A great opportunity:
Foot care nursing.
by Mitchell, Kim
When people cannot get their shoe on, especially seniors, they don't get out, they don't exercise, they eventually get isolated. To me it is an extension of good health care and nurses are all about good health; that is the major reason I became a foot care nurse.
In 1994 I was working for St. Mary's Home Care when the director asked me," how would you like to do foot care?" That question brought a range of reactions from," well maybe" to " I don't do feet!" I was curious so I took the program designed by Dr. Chambers & took the required test. That's where it all began for me. I did foot care for home care & then had an opportunity to take the program to St. Mary's Silver Connection; where the Happy Feet program was created. The program filled a need in the senior community & was associated with Dr. Karrasch's free foot clinic that he provided to seniors there. In Reno we have a great group of supportive doctors for this program.
I left the Reno area in 1998, but the programs remained with other great nurses doing foot care. Sadly, St. Mary's ended the programs, but foot care continued to be performed by some independent practitioners: Foot Care by Petra Niederberger, Nurse's Touch by Kay Hubley, & Happy Feet II by Renate Lawrence are some of those nurses. In 2006 I started the Step by Step program.
When Shelly Taylor brought her 3 day program to Nevada it was a great learning experience. It provided reinforcement that foot care is a much needed service & nurses are the best people to provide it. It encouraged networking between those of us who do foot care & those who are interested in starting. Getting certified to do foot care was another benefit & did I mention, we had a great time!
As the senior population increases, as people develop diabetes, arthritis, and other health challenges this service will become even more important and even critical in preventing amputations with quality foot care. Nurses are the perfect people to assess, provide good care, & educate about staying healthy. Doing foot care gives nurses the opportunity & the time to do just that.
So my question to those of you reading this is "How would YOU like to do foot care?" It is a great & rewarding job! Become certified! Questions: cashfur@yahoo.com
Kim Mitchell RN
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