Foot care training

Tutti · Jan 3, 2004

Hi everyone,

I took a course in foot care in Canada as well, because the US is far behind in this area. They have a 2 day course in Seattle Washington every year for foot care for nurses, put on by the Podiatry association. I have been to it 3 times now. They are slowly getting there. They have recommendations and they recommend this course and a follow up with observing a Podiatrist for so many hours. However, I know that Canada has actual laws and regulations for nurses to do foot care and that is why they have so many teaching certification programs available. I do foot care and I agree that no one should do it without the proper training. I am an LPN. Hope this is helpful!

Tutti

guest*** · Jan 19, 2004

If you copy and paste this web page, you should get information on a Level One foot care course for health professionals given by the folks at LEAP ( Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Program) in Louisianna. It is a diabetic foot course but anyone interested in foot care needs to be well educated on the aspects of diabetic foot care. Hope this helps.

This is a sample of one of their Level 1 courses. I have not taken a course there but it sounds pretty interesting.

Objectives:

- Outline a staged diabetes management program

- Understand the mechanics of foot injury and pathway to lower extremity amputation in diabetes

- Identify the foot at risk of injury and amputation in diabetes

- Outline a comprehensive approach for the prevention of diabetes foot problems

- Correctly measure shoe fit in the high risk individual

- Outline treatment principles for diabetes foot lesions

- Perform a diabetes foot screen, assess the risk category and formulate an appropriate treatment plan

Program:

8:00 Registration, Coffee and Introductions

8:30 Staged Diabetes Management - L Pennington

9:15 Mechanics of Foot Injury in Diabetes - C Patout

10:00 Break

10:30 Identifying the Foot at Risk - J Birke

11:15 A Comprehensive Prevention Approach - C Patout

12:00 Lunch

1:00 Footwear for Injury Prevention - J Birke

1:30 Management of Foot Ulceration and Charcot Fractures - J Birke

2:15 Break

2:30 - 4:00 Foot Screening Practice Lab: (Required for Level-1 LEAP Certificate, wear appropriate clothing)

http://www.medschool.lsumc.edu/dfp/Seminar%20Brochure.pdf

guest*** · Jan 20, 2004

Foot Care for Salon Professionals by Dr. Oscar Mixx published by Malady Press ( I think) Look on Amazon.com. Great book, should be called Foot Care for Health Care Professionals. WAY beyond the scope of practice for pedicurists. I took an 8 hour class by him that was great and was given at a trade show for the Cosmetology Professionals in Sacramento last year. Good luck!

Laura

adrienurse, LPN · Jan 20, 2004

but don't you think it's a little scarry that salon workers are attempting procedures beyond simple pedicures?

Tutti · Jan 20, 2004

Laura and nightengale,

That's the same book I bought. It is a good one. The one I really wanted was out of stock on amazon, something about foot care for nurse practitioners. But the salon one helped me when I was going up to canada for my training in foot care, I read what I could on the plane ride. It was very easy to follow and had some good information in it.

~Tutti~

Tutti · Jan 21, 2004

I took my foot care training a few years ago, and I also go to an annual foot care seminar here in washington for nurses put on by the podiatry association. I just like to keep up on things and learn as much as i can about foot care. The training in canada was definitely worth it for me.

Tutti

Tutti · Jan 22, 2004

Nightngale,

The conference is usually around October each year and is for a two day weekend. You can find info. on the washington podiatry association website. I can't remember the address, but you could probably find it easily with a search. I'm not really a member, anyone can go. It's directed towards nurses doing foot care, but I've seen all kinds of people go in different professions. Hope this is helpful. I just met with my bosses at work, and they want me to find a way to do just foot care only, and hire someone else to do my other duties. So, I'm praying I can come through with all the clients I will need to bring in to maintain a full time job.

~Tutti~

guest*** · Jan 23, 2004

Hi,

In reality, you are not certified, even in Canada. What you have is a certificate of completion and they are two different things. I have discussed this with Pat Mc Donald who is an LPN and works for the Board of LPN in Mannitoba, CANADA. They are looking into making a real certification process. So many nurses are under the impression they are "certified" when they are not. At least I believe I am correct (99% sure!).

The certification process that is in the works in the US is going to be for RN's with Bachelors degrees. RN's with Associate degrees who are currently working as foot care nurses will be grandfathered in (as I understand it). In the future, any RN who wishes to become certified and is unexperienced in foot care will have to have a bachelor's degree. I have an AS degree and will be grandfathered in. I have been nominated to be one of the nurses on the Exam Committee. If I am accepted I will be one of the first certified foot nurses in the nation. But I am not holding my breath. I should find out very soon.

What you need to do is to go to your state board of LPN and inquire if it is possible to get a certificate program going for LPN's. What you should do is to go to the annual Foot Care Nurse Conference in Mannitoba on the first Monday in October. Hundreds of LPN's in Canada have their own businesses so I do not think you need to worry much. You do need to start thinking about getting a protocol and procedure book together, if you do not have one. Also impecable charting practices and consents. Both professional and general liability policies are a must. You can contact NSO, Nursing Service Organization, for those policies. But go you your board and see what they have to say. Let me know how it goes. I have LPN's working for me, one as an employee and one as an independant contractor.

Hope this helps.

guest*** · Jan 23, 2004

WOCN

Wound Ostomy Continence Nurses OR Wound Care Nurses as they are commonly called. They are a large organization out of Kansas City. They have a WEB site but I do not have it off hand.

guest*** · Jan 23, 2004

Tutti

Nurses can still do foot care who are not certified. Certification is just one avenue for those nurses who like to collect things to put on their walls. Don't get me wrong, certification means that you have had a certain amount of training but it does not mean that is a nurse who is not certified is a lessor nurse than a nurse who is certified. Does that make any sense? In other words, a nurse will be able to take a course, pass a test, but does that mean she can cut nails any better than a non certified nurse who has been doing nails for years. NO! But I guess it is a good idea in the long run. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next several years. I predict that nurses will be doing the majority of routine foot care in the nation. I had this insight about 10 years ago when I was trained by a podiatrist. We have come a long way in 10 years but I think the field will snow ball in the next few years. So don't worry, just get all you legal stuff in order so you do not risk your license.

adrienurse, LPN · Jan 23, 2004

two books that were recommended by my foot care instructor:

Alexander, I. The Foot. ISBN# 44307656-1

L. B. Harkless & K. Felder-Johnston. (1998) Foot and Ankle Secrets. Hanley and Belfus, Philadelphia. ISBN#1-56053-211-4

Tutti · Jan 23, 2004

Laura,

Thank you so much for all of that information. I have been doing foot care for the past three years, not on my own, but through my employer. I agree about the certificate vs certification. I do have my certificate hanging on my wall because I get so many people asking me, where did you get your training? I called the state board of Nursing once when I started out doing foot care and asked them about laws, regulations for nurses to do foot care, and their were none. I will definitely work on getting all my legal stuff in order as you said. And I will see about getting a certification course for LPN's going. Again, thanks. You have so much information to offer.

Bye for now,

~Tutti~