Foot Care Education
Workshops for Individual Caregivers and Nurses
Many caregivers are afraid to provide basic foot care. Uncertainty, fear, or confusing policies sometimes prevent caregivers from providing basic foot care. Foot care is critical for all clients, and even more so for those with abnormal feet, or higher risk feet due to chronic health conditions like diabetes.
Why Learn Foot Care?
- You are in a rut or just want to add to your nursing knowledge.
- You want to learn something new that is exciting and fulfilling in a different way than you’ve ever experienced.
- Foot care nursing is incredibly rewarding!
- There is a growing need for foot care nurses in NS.
Basic Foot Care Workshop
- 8-hour workshop
- For LPNs, RNs, PCWs, CCAs, HSWs and other caregivers.
- Includes demonstration and practical application as per participant's preference
Workshop Description
All people who need advanced foot care still need the basics as well. Would you like to know how to provide excellent foot care and when to ask for help? Learn how to provide basic foot care for people with lower and higher risk feet.
This 8-hour workshop provides the foundational knowledge for all caregivers to independently provide basic foot care to clients who have uncomplicated feet, meaning no pathology/disease of the lower extremities, or to collaborate in the care of higher risk clients. It is appropriate for LPNs, RNs, PCWs, CCAs, HSWs and other caregivers.
Participants are instructed in basic skin and nail care, including filing and trimming, with the understanding that a nurse or doctor with advanced foot care knowledge must first assess the individual to determine the appropriate plan of care and care provider. All people who need ‘advanced’ care still require regular ‘basic’ foot care as well. Instruction includes care of people who have diabetes, dementia, and other health problems with a focus on the difference between arterial and venous problems and the appropriate ongoing management of each. Documentation and Infection Prevention Control Guidelines are reviewed. This workshop includes demonstration and practical application as per participant’s preference.
Advanced & Diabetic Nursing Foot Care
- 16-day course
- For licensed practical and registered nurses
Workshop Description
Nursing Foot Care is non-invasive, conservative care at the level of the epidermis with the focus of educating, promoting foot health and preventing problems. Our curriculum is developed to address the specific needs of the caregiver populations, and delivered in an effective teaching style. Our courses are well received by learners who prefer an informal, interactive approach that respects the existing experience and skill of the participants.
This course can be tailored for delivery to rural and remote communities who may experience a specific set of concerns, including First Nations health centres.
Caring Education wants every nurse who takes this course to enjoy it and be successful. Nurses who express interest in this course are sent a detailed email. If they wish to proceed with registration, we then schedule a phone conversation to make sure that the course and nurse are a good match.
Alison’s teaching style is invigorating and fun. Payment plans are available. She is an excellent teacher who is committed to working with individual nurses to help them have what they need to succeed.
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Nursing Assessment for Foot Care
- Workshop length 4 hours
- For LPNs and RNs
- Includes demonstration and practical application as per participant's preference
Workshop Description
For nurses who have completed the Basic Foot Care Workshop (or equivalent). Nurses are often responsible to determine what care and care provider are required. This workshop helps nurses who do not have advanced foot care knowledge and skill to do just that.
Nurses are often responsible to determine what care and care provider are required. This workshop helps nurses who do not have advanced foot care knowledge and skill to do just that.
This workshop is delivered upon request and customized to meet the needs of the client/organization. Please contact us to discuss your foot care concerns so that we may determine how to address them effectively.
Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses learn how to complete a comprehensive screening assessment of the lower limb and feet. Upon completion of the Basic Foot Care Workshop (or equivalent), nurses may take this 6-hour workshop. Participants are taught how to determine what foot care an individual requires and which caregivers can safely and effectively provide that care. Topics include assessment of abnormalities associated with skin, nails, peripheral circulation, sensation, footwear, medications and diabetes. Instruction includes the nursing roles and scopes of practice in relation to assessment, coordination, education, supervision, referral and evaluation of foot care. They review how to develop a plan of care for clients who cannot safely provide their own foot care and for clients experiencing, or at risk for pain, pressure injury, skin breakdown, infection, impaired wound healing, Diabetic Foot Ulcer, venous ulcer and impaired sensation.
Master Classes for Foot Care Nurses
- Workshop length varies
- For Foot Care Nurses
To support the evolving knowledge, skill, ability and judgment of foot care nurses, a variety of topics are available and others are added as the need is identified. We invite your suggestions and requests, please click here to contact us.
Master Classes can include:
Participate in a concise review of relevant A&P, nursing assessment and planning care with appropriate interventions related to the non-invasive nursing management of ingrown and involuted nails. We will review techniques within the nursing scopes of practice such as how to ‘roll-out’ spicules and pack involuted edges. This workshop includes tips on prevention, client education, criteria for safe packing of nails, a comprehensive review of associated risks and determining which clients need to be cared for by another health professional. There will be an opportunity to learn about and use two nail bracing systems that may ‘correct’ involution for some clients.
Learn how to safely and effectively use a blade for noninvasive nursing foot care. The ‘gouge’ can be used to reduce or remove calluses and corns very effectively and is also helpful with certain textures of thick nails (and no airborne particulate!) . This workshop includes a review of some of the foundational knowledge for nursing foot care, indications and contraindications for using a blade, demonstration and the opportunity to practice on ‘pretend’ feet. Nurses have the opportunity to order their own equipment for the workshop to make it ‘hands on’.
Review techniques and products that can help to prevent problems secondary to pressure or friction. This workshop provides valuable information about the indications and contraindications of nursing interventions for the redistribution of pressure to prevent or resolve calluses, corns, pain, blisters, maceration and wounds. Alison will demonstrate the use of some devices used by Foot Care Nova Scotia. She will show nurses how to make a customized toe separator and a combination toe crest/toe separator appliance using silicone. We will make our own in this workshop. Nurses have the opportunity to order their own equipment for the workshop to make it ‘hands on’. Participants are encouraged to bring their own preferred products for a little ‘show and tell.’
As self-regulated professionals we know we are expected to have all our policies and procedures (P&P’s) documented. This can be a daunting task for some when first getting started. Stress not, some help is available. Please join us to review some of the what, why and how of developing P&P’s for your own business. Based on the input from foot care nurses, we focus on developing P&P’s that are priorities for the workshop participants. Bring pen and paper (or tablet/laptop) and any P&P’s that you want to develop. We will work in small groups with a facilitator.
Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) is an invisible disorder that far too often results in wounds and amputations … and it’s not only people with diabetes that have it. Do you know that 80% of the people who have PN do not know they have it, and therefore do not know they ‘need’ to do anything differently to protect themselves? Also, many of the 20% who know they have it don’t really understand all the fuss. After all, if it doesn’t hurt, why bother? In this workshop, we will review the vital roles that foot care nurses have with comprehensive screening assessments, client education and prevention of injuries secondary to PN. You are encouraged to re-evaluate your own technique for sensation assessment using a monofilament and tuning fork to see if you need to make any changes.
Learn how to use an infrared thermometer as a simple, effective and inexpensive method to prevent Diabetic Foot Ulcers, other wounds and infections. This underutilized diagnostic tool can detect tissue inflammation in the feet and legs of higher risk individuals who are prone to ulceration. Identifying pre-ulcerative inflammation allows nurses to intervene with measures to prevent ulcers and amputations. Clients can learn how to self-monitor as well. Workshop participants will also review how to modify the factors that contribute to the development of Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Charcot Foot.
It is important that foot care nurses know what documentation is required according to legislation, standards of practice and codes of ethics. This workshop provides the opportunity to review how to document informed consent, goals, care and outcomes. (Hey, that’s a care plan!) Documentation doesn’t have to be boring or painful. It can be easy and useful … let’s do it that way!