will find out in a few weeks. I will keep you posted on any interesting developments. I do have one insight. I think that the use of dremel grinders is going to be very discouraged. I am going to advocate for the electric nail filing systems, something actually made with nails in mind and not craft projects. They are great tools, safe and with many different bits that can be sterilized.

I only use the dremel to file thick hard nail to make it easier to use until I can use nippers. I rarely use bits prefering instead to use a blacks foot file. I find the best thing for dry thick heels often is a piece of sanding block ( foam covered with coorifice and medium sand paper that I cut into 4 pieces) It works like a charm, just be careful not to use it on good skin. I prefer it to foot rasps.

[sallyspring]

I totally agree with you. I hope I can inspire confidenc in my clients so that they rely on my referrals etc.

[sallyspring]

can I have the recipe as well please.I don't know how to send personal mails.