Grooming: Foot care

Foot care is an important part of personal care. Some clients, like those in an advanced age, need help with this task.

As a nursing assistant, make sure you assist these clients. Foot care includes caring for the skin of the feet as well as the toenails which helps prevent infections and injuries and reduces unpleasant odors.

Look for calluses or corns, which are areas with a thickened layer of skin that’s often painful. Cracks on the skin or ingrown nails — which is when the edge of the toenail grows into the surrounding skin — can be portals of entry for microbes, leading to infections.

Long or rough toenails can also harm the client and damage their clothing or bed sheets. In addition, poorly cared for feet and dirty stockings or socks can cause bad odors as well as encourage microbes to grow.

At the same time, foot care, as part of grooming, also contributes to the overall physical and emotional well-being of the client; it can boost the client’s self-esteem and generate a feeling of comfort.

In addition, it is a chance to closely observe the condition of the feet and toenails but also spend some time with the client and gain their trust.

Now, for people with poor blood flow, or compromised circulation, to the feet, foot care is especially important. This can be due to various conditions including diabetes, circulatory disorders, heart problems, or simply advanced age.

Reduced blood flow results in increased risk for infection, poor wound healing, and reduced sensation, which means they might be unaware of an injury that can lead to complications like infection or gangrene.

Often, nurses with specialized training will be the ones providing foot care for these clients. Now, before we talk about assisting with foot care, an important term you should be familiar with is tinea pedis, also known as athlete’s foot.

This is a fungal infection that usually starts in the skin between the toes and appears as a red, itchy rash. It’s more common in males and often affects people who wear damp socks or tight shoes.

Be aware that it is contagious and can spread to other clients or the healthcare team via contaminated towels, surfaces, or floors.

Okay, so, when providing foot care, first gather the supplies you’ll need, including: paper towels, a wash basin, soap, towels, washcloths, gloves, a bed protector, a nail brush, an orangewood stick, nail clippers (if you’re allowed to clip the client’s nails), a nail file or emery board, lotion or petroleum jelly, as well as nail polish remover and nail polish (upon client’s request).

Sometimes, the client will have their own personal supplies, and you should use that whenever possible. Alright, start by making sure that the wheels on the bed are locked, raise the height of the bed to a comfortable working height, and lower the side rails on the working side of the bed.

Cover the over-bed table with paper towels, place the basin on it, and fill the basin with warm water and soap. Check to see if the water is at a comfortable temperature and then confirm it with the client.

Next, if the client is able, assist them to a bedside chair. If the client can’t get out of bed, raise the head of the bed to a height that is comfortable to them.

If the client is seated, position a bed protector on the floor in front of the bedside chair. If the client is not seated, fold the bed linens to the foot of the bed, and place the protector on the bed under their feet.

Then, help the client position their feet in the wash basin, and let them soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Take one of the client’s feet out of the basin, and use a washcloth with soap to wash it thoroughly.

Use a nail brush to rub the rough areas. Rinse and dry thoroughly—particularly between the toes.

Then, repeat the procedure to the other foot. The next step is to clip the client’s toenails.

Providing nail care can easily cause injuries, which can then lead to a dangerous infection especially in people with compromised circulation.

Thus, trimming toenails in clients with compromised circulation is usually done by nurses with additional training and podiatrists, which are doctors specialized in foot care.

The nurse may delegate to a nursing assistant the task of nail care for a person with uncompromised circulation. If you are delegated this task, make sure to cut the toenails straight across using nail clippers.

Also, don’t cut them too short, and be careful not to damage the surrounding tissues. Whether you clip the nails or not, use the nail file or emery board to smooth any rough edges on the nails.

Next, apply lotion to feet and toes. Now, upon the client’s request, you can also polish the toenails.

Once you’re finished with foot care, help the client return to bed if needed. Okay, now when assisting a client with foot care, there are a couple of things you should report to a nurse straight away.

First, let the nurse know if the client has dry or irritated skin, any cuts or new wounds or bruises, and if there are cracks between their toes.

Also, report if they have any rash; blister; corns, which are areas of thick skin that are often painful; and unusual odors.

Next, inform the nurse if you notice their nail beds have an unusual color such as blue, white, or yellow. Also, inform the nurse if you notice ingrown nails or if their nails are very thick, loose, or broken.

Finally, report if the client complains about itchiness or pain in their feet. Make sure to document the date, the time, and any unusual observations about their feet and toenails.

All right, as a quick recap… Foot care includes taking care of the feet’s skin and toenails. Providing foot care is essential for a variety of reasons including preventing infections, avoiding injuries, and controlling odor.

Clients with poor blood flow to the feet require special foot care. As a nursing assistant, you will be asked to assist clients with foot care and sometimes with trimming toenails.

After the procedure, remember to report any unusual signs or symptoms to the nurse and make the proper documentations.