Foot care training

footqueen · Nov 2, 2011

Where are all of the foot care nurses?

sallyspring · Nov 7, 2011

I am here still LOL. I am still chugging away at setting up my home based clinic. My Physio aide advised me to use a table rather than a chair ( she did a lot of foot care) and I decided to go with that as I am also trained in adjusting the lap bands. I am collecting clients meanwhile and provide services in their homes until my clinic is opened.

blessedskmom · Nov 10, 2011

Hi fellow foot care nurses, I'm new to this business in Georgia, and this is my first post. But I've been reading this thread for awhile and it's been very helpful. I took the class at Emory, loved it, and the exam in 2010. I started my own practice last winter (2011), and I'm doing mostly home visits through a local agency, and have a couple of clinic days at local senior living centers.

In response to some recent topics, I use a podiatry drill, I love it and found in my clinical that patients could feel uncomfortable with the dremel. Nothing against dremels, I have one, but I'm able to do almost anything quickly with my podiatry drill, and it's comfortable for clients. I also got the dvd set being sold online by a nurse, so helpful, and I've learned a lot from local foot care nurses.

I struggle with what to charge, instrument cleaning, and how to market, and I still have so much to learn. I find it very rewarding, and my clients love the service. I just wanted to weigh in and say thanks to all of you for your wisdom and advice, and best of luck too.

yrmajesty3 · Nov 12, 2011

Hi BLessedskmom,

Glad you are joining in on the conversation. I am attending the Emory class next week.

How long after the course did you take the exam and what materials did you use to prepare?

There is another blog that you can check out http://www.footcarenurseconnect.com...it's a little slow there too but has good info. PM me if you care to connect to compare some notes.

footqueen · Nov 12, 2011

Hi everyone! I've been doing footcare for a year and a half. I got my CFCN certification about six months ago. I really enjoy what I do, especially the clients.

sallyspring · Nov 15, 2011

Hi

Can you give some info on the podiatry drill please? ( cost, rechargeable/plugged in, where to purchase etc)

Thanks

blessedskmom · Nov 16, 2011

Hi, Yrmajesty3, Sallyspring, et al,

I know you'll enjoy the class at Emory, they're very good and teach well to prepare for the exam, study their notes. But I also needed the Salon Guide... by Geoffrey Mix as well, highly recommend. And took the practice test for $30, then studied that material in depth, and barely passed. I had trouble with the wording of some questions, and nursing tests always seem to have questions from out of nowhere. I took the exam 4 months after the class, studied hard for a month. Most of it is easy if you prepare, it's the 25% or so that's hard.

I started seeing clients 3 months after the exam. I wanted to order Karen Johnson's DVD, finally spent the money, and for me it has been wonderful, definitely influenced how I work and what instruments I use. I ordered my podiatry drill through the burr company she recommends (don't know if it's OK for me to name these things?) I got the cheapest one, $250, it's electric so I take an extension cord on visits and keep the box in a padded cooler with the lid on to minimize dust. I have a rechargeable dremel for backup. I would like to get their portable rechargeable drill for $450.

I've been fortunate enough to get home clients through a county agency. Hard to make money, because you're right about what you need to charge for travel and time, but can't get enough business charging it. I'm one who spends a lot of time, it means a lot to these clients, and I enjoy the home visits. But I've also found that it takes time to soak feet, pack and unpack, massage, and I'm meticulous with the trimming and foot care. So I'm making less and spending more time than I originally thought I would. With practice I'm getting faster, which helps. I've hesitated in marketing more until I can figure out some of this.

Good luck with your class!

sallyspring · Nov 21, 2011

Hi

an you emial me at liddy1@live .ca with the information on theDVD, Drill and Burr company please?(But I also needed the Salon Guide... by Geoffrey Mix as well, highly recommend,Karen Johnson's DVD,podiatry drill through the burr company,)

I would love to go on their web site and check them out. I am looking into a dril and vacuum as well. I have three battery charged dremels.

I find the same problem with time at each appointment. I know the only other footcare professional stick to an hour and charges $75. I don't charge that much and I just do the work and ignore the time. I am told I should have a timer on, but feel that I am being paid to do the job and it is unfair to leave some undone. It is a difficult problem and as I get better, I will be faster ( or as my clients' feet improve with care they won't take as much time).

Regarding soaking, what about asking clients to soak their feet just before you get there? or are most unable to do so?

I used to use a foot care bag but found it didn't hols all my stuff. Is started using one of those oversized bags from a store chain that has a flat bottom, put the bowl in the bottom and packed all the stuff into it.

blessedskmom · Nov 28, 2011

Hi,

I tried your email address and it didn't work, I'm sorry. If it's OK here, I could tell you her website and you could find info about the company where I got my podiatry drill and a few burrs (expensive, I've gotten others to save money). I found her by googling foot care nurse, you could put her name in your search too. You'll find the burr company cited by her as well.

I'm finding that anything with a vacuum is out of my price range, but I would like to have that too. I completely agree with everything you say about taking time to do what the client needs, but I'm faster, and over time their feet really do improve. I'm able to keep it to an hour or less almost always now.

Most of my clients wouldn't be able to manage the soak themselves. What do you do? The nurse with the dvd doesn't soak, but I was trained to and the other nurses I know all do it. Some of my clients take a bath or shower before I get there and decline the soak. Also I don't soak diabetic feet.

I use a rolling scrap-booking cart from a craft store, I've gotten fairly quick with it. My drill is heavy, lots of lifting the whole bag for stairs, in and out of the car, etc.

sallyspring · Nov 28, 2011

Thanks for replying.

I am surprised that the email didn't work

[email protected]

Re cost of vacuum.

I do agree that the cost is prohibitive. If my business takes off, I will try to afford one eventually.

I do soak diabetic feet as a lot of mine clients have really bad fungal infection and hygiene isn't good, so I use a cleanser and soak for 5 minutes. I have also found a skin clenaser made by Gerwhol that I spray on instead of alcohol. I then spray with hydrogen peroxide if the nails are really thick.

I use a callus softener on hard areas.

I like the dremel, I find it efficient for thick hard nails, thick hard heels and calluses too. The Umbrella burr is good on heels and I use small burrs to dress arounf the nails followed by an emery board.

For dry hard skin, I buy the sanding pads from the hardware store ( cut into small squares).I find them less abrasive than metal foot files ( like ped eggs) and do a better job than regular foot files.

You know thae best bowl I found for soaking? I bought some small blue rubbermaid containers, they are just the right size. I can then place the instruments used into them and cover it. I have more than one, so that I clean the instruments and the container at the same time. I do have the foot soaks that vibrate, but only use those at my clinic. They have more cutouts etc. and so need more attention to cleaneing and disinfecting.

How do you disinfect your bowls between clients?

sallyspring · Nov 28, 2011

Hi

Where did you buy your podiatry drill?

bizi · Feb 18, 2012

Wanted to bump up for new nurses

bizi