Do you normally go and see your podiatrist for your routine nail and skin care, or do you go to the beauty salon for a pedicure?
In 2006, certified nursing foot care was finally included as a nursing specialty in the United States, together with the wound, ostomy, and continence (WOC) nursing specialties.
This board-certification assures competency in assessment skills, making a visit to a board-certified foot care nurse an important preventive step in recognizing medical problems that need treatment by a podiatrist, surgeon, dermatologist, orthothist, etc. You'll also receive nail clipping; skin care; reduction of corns and calluses; as well as guidelines in reference to your feet and general health issues that affect your feet.
I'm one of the few nurses in Tucson, Arizona, with the nursing foot care board-certification. My practical experience as a foot care nurse dates back to 1998 when I first worked as a foot care nurse at Tucson Medical Center's Foot and Ankle Clinic. In 2000, I became a sole-proprietor with my own business.
- Please review the page with "My nursing foot care service for diabetics and non-diabetics" for a full description of how I can help you with your foot care needs.
- The page with "service overview" is a printable one-page summary of my nursing foot care service.
It's important to recognize that this nursing specialty is not intended to be a competition to the work of American podiatrists. Rather, certified nursing foot care is a complimentary service and a preventive service; to better meet the needs of the general public. It's also not intended to be a competition to beauty salons. Each specialty offers its own unique services; and, they all complement each other.
It's also important to recognize that routine foot care is often not covered by medical insurance. Starting in 2012, AHCCCS insurance plans in Arizona eliminated coverage of podiatry services. Medicare routinely pays for only two toe nail trimmings by a podiatrist per year for diabetics. A board-certified foot care nurse with practical experience may be a nice alternative when medical insurance doesn't pay, as you'll get a comprehensive and preventive foot care service, in addition to the toe nail trimming and skin care.
