Expanding a Foot Care Education Program for Nurses: A Quality Improvement Survey

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Podiatric Care
• Continuing Professional Development

Background:

• Foot care nurses require specialized education to meet evolving certification standards.
• Assessing current practices and educational needs is crucial for program development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate current foot care practices among nurses.
• To gauge interest in expanding continuing education for certification.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey was distributed to 445 past participants of a foot and nail care program.
• The survey included quantitative and qualitative questions on clinical practice and certification interest.
• A 22% response rate (99 participants) was achieved.

Main Results:

• Most participants utilize mechanical rotary files for toenail debridement.
• Respondents practice in diverse roles and settings, with less than half certified.
• 77% expressed interest in expanding the program for certification, particularly clinical hours.

Conclusions:

• There is a clear demand for expanded foot care education modules.
• The program can be structured to support introductory learning, advanced study, and certification needs.
• Developing tiered educational offerings will enhance professional development in foot care nursing.