footqueen

LOL, the reason I posted the new requirements is for those who are planning on taking the exam- do it sooner rather than later! By "foot care company" I simply meant the home care agency who trained me in performing foot care. I now have my own "foot care company." I am sole proprietor of a business that performs medically-based foot care :)

Thx for the info. Dremels aren't banned here, still found in many pod and ortho clinics. However, I would prefer something dustless and with less vibration. I'll check out the THUMB. I have searched many sites and haven't found a good cordless (cannot rely on an outlet being available), portable (small), dustless unit. Also one that doesn't completely break the bank, lol! Any inventors out there???

I agree with you. I thought 8 clinical hrs was lacking. I worked as a foot care nurse (non-CFCN) for one year FT before I took the exam. I received training with a foot care company for a month and got to see many types of feet/nails. I think the decision to have a BS is a bit much. However, it does NOT state that you need a BSN, simply a BS. I have a BS in biology from 20 yrs before I became an RN (ADN). Hopefully, I'll be grandfathered in anyway since it states these requirements are for first-time testers. We are so in need of foot care nurses. I turn clients away all the time because they live too far away. Some fields are going overboard with degree requirements! I heard PT's will now need a DOCTORATE! That's a lotta school and $$ for a PT degree!!

I am into my 3rd year of foot care self-employment and I have only used the basic cordless dremel (2 speeds). I have a few podiatry bits and 2 battery packs (so one is always fully charged). I have never had a problem with this set-up. No complaints from clients except the occasional person who absolutely cannot stand the vibration sensation. I feel that the dremel works really well for most thick nails/calluses. The cost sure can't be beat! My main complaint is that I would love something that would be dustless. However, 90% of my time is spent "on the road" b/t home visits and various facilities so the portability of the dremel is very important. Would love to hear what others are using!

I don't think it is a scope of practice issue but I do tend to think it "lessens" the medical aspect of our jobs. I have people ask me all the time for polish and I simply state that this is medically-based nail care and not cosmetic in any way. Also, from a business standpoint, it would not be cost effective for me. I allow 45 min/client including assessment, foot soak, nail clipping, callus debridement, lotion/massage, sterilizing my equipment and charting. I would never have time for polish/dry time :))

Check out the senior centers in your area. Most podiatrists will not do nail care r/t not an insurance or Medicare reimbursable service (except with diabetes/neuropathy/PVD diagnoses). Likely you will need to find a private-pay nurse (i recommend a CFCN). Good Luck!

[h=4]I received this yesterday from WOCNCB. The requirements for first time CFCN candidates are much stricter than when I tested 3 yrs ago. Effective May 1, 2015[/h] ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS for Foot Care Exam Initial (first-time) candidates must: Have a current RN License Hold a Bachelor's Degree (or higher) - Effective Jauary 1st, 2015 Complete BOTH of the following: Accumulate a minimum of 25 CE/CME credits (contact hours) specific to foot care, and Accumulate a minimum of 40 clinical hours under the direct supervision of an expert in foot care for example: Physician, Podiatrist, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant, or a CFCN®. The expert MUST HAVE experience relevant to foot care. Both the CE/CME credits (contact hours) and clinical hours must be specific to foot care and must be completed within the previous 5 years from the date of the application while functioning as an RN. Click the link below to download the Exam Handbook for complete information. http://www.wocncb.org/pdf/WOCNCB_handbook.pdf

Ok, an update on my business. I opened a solo practice clinic in February in my small town (about 7,000). Starting with zero clients was slow. I advertised in the local paper with a discount coupon. This did bring in some business but slowly (aka- was still in the red). The local podiatrist sees me as a threat Now it's been 9 months. I have had 72 clients and I drive up to an hr away to do clinics. What I realized is that my clinic in my small town will probably close. It's just not worth the expense (sometimes I go in for 1 client/day), although my clients really rely on me (such a difficult call). I also do home visits, but they are more expensive, and therefore really only appropriate for those who are truly homebound. When I go to the bigger towns (Sr. centers, ALFs), I get a lot more business and can easily make $200/day. I am thinking of opening a new clinic in a nearby larger town, where I am sure after the initial slow start, business will really pick up. My experience is that the larger the city, the better you'll do. I've learned a lot having my own business. It is very expensive (equipment, leases, licenses, insurance, advertising, taxes) and takes a long time to grow. However, I am hopefull that it will soon bring in enough $$ that I can leave my "real" (aka reliable source of income) job :) Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Good luck to everyone. I can honestly say that almost every client that has come to see me has had only wonderful things to say about my services. Not tooting my own horn here, but simply stressing how important this work is. Most clients become repeat clients.

I just got asked to come to a facility because the podiatrist they were using was billing Medicare over a hundred $ per resident and he with them for about 5 minutes. The families were not pleased. When I told the director about my services (including foot soak, lower leg assessment, massage), she was thrilled. And, I charge about a quarter what the podiatrist was charging.

I have my own foot care business. I love it. I have my own clinic/office and I set my own hours. Haven't missed an important family event since I started. However, it takes time to build up a steady clientelle, so not much $$ in the beginning.

I am 3 months into running my own foot care practice. At first, I wanted to be only a "mobile" clinic and travel to my clinic sites, set up/break down each time. Since I am in a small town, I quickly realized it would make more sense for me to have my own clinic site. I was able to find an inexpensive office with an outer reception area and a separate treatment room. Marketing is tough! The local ALF and nursing homes have not shown any interest. I have gotten a contract with a nearby Senior Center (yea!) but hoped that I'd have more luck with other ALF's. I am slowly building up a clientele but it is taking longer than I hoped. Luckily, my new clients have been very pleased and are re-booking with me :) I'd love to network with other nurses in a similar situation!

I'd run. I fell for a "work for free" scam for 2 months (they said I was in TRAINING- unpaid, of course!). Learned my lesson :) Good luck with the hospital interview.

You are truly a miracle, Dan! Thanks for sharing your story- very inspirational!

Congratulations! I am a CFCN and recently decided to go solo! Exciting and scary. I'd love to network with others in a similar situation.

I document for each visit what I did at that visit (foot soak, cut nails, buffed or pared corns/calluses, drill to nails/calluses, lotion applied, referals, education, etc) and update their meds, health issues, etc. Initially and yearly, I will do a full lower leg exam/assessment and test pulses, sensory (monofilament), mobility, ankle/toe flexion/extension, med review, and health hx.

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.

You're not alone. Some people don't thrive in a hospital setting, although since you haven't been there very long, I'd hang in there. I, too, did school very well (4.0 GPA). The floor was a lot tougher. I did FT for a year, PT for 2 years and prn for a year, before I finally realized I was never going to like going to work in the hospital (it did get easier the more experience I had, but I still dreaded going). I took a job in HH as a foot care nurse and absolutely loved it. You will find a niche that works for you :))

Where are all of the foot care nurses?

SAHM- I know exactly what you are feeling. I went to nursing school after my kids were all in school (i was 36). I did acute care for 4 yrs and, although I learned a ton and felt a lot of pride in what I did, I was always stressed. I then took a job in public health, which I LOVE. The only downside is the 2 hr RT commute and the hours aren't many. Some days, I commute 2 hrs and work for 3 hrs (( I just got offered a UR job locally, and I can name the hours. I am excited b/c it will be a huge learning curve (one of the things I love about nursing). BUT, I will not have pt contact. I could keep the public health job on the side (and the long commute)... I need to decide. Anyway, nursing is wonderful for it's variety, and I agree that nursing in some people is "built in". You just have it in you to want to help people:)) Good Luck!!! Enjoy the kids while they're little.

That's the reason I left bedside nursing. Paper charting wasn't too bad, but everyone (TPTB) said it would get SOOO much easier with computerized charting. Well, just like the OP posted, they just dumped more and more "necessary" things to chart about! It got really bad when we would get a "pop-up" on our computer screen if pts showed S/S of "possible" complications that we'd have to immediately address with the doc. ie: a 94 yo pt with elevated BNP (pop-up- possible CHF) call doc, who did NOT want to be woken up for this news (of course she has an elevated BNP, she's 94!) but we HAD to call. Same for S/S of sepsis (really? Elevated WBCs with a pna pt???? Call doc, get yelled at, and document, document, document). If I could've used my judgment about calling the doc, had some standing orders, etc, it would have been tolerable. But I felt like a robot could've been programmed to do what I was doing. I got out...

I went back to school in my 30's to become a nurse. I worked the floor for 4 yrs, never really loving it, but I wouldn't have changed it. I learned so much that I don't think I could have attained anywhere else (assessment skills, time management, familiarity with meds/labs/procedures, etc). However, after 4 yrs of "waiting to love it", I finally left acute care and am now LOVING my job working with diabetics and the elderly. So, there are so many possibilites out there if you feel like you haven't found your nursing niche. Good Luck with your nursing career.

Does anyone have an opinion on Camp Lohikan in NE PA? I heard from them and they sound interested. It looks nice- my kids are excited for the possibility- but it'd be nice to have an "inside scoop:)))" I'd be one of 5 nurses along with one doc. Thanks!