Peripheral Neuropathy & Charcot Foot - 1.0CE

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A red, hot, swollen foot can mean a lot of things, but if the patient has diabetic neuropathy, these may be the first signs of Charcot foot. Charcot foot occurs as a consequence of various peripheral neuropathies, however, diabetic neuropathy is diagnosed most commonly. It will ultimately lead to the weakening of bones, which will cause the foot to collapse to create pressure points leading to ulcerations.
As foot care nurses, it is our duty to be alert to all possibilities when conducting a patient assessment, in order to detect potential risk factors that could lead to a lifelong deformity and pain.

As a foot care nurse, you'll become closely acquainted with peripheral neuropathy and its risk factors. Because it is so common, we frequently think of peripheral neuropathy as being directly associated with diabetes. However, risk factors for peripheral neuropathy include diabetes and alcoholism, but can also be signs of other underlying conditions such as vitamin deficiency, autoimmune disorders, viral infections and hereditary conditions.

In this video, we'll talk about completing neurological assessments using sensory, reflex, and proprioception tools. When you've watched this videos, you'll be comfortable in your understanding regarding various types of neuropathy testing such as EMGs, Semmes-Weinstein and tuning forks.

We'll also talk about the efficacy of over the counter supplements you can recommend as a nurse, such as vitamin D3, B12 and Alpha Lipoic Acid. Dr. Julia will talk about the research that supports or denies the claims of such common OTC meds, and will provide examples of supplements that can help patients who are experiencing neuropathy associated with certain types of conditions.

Taking a proper patient history is crucial to finding the cause of the initial problem. While you cannot diagnose the patient, your thorough assessment will help get them to the right treatment.
When completing a patient analysis, it's important to stop and consider all underlying causes. Knowing how neuropathy affects your patients and being proficient in applying the right treatments such as offloading, will help to eliminate unnecessary future treatments and keep patients with Charcot foot ambulatory and independent.

This video provides 2.0 continuing education credits for nurses and other health care providers who are preparing to become certified or re-certified in routine foot care. Our videos cover a range of topics relevant to the field of routine foot care, which you will be able to apply in your existing career or use to move into a different health care environment. If your goal is to work independently as a foot care provider, check out our video that explains all of the ins and outs of marketing your own practice.

The American Foot Care Nurses Association provides foot care certifications for routine care. To become certified via AFCNA, nurses are required to complete 25 hours of CE materials, such as videos, and 20 hours of hands-on training.

To keep your existing foot care certification, nurses must have a copy of your current nursing license, proof of completion of at least 25 CEs directly related to foot care completed within the 24 month period, and a log of at least 50 hours of client/patient foot care. An additional test will not be required.

All AFNCA continuing education videos are also accepted by the Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society as credit.