CAFCN Resources

ASSOCIATIONS AND FUNDING

Opportunities for Each Province

Joining a professional organization is beneficial for your own professional development and the future of your career. The connections you’ll make, the resources made available to you and the ideas and advice you’ll discover represent an outstanding return on what amounts to a modest, manageable investment of time, money and effort. It could be one of the best things you do for yourself and your career.

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Newfoundland & Labrador

Northwest Territories

Nova Scotia

Nunavut

Ontario

Prince Edward Island

Québec

Saskatchewan

Yukon

BEST PRACTICE RESOURCES DIRECTLY RELATED TO

Nursing Foot Care

  • Health Canada Clarification: Laser-Based Medical Devices Are Not Licensed in Canada to Cure Fungal Nail Infections

    View Web Page
  • IPAC Canada Position Statement: Reprocessing of Critical Foot Care Devices in Healthcare Settings (revised September 2024)

    View PDF

CLIENT AND PATIENT EDUCATION

Reference Material for Foot Care

    Wound Care

    • This page from Wounds Canada is designed for patients and caregivers, providing essential information on wound care. It offers resources to understand various types of wounds, tips for effective management, and guidance on seeking professional help.

    Foot Care: A Step Towards Good Health

    • This resource from Diabetes Canada focuses on foot care for individuals living with diabetes. It outlines essential practices for maintaining healthy feet, including daily inspection, proper hygiene, and appropriate footwear. The document emphasizes the importance of regular check-ups and provides tips for recognizing potential foot problems early.

Conditions Affecting Foot Care

    Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD)

    • Wounds Canada provides information about Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), including its definition, symptoms, and the importance of early detection and management. It outlines how PAD affects blood flow, increasing the risk of wounds and ulcers. It also offers tips for patients and caregivers on preventing complications, managing existing wounds, and when to seek medical help.

    • Canadian Society for Vascular Surgery (CSVS) provides an overview of the condition, which involves narrowing of the peripheral arteries, primarily in the legs. It discusses symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment options.

    Diabetes

    • Diabetes Canada (formerly Canadian Diabetes Association) – This site has all the current best practice guidelines and information and is meant to be used by all health professionals as well as the general public. It is very comprehensive and easy to navigate.

    Arthritis

    • This Arthritis Talks webinar discusses:

      • Managing pain and stiffness in your hands and feet
      • Simple exercises to improve mobility and function
      • Surgical and non-surgical options for treating arthritis in your hands and feet

    Rheumatoid Arthritis

    • Arthritis Society Canada’s website offers an overview of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune condition. It explains the causes, symptoms, and progression of the disease, highlighting its effects on joints and overall health. It also covers diagnosis, treatment options, and management strategies for individuals living with RA.

NATIONAL COMPETENCIES FOR

Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada

The Canadian Association of Foot Care Nurse (CAFCN) is pleased to announce the first edition of the National Competencies for Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada (2017).

The competencies described in the document are the product of an extensive consultative and collaborative process conducted across Canada. In the fall of 2016 the draft framework, assumptions and competency statements were shared with external stakeholders for review and comment.

The Mission of the Canadian Association of Foot Care Nurses is to advance the practice of foot care through collaborative and networking process for all individuals providing foot care. One of our goals is to develop educational opportunities, national guidelines and a certification process for advanced nursing foot care. The National Competencies for Advanced Nursing Foot Care in Canada will provide a platform to move forward to meet our goal of national certification.

As CAFCN continues working towards national certification, we will be working with educational programs across Canada offering nursing foot care education to assist in aligning program outcomes with the competencies outlined in the document, thus preparing graduates for national certification.

CAFCN does not consider this publication an end product with regards to competencies, but rather the beginning. We anticipate that this first publication of advanced nursing foot care competencies in Canada will provide the basis for ongoing development and refinement from this point forward. The competencies describe the knowledge, skills, attitudes and judgments required for advanced foot care nurses in Canada to provide safe, ethical and competent care to clients.

If you have thoughts or comments about the competencies, please share them with us by emailing [email protected] and we will make note for the second iteration of the document.

Certification

It is the goal of CAFCN to promote the highest standard of advanced foot care nursing in Canada through supporting the development, implementation, coordination, and evaluation of all aspects of the certification and recertification process. We are working towards this goal and making significant progress in this area. We will update the public and our members as we move forward on this important and exciting initiative.