certification Objective
Certification is for Nurses (including DNP, NP, BSN, RN, LPN/LVN) interested in obtaining skills and practical knowledge to provide “routine foot care”.
This intervention is needed for patients who are healthy but cannot perform normal foot care due to vision, orthopedic, or neurologic deficiencies.
This care is also necessary for those who may have co-morbid conditions that lead to vascular, neurologic, or dermatologic disorders and are therefore at high risk of trauma or infection from inadequate foot care.
Rationale Statement of Need
As our population ages and chronic conditions such as diabetes and vascular disease become more prevalent, care that was previously provided routinely by unskilled caregivers or the patients themselves must now be provided by skilled clinicians.
Foot care is among the continuing interventions that may need to be provided clinically in order to decrease the risk of injury and infection, which can even lead to amputation and death.
As Podiatric physicians turn more to advanced diagnostic treatment modalities, nurses are the natural choice to perform evaluations and care for the routine foot care needs of these high-risk patients.
They are in the unique position of utilizing their training and hands-on patient experience. One of the many nursing strengths is their holistic and integrated care approach to a patient population that sometimes requires extra time, experience, and dedication.
Adding the additional education and training to provide routine foot care is a natural expansion of nurses' important role in the continuum of healthcare.
The Certified Foot Care Nurse Shall
- Engage in behavior that conforms to high standards of moral, ethical, and professional competence.
- Offer services consistent with the standards of their profession for which the individual is competent and qualified; work within the scope bound by their training; practice within the bounds of their state or provincial legislation.
- Practice the necessary infection control standards, such as universal precautions when providing assessment and treatment; provide treatment in a clean and safe environment that follows best practices.
- Inform the patient/client of the type of treatment and cost prior to the start of the foot care treatment, what to expect from treatment, and recommended follow-up care.
- Provide accurate documentation and timely feedback to other members of the healthcare team and other interested parties in order to ensure coordinated, managed care of the patient/client.
- Recognize when a patient/client presents with a condition, pathology, or exam finding that requires advanced assessment and care outside of the Nurse’s qualifications and/or scope of practice.
- Recommend that a patient/client seek an appropriately qualified consultation when a patient/client's condition requires further assessment or treatment by a podiatrist or primary care health provider.
- Abide by all prevailing community business standards and adhere to all federal, state, and local laws regulating business practice.
- Safeguard information obtained in the course of the involvement with a patient/client and maintain compliance with all Federal, State, and Local Health Care Information Privacy statutes and standards.
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Objectives & Practice Standards
Eligibility
Application Process
Examination Contents
CFCN to CFCS!!