Podiatry for Nurses Course

Lesson 1 • Muscles, Tendons, and Ligaments

Identifies intrinsic and extrinsic muscles, key tendons, and stabilizing ligaments. Connects muscular anatomy to gait and injury risk assessment.

Lesson 2 • Skin and Nail Structures

Examines the layers of pedal skin, nail anatomy, and sweat gland distribution. Grounds nurses in tissue-level changes that signal pathology.

Lesson 3 • Neurological Innervation of the Foot

Details sensory and motor nerve distributions in the foot. Enables nurses to perform and interpret basic neurological screening tests.

Lesson 4 • Bones and Joints of the Foot

Covers the 26 bones, 33 joints, and their functional relationships. Provides the structural baseline for understanding common podiatric conditions.

Lesson 1 • Vascular and Neurological Screening

Applies bedside tests to evaluate pedal perfusion and peripheral sensation. Provides nurses with objective data for risk stratification.

Lesson 2 • Palpation and Range of Motion

Guides systematic palpation of bony landmarks, soft tissue, and joint mobility. Links palpation findings to potential diagnoses for referral decisions.

Lesson 3 • Gait and Footwear Analysis

Observes walking patterns and evaluates footwear wear patterns for biomechanical clues. Connects gait findings to pressure injury and deformity risk.

Lesson 4 • Documenting and Communicating Findings

Establishes standards for recording assessment data and communicating with the multidisciplinary team. Accurate documentation supports continuity of podiatric care.

Lesson 1 • Inflammatory and Painful Conditions

Covers plantar fasciitis, gout, bursitis, and Morton's neuroma. Nurses will recognize acute versus chronic presentations and initiate appropriate comfort measures.

Lesson 2 • Structural Deformities

Identifies hallux valgus, hammer toe, claw toe, and pes planus. Links deformity type to pressure distribution and ulceration risk.

Lesson 3 • Skin Conditions of the Foot

Addresses callus, corn, tinea pedis, plantar warts, and fissures. Nurses learn to distinguish benign from high-risk skin lesions requiring specialist input.

Lesson 4 • Infections of the Foot

Examines cellulitis, paronychia, and osteomyelitis warning signs in the foot. Prepares nurses to escalate care promptly and apply infection control measures.

Lesson 1 • Diabetic Foot Risk Stratification

Applies validated classification systems to categorize patients by ulceration and amputation risk. Guides frequency of review and intensity of preventive intervention.

Lesson 2 • Preventive Foot Care for Diabetic Patients

Delivers evidence-based daily care routines, footwear guidance, and patient education strategies. Reduces ulceration incidence through consistent preventive nursing actions.

Lesson 3 • Pathophysiology of the Diabetic Foot

Explains how neuropathy, ischemia, and immune dysfunction combine to create ulceration risk. Provides the physiological rationale for every diabetic foot intervention.

Lesson 4 • Diabetic Foot Ulcer Assessment

Applies structured tools to classify ulcer depth, infection, and ischemia. Accurate classification drives appropriate wound management and specialist referral.

Lesson 1 • Offloading and Pressure Redistribution

Applies offloading devices and positioning strategies to reduce plantar pressure on healing wounds. Offloading is the single most critical factor in neuropathic ulcer healing.

Lesson 2 • Wound Healing Physiology

Reviews the four phases of wound healing and factors that impair progress in pedal wounds. Connects physiology to clinical decision-making for dressing and debridement choices.

Lesson 3 • Debridement Methods in Nursing Practice

Covers autolytic, enzymatic, and mechanical debridement within the nurse's scope of practice. Identifies when sharp debridement requires podiatry or surgical referral.

Lesson 4 • Wound Assessment and Classification

Applies structured wound assessment frameworks to foot ulcers and surgical wounds. Consistent classification enables treatment planning and outcome monitoring.

Lesson 1 • Vascular Assessment Techniques

Applies bedside vascular tests to quantify arterial insufficiency in the foot. Accurate assessment guides safe wound care and referral urgency.

Lesson 2 • Lifestyle and Risk Factor Modification

Supports patients in modifying smoking, diet, and activity to slow vascular disease progression. Nurses deliver structured education aligned with vascular risk reduction goals.

Lesson 3 • Safe Wound Care in Ischemic Limbs

Adapts wound care practices to minimize trauma in poorly perfused tissue. Nurses will identify procedures that are unsafe without vascular surgical clearance.

Lesson 4 • Pathophysiology of Peripheral Arterial Disease

Explains atherosclerotic progression, stenosis, and tissue ischemia in the lower limb. Provides the physiological basis for clinical signs and nursing interventions.

Lesson 1 • Routine Nail Cutting Technique

Demonstrates correct instrument selection, cutting angle, and nail edge finishing for routine care. Proper technique prevents ingrown nails and trauma in vulnerable patients.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Safe Nail Care

Establishes infection control, patient consent, and contraindication screening before nail procedures. Safety principles prevent iatrogenic injury in high-risk patients.

Lesson 3 • Managing Ingrown Toenails

Covers conservative nursing management of early-stage ingrown toenails and appropriate referral for surgical cases. Nurses will apply packing and nail edge techniques safely.

Lesson 4 • Post-Procedure Care and Documentation

Establishes wound care, patient instructions, and record-keeping standards following nail procedures. Thorough documentation supports continuity and medicolegal accountability.

Lesson 1 • Amputation Prevention Strategies

Synthesizes vascular, wound, and infection management strategies to prevent lower limb amputation. Nurses will coordinate care pathways that reduce amputation rates.

Lesson 2 • Mentoring and Educating Nursing Colleagues

Develops skills to teach podiatric assessment and care techniques to junior nurses and support staff. Knowledge transfer sustains organizational competency in foot care.

Lesson 3 • Leading Podiatric Care Quality Improvement

Applies audit, benchmarking, and change management tools to improve podiatric care outcomes at the unit level. Nurses will design and implement measurable improvement projects.

Lesson 4 • Charcot Neuroarthropathy Management

Covers recognition, acute management, and long-term care of Charcot neuroarthropathy in diabetic patients. Early identification prevents irreversible deformity and amputation.