Providing Foot Care

Providing Foot Care

Equipment
■ Procedure gloves (if there are open lesions).
■ Pillow (if procedure is done with the patient in bed).
■ Basin for water.
■ Liquid no-rinse soap.
■ Bath towel.
■ Waterproof pad.
■ Washcloth.
■ Orangewood stick.
■ Toenail clippers.
■ Nail file.
■ Lotion or prescribed ointment or cream.

Assessment
■ Assess:
■ Bilateral dorsalis pedis pulses.
■ Skin color and warmth.
■ All areas of the feet for skin integrity, edema, condition of toenails, abnormalities.
■ Be Smart! Compare right and left feet.
■ Be Smart! Check carefully between the toes.
■ Assess the patient’s usual footwear; self-care ability for foot care (including vision and mobility); and knowledge about foot care, including usual foot care practices. Evaluate the need for a referral.
■ Be Smart! Verify that institutional policy allows a nurse to trim toenails. Obtain a prescription, if necessary. Post-Procedure Reassessment
■ Observe that feet are clean, and smooth; nails are trimmed and smooth; skin is pink, warm, and intact.
■ Identify and provide interventions for foot problems.
■ Ask the patient to demonstrate or describe correct foot care.

Key Points
■ Inspect the feet thoroughly for skin integrity, circulation, and edema.
■ Clean the feet with mild soap; clean the toenails; rinse; and dry well.
■ Trim the nails straight across, unless contraindicated or against agency policy
■ File the nails with an emery board.
■ Lightly apply lotion, except between the toes.
■ Ensure that footwear and bedding are not irritating to the feet.

Documentation
■ In most agencies, you will not document routine foot care (except, perhaps, on a checklist) unless there are problems.
■ If you do document, chart assessment findings and that foot care was given.