Have you considered leveling up as a foot care nurse?

You went into nursing to help people. To make a difference. 

And you have. But you’re also overworked, over-tired, beyond stressed–and you get almost no time to spend with your patients. Never mind your family.

You don’t want to work 12-hour shifts and mandatory nights and weekends for the rest of your life. Or even the rest of this year.

You’ve put your heart and soul into caring for others, and maybe lost a bit of yourself. Nurse burnout is real.

You’re ready for a change. You want to take back control of your schedule and workday BUT

• Seniority and round-the-clock rotations mean you’re years away from a schedule that lets you see your family
• You love nursing and don’t want to leave it, but the stress and lack of human interaction is leading you down the road to burnout
• You’re running around and responding to emergencies and others’ requests – there’s never enough time to just take care of your patients.
• You’re just going through the motions. This isn’t why you got into nursing. (Is it?)
• Maybe you just want to bring more money in, but the idea of working more overtime doing the same thing and working even longer hours makes you break out in a cold sweat.

What if I told you it was possible to work regular daytime shifts, Monday to Friday AND enjoy one-on-one time with patients again? 

Read on to find out how you can finally set your own schedule as a Foot Care Nurse.

First of all, what IS a Foot Care Nurse?

Foot Care Nurses are licensed healthcare professionals specializing in caring for their client’s feet.  They’re LPNs, RPNs, RNs or NPs who provide foot care services, including assessing overall foot health, preventing, and treating foot problems, managing and preventing foot infections in high-risk patients, such as those with diabetes or circulation issues. And educating patients on proper foot care so they can keep up their foot care at home. 

Who do they work with?

Foot care nurses work with a variety of healthcare professionals, patients, and clients. Some of the people that foot care nurses may work with include:

1. Patients with foot problems, such as those with diabetes, arthritis, or circulation issues.
2. Older adults who require foot care services. As we age our mobility decreases and it can be hard to reach our feet for proper care.
3. Healthcare providers, such as doctors, nurses, and podiatrists, who refer patients for foot care services.
4. Caregivers, such as family members or home health aides, who assist with foot care for patients.
5. Other foot care specialists, such as pedorthists, who work with patients to create custom foot orthotics.
6. Hospital and long-term care facility staff, who work with foot care nurses to ensure that patients receive appropriate care.
7. Community organizations and advocacy groups that provide resources and support for patients with foot problems.
8. Friends and family. You never know when your grandmother or great uncle might need your expertise to help them walk comfortably.

At One Step Foot Care we work primarily with seniors in retirement residences and care facilities, but there are so many different opportunities to use your new skills. It’s incredible, really.

Where do Foot Care Nurses find work?

As a new foot care nurse, you can find work in a variety of settings. Depending on your interests and experience, you might like to work in: 

1. Hospitals and healthcare facilities, providing foot care services to patients. You may choose to work in specialized departments or clinics or provide care as part of a broader nursing role.
2. Long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or retirement communities where you can provide foot care services to residents or patients on a regular basis.
3. Home care agencies, providing foot care services to clients in their homes. This can be a good option if you prefer to work independently or are interested in starting your own business.
4. Private practice, either as a sole proprietor or as part of a larger group. Always dreamed of entrepreneurship? This can be a great option for you to choose your own clients and set your own rules.
5. Community organizations, such as non-profits or government agencies, providing foot care services to our underserved populations or working to promote foot health and wellness in the greater community.

What hours do foot care nurses work?

It depends on what kind of work you’re doing and when your clients are available. Hospitals and health care facilities, and long-term care facilities are typically between the hours of 9 to 5 on weekdays, though weekend and afternoon shifts are usually available for those who want them. This can be perfect for nursing professionals looking to make more money on their own terms or who are looking for part-time work.

Foot care work can be your full-time job, your part-time job, or just something you do on the site to make some extra cash. Several nurses on my team like to keep their schedules strictly weekdays, while others prefer to work evenings because it frees up their whole day for their other responsibilities. 

That’s the beauty of being a foot care nurse, you get to call all the shots (finally!).

Who makes a good foot care nurse?

You went into nursing for a reason. Those same clinical skills and personality traits that helped you excel in your current role pretty much ensure you’ll make a great foot care nurse. A good foot care nurse is:

Knowledgeable and has a strong understanding of foot anatomy, common foot conditions, and best practices for foot care. They should stay up to date with the latest research and guidelines to provide the best care possible to their patients. 

Not up to date on your foot anatomy? Not to worry, all that can be easily learned!

Compassionate: Every good nurse is caring and empathetic towards their patients, being a foot care nurse is no different.

Detail-oriented: You must be meticulous and detail-oriented when performing foot care procedures to ensure you’re providing high-quality care and preventing complications. No difference, really, from all of your other patient care.

Patient: Foot care nurses must be patient and able to work with patients who may be experiencing pain, discomfort, or anxiety. Working with seniors, you might have some patients dealing with dementia who require more patience and guidance when having their feet cared for. 

Flexible: Foot care nurses should be able to adapt to changing circumstances and be flexible in their approach to care.

Professional: A good foot care nurse should maintain a high level of professionalism, including being punctual, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and adhering to ethical and legal standards.

See? I know you were able to confidently check every one of those qualities off your list. The reality is that being a foot care nurse isn’t that different from every other nursing job. 

What IS different? The amount of time you get to spend one-on-one with your patients and getting to choose when and where you work.

What are the challenges of being a foot care nurse?

Moving into a new discipline comes with its own set of challenges. Here are some challenges you can expect to be faced with as a new foot care nurse.

1. Dealing with patients who may be anxious or uncomfortable with foot care procedures. Not everyone is comfortable having new people touch their feet; they may be in a lot of pain or be embarrassed about how their feet appear. This isn’t anything you haven’t dealt with a thousand times over. My team of nurses find that after just one or two sessions any discomfort is gone as clients have learned to trust their nurses and are familiar with the sessions.
2. Managing and preventing foot infections in high-risk patients, such as those with diabetes or circulation issues. This is the core of the work we do, treating client’s foot issues. Unlike many other health issues, with foot care you can often see dramatically improved results after just one session, which can be really rewarding.
3. Staying up to date with the latest foot care techniques and treatments. Foot care nurses are a tight bunch and are constantly sharing new knowledge and techniques. And there are several courses you can take to elevate your skills as a foot care nurse.
4. Working with patients who have limited mobility or other physical or mental challenges that make it difficult to care for their feet. 
5. Ensuring that patients understand the importance of proper foot care and follow through with at-home care recommendations. 
6. Maintaining appropriate documentation and following regulatory guidelines to ensure patient safety and legal compliance. You still chart information and document your sessions. The difference is that as a foot care nurse it doesn’t take you away from any one-on-one time with your clients.

Despite these challenges, most foot care nurses find their work to be rewarding and fulfilling. There are few nursing industries where you get to see the immediate before and aftereffects of your work. There’s no better feeling as a nurse than watching your clients take their first steps after treatment and watching them beam with happiness.  

How do I become a foot care nurse? 

In Canada, You must be a licensed LPN, RPN, RN or NP and hold a current foot care certificate. To complete your certificate work, you need to complete a training course and clinical program.

And what’s the easiest way to get your Foot Care Nurse certificate? 

Simple! Complete your two-step foot care nurse course with One Step Foot Care.  

The easy way for nursing professionals to take back control of their schedules and nursing career.

One Step Foot Care is a licensed education provider of the Foot Canada Training materials that provide a comprehensive, advanced diabetic nursing foot care curriculum. 

This leading course curriculum is peer-reviewed, current and meets the standards set by the Canadian Association of Foot Care Nurses’ National Competencies for Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada which follows current best practice guidelines and evidence-based practice.

Ready to spend evenings and weekends with your family (remember them?) and get actual one-on-one time caring for your patients? 

Don’t wait, complete your foot care training and start your journey to becoming a foot care nurse! See how easy it is to become foot care nurse with One Step Foot Care.