Nurses who specialize in footcare

acuteobrn · Oct 6, 2003

No I haven't thought about this, but good for you!!!

I personally couldn't do it!!! Have a thing about feet...kinda like eyes, just gives me the creeps!!!

adrienurse, LPN · Oct 6, 2003

Feet are fine, it's teeth that I can't deal with. Ick.

MomNRN, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2003

I can't think of her name, maybe Audrey, but there is a poster who logs on here who does footcare. She posts on the Nursing Entrepeneur site too!

Good luck - I don't like feet either!

Shamrock, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2003

There is definetly a need for it. I've seen so many elderly people

with skanky feet! I'd be interested in knowing how the class goes, does it certify you? Also, how much is charged for the foot care?

sjoe · Oct 6, 2003

I have seen podiatrists and NPs who specialize in podiatry work in several clinical settings, but never with their own RN assisting, so don't know about future employment opportunities after a program such as you report. You might want to look into this before you invest much time or money, if employment is your goal.

redshiloh · Oct 6, 2003

Specialize in nurses' feet! God knows we need all the help we can get in that area!

adrienurse, LPN · Oct 6, 2003

Anyway, in my neck of the woods, certified foot nurses can set up shop and do uncomplicated to semi complicated foot care. The course I am taking will certify me to do this. It is separate from podiatry because we can't do nail surgery and fit for orthotics and things like that, but can do things like reduce callouses with a dremel file and cut big thick toenails.

Interesting that this is not more common elsewhere. I've seen podiatrists who (even with all their expertise) really butcher toenails.

cargal · Oct 6, 2003

Where did you find this course? I am very interested!

Thanks

adrienurse, LPN · Oct 6, 2003

Well I am taking it through Red River College in Winnipeg.

MomNRN, BSN, RN · Oct 6, 2003

More power to you!

I had to work on feet today at school. We had a student with severe peeling of her feet. She had then picked at the layers producing several large sores. We soaked her nasty feet (bless her heart) in epsom salts. I then put lotion on the foot without the sores and a/b cream on the foot with the sores. How nasty! I could not do feet!

Unfortunately, clean socks, shoes, and feet would cure all of her problems. I do not think her parents are much higher functioning than she is! We put clean socks on her today along with bandages. Wanna bet what she has on her feet tomorrow?

stevierae · Oct 14, 2003

I did it for over a year at a retirement center where the people were very wealthy. I learned from another nurse who was retiring. I felt privileged to do the job; some of my patients were in their '80 and '90s, and the stories they could tell! I felt honored to listen to them!!

A lot of them were concentration camp surviviors, or otherwise displaced by war; many came over here with nothing but the clothes on their backs and not speaking the language, and eventually worked themselves up into positions of great wealth.

Some of them had worked in the very early days of the radio and TV industries, and could tell their personal stories about Jack Benny and other celebrities of that era.

It was very enjoyable, and I took a great deal of pride into making their feet not only more comfortable, but attractive. One of my older male patients (98!) played golf EVERY DAY, and told everybody it was because of ME that he could.

The downside was when my patients died. Of course, it is to be expected; they were VERY elderly, but not ill. They simply died of old age. I really got attached to my patients--I really miss them, to this day.

You can get really good with the drill, which is indeed like a dremel--except you buy it at the beauty supply store, and it is called a Nail Genie. I used to buy specialty burrs from a place called Sunjean. They were meant for working on artificial nails, and they were very powerful--could smooth down the toughest calluses until the person's feet looked like baby feet. The burrs that come with the Nail Genie are too "wimpy" and wear out too fast--plus, they are difficult to disinfect.

I sold my business to another RN who was wanting to learn the business, mainly because I was neglecting my own LNC business, and I was also teaching and had to be out of town a lot. I charged $50 per session, and probably could have charged more. I did 6 appointments a day, once a week, and had a waiting list. People literally had to die for someone else to get a spot; I was that busy! The nurse before me did 8 patients a day, but she only spent about 20 minutes on each patient. I spent a good hour. I did not want them to feel rushed, and, anyway, I enjoyed the social aspect of it.

One perk: once you buy a Nail Genie at a beauty supply store, and let them know you have a foot care business, you get discounts on ALL products at the beauty supply store--just like hairdressers and nail technicians do.

One word of warning: your significant other and children will also want you to "do their feet."

Here's a tip: I used to buy generic denture cleaner at RiteAid to add to the warm soak water in my whirlpool foot bath, which you can buy anywhere, or at the beauty supply store. It turns the watere a beautiful ocean blue and smells good. When the water turns clear, they have soaked for 10 minutes, and you know it is time to start doing your magic with your nail cutters, cuticle lotion, and drill. Finish up with a nice, relaxing foot and calf massage. Your client will be putty in your hands! They will be ready for a nap.

My business was called Specialty Foot Care. If anyone entering the business would like to hear from someone who has done it, fell free to P.M. me! I can tell you what supplies to buy to get started with. Don't forget to buy the blue sanitizing stuff that you buy at the beauty supply store to soak your instruments in between patients; AFTER you have cleaned them thoroughly with antibacterial soap and water. Good luck to all you aspiring foot care nurses!

Oh, here's another tip: if you have a client who has sensitive toenails--perhaps he has an ingrown toenail -- you can ease the pain by putting on Numzit (you know, that stuff you buy for teething babies) for a few minutes before you file, drill, or cut the offending nail. I would have liked to have used Lidocaine jelly, but of course that is not available without a prescription. Numzit worked fine, though.

Also, if you note fungal infections such as athlete's foot, you can use either tea tree oil or Lotrimin cream to treat them; advise your patient where he can purchase his own supply (both are available over the counter.)

I used mink oil for my foot and calf massage--my clients LOVED it--but any good smelling cream will do. There is even one at the beauty supply store that can be warmed in the microwave for a few minutes.