Foot pain is a major complaint of nurses, understandably so since nurses are on their feet for most of their days. Each and every nurse may have likely felt pain in their feet at several times while at work and even at home. When the feet hurt, it might even become the only thing that the nurse in pain can focus on. And this can affect patient care and treatment. These consequences might be a result of not taking care of the feet properly. When it comes to nursing, the foot becomes one of the most significant assets. Read on for suggestions on how to take care of the foot properly.

Preparing the Feet for Work

The toenails should be neatly trimmed. It is recommended to have them clipped straight across. This should be checked before each and every shift. If one can afford it, a pedicure is greatly recommended. It’s because the ingrown toenails are often the source of foot pain. Clipping the toenails straight across would keep them from digging into the skin, thereby, preventing infections and pain.

It’s important to keep the feet clean and dry. The elimination of dirt and bacteria from the feet would prevent nail diseases and disorders from occurring. This would also help eliminate bad odor. After all, nurses’ feet are going to be in the shoes for almost 12 hours in a day.

Taking Care of the Feet on Job

Nurses are recommended to do various stretches while on the job. Whenever they get some time to sit or at least stand during a break, they can utilize the time for doing stretches for the neck, chest and shoulders. The stretches of the wrists and legs would help them keep loose and limber. These nurses should take some time for deep breathing sessions to release their tension as well. In the case of desk-bound nurses,  getting out of the chair and stretching every half an hour is essential.

Next important thing to be watched out is the socks and shoes. Wearing compression socks while on the job would help prevent the feet from swelling. The socks, which are a part of nurse’s attire right from the traditional times, will keep the blood from pooling in the legs and feet because of gravity. If not done yet, the nurses are advised to invest in a seamless pair of socks. Also, these socks should be too tight or too loose and they should end just below the knees.

When it comes to shoes, it is essential to get a new pair of shoes every 6 months. Yes, it’s more often and also they are quite expensive. Despite all these, as professionals, the nurses should invest in it. Although the older shoes may look very good from the outer side, they won’t be, after six months. The foam sole would have compressed and hence, they may not be able to provide cushion support to the feet. While buying shoes for the nursing job, several factors need to be taken into account. They are:

• Comfort
• Breathability
• Support
• Stability
• Non-skid soles
• Age
• Weight

Also, at a given time, it’s recommended to have at least two sets of shoes and socks and have them rotated.

Treating the Feet after Work

After getting home, nurses are advised to treat their feet with the softest slippers. Yes, it could depend on the budget. But, in this, they should not forget the point that super soft slippers would make everything better. Feeling better at the day end is important to prepare oneself for the next day’s duty. Next, moisturizing the feet every day is important. For this, the nurses are recommended to use thick lotion on feet to prevent cracks in the skin. Remember, the lotion should not be applied between the toes as it would promote infections.

Hot and cold water therapy is always recommended. After a long shift on the feet, it’s important to soak the feet alternately in hot and cold waters. This, which is called hydrotherapy, would stimulate circulation, thereby, leading to a tissue work out. The waters should be very hot and very cold and it’s advisable to end with cold water. This would help reduce swelling reactions.

The Epsom salt therapy is another recommended tip. Filling a large bowl of warm water and adding a cup of Epsom salt to soak the feet in it is the preparation process. The minerals found in Epsom salt would reduce swelling and the heat it in would aid blood circulation. One can also add some essential oils to this preparation as per their own preferences.

To lose weight is another important thing to do when it comes to foot care of nurses. When the foot has a lot to carry around, they would start feeling worse. To consider losing some weight if a nurse is overweight will make a huge difference in the amount of pressure the feet encounters.

Finally, it’s to be understood that foot is a precious commodity for a nurse. One can’t reach out to patients if the feet are not working properly. Therefore, it’s important to take good care of the feet to keep it going.