Foot Care for Nurses

Good foot care for nurses isn’t optional. Foot pain is one of the most common complaints in nursing, and when your feet hurt, it’s hard to think about anything else. Between 12-hour shifts, hard floors, and miles of walking, even the bright spots in your day, like a funny moment with a patient or a kind word from a coworker, get dimmed by sore feet.

Your education, your experience, and your feet are three of your most important assets as a healthcare worker. Use the foot care tips below to relieve pain and protect your feet so you can get back to enjoying your work.

9 Ways Healthcare Workers Can Promote Foot Health

1. Keep Your Toenails Neatly Trimmed

It may seem basic, but keeping your toenails trimmed neatly can reduce pressure on your toes and help prevent ingrown toenails. Clip nails straight across. If you can afford it, get a pedicure on a regular basis. Ingrown toenails are a big source of foot pain. Clipping toenails straight across keeps them from digging into your skin and causing ingrown toenails and infection. Other pro toenail tips: Cut nails when they’re dry, and avoid trimming them too short.

2. Stretch Your Feet

Did you know you can hold a lot of tension in your feet? Stretching regularly can help reduce tension and release tight muscles that may be contributing to your feet and leg discomfort. These stretches are easy to do on the job, even in scrubs:

• Toe spread and curl: Sitting or standing, spread your toes as wide as you can and hold for five seconds. Then curl them under and hold for five more. Repeat five to ten times.
• Plantar fascia stretch: Sit down and cross one ankle over the opposite knee. Gently pull your toes back toward your shin until you feel a stretch along the arch. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds, then switch feet.
• Calf stretch: Stand facing a wall with your hands on it. Step one foot back, keeping the heel on the floor and the knee straight, and lean forward. Hold for 30 seconds per side. Tight calves are a common source of heel and arch pain.
• Ankle circles: Lift one foot slightly off the floor and slowly rotate your ankle ten times in each direction, then switch feet.
• Towel stretch: Sit with your leg extended and loop a towel around the ball of your foot. Gently pull the towel toward you, keeping your knee straight. Hold for 30 seconds per side.
• Golf ball roll: Place a golf ball (or small massage ball) under your foot while seated and roll it slowly from heel to toes, applying gentle pressure for about a minute per foot.

Try to stretch whenever you get a break, and take a few deep breaths while you do, since deep breathing helps release tension too. If you’re deskbound, get out of your chair and stretch every half hour.

3. Wear Compression Socks

Compression socks are a must-have for any nurse. Whether you’re on your feet all day or bound to a desk, compression socks provide relief from swelling and water retention. If you haven’t already, invest in a seamless pair that’s not too tight or loose, and ends just below your knees. You can also find them in cute prints and colors so you don’t have to sacrifice your sense of style for function.

4. Get New Shoes Every 6 Months

That may seem frequent, but for a career that requires hours spent on your feet, it’s a worthwhile investment. Your older shoes may look just fine from the top, but the foam soles quickly become compressed and unable to cushion your feet. When buying shoes for a healthcare environment, look for comfort, breathability, support, stability, and non-skid soles.

5. Slip Into Slippers

Self-care comes in many forms, and something as simple as a soft pair of slippers is just the ticket to help you unwind after a long shift on your feet. While you’re unwinding, elevate your feet to help with any swelling or achiness you may be feeling.

6. Moisturize Your Feet Daily Daily

Moisturizing your feet daily is essential to maintaining good foot health. As you spend long hours on your feet, your feet may develop callouses, cracks, and dry patches which could add to your already sore feet. Massaging your feet with a quality moisturizer help reduce skin irritation and help increase blood flow.

7. Use Hot and Cold Water Therapy

If your feet are aching after a long shift on the floor, soak your feet in a water bath, alternating between very hot and very cold water. Hydrotherapy stimulates circulation, resulting in a gentle tissue workout. End with cold water to reduce swelling. For added relaxation, add a few drops of lavender or peppermint essential oil to the water bath.

8. Soak in Epsom Salt

For especially tired and swollen feet, give them a soak in a very warm Epsom salt bath. The minerals in Epsom salt can help reduce swelling while the warm water helps aid in circulation.

9. Stop Smoking

We know: If it were that easy, you would have already done it. But if you need just one more reason to be convinced, smoking inhibits circulation, and when circulation is a problem, the feet are the first extremity to be cut off from blood flow causing pain and discomfort.

Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Nursing Career?

Healthy feet help you do your best work, and the right education helps you go even further. Whether you’re a working nurse looking to advance or you’re just preparing to enter the field, Joyce University provides ASN, BSN, and MSN pathways to prepare you for a rewarding career. With convenient online classes and hands-on labs and clinicals, you can gain real experience in a program that’s designed with you in mind.

Contact us today to get started.