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Who are we & What do we do?
Podortho® Nurses are registered Nurses (RN’s, RPN’s, NP’s) that have obtained post graduate continuing education in the specialized field of advanced medical foot and lower limb Care. The primary objective of a Podortho Nurse is to optimize foot health, improve client mobility and their client’s overall health related quality of life. This is achieved by performing lower leg and foot assessments, which has been known to detect early signs of life altering diseases or disabling conditions. In conjunction, Podortho® Nurses use the Nursing process to assess, diagnose (nursing), develop plan of care, provide therapeutic treatment, and evaluate patient outcomes, while working either independently or as part of an interdisciplinary health care team providing quality client care.
Podortho Nurses graduate from a comprehensive post graduate program where they study in depth evidence-based theory and obtain superior clinical practices. Facilitators and mentors are seasoned Podortho Nurses, physiotherapists, Retired Podiatrists, Chiropractors, Occupational Therapists. This continued education consists of; Anatomy of the foot and lower limb, physiology, pathology, various disease processes, nail and skin care, wound care, lower limb vascular education, pain management, laser therapy, biomechanics, gait analysis, structural deformities, infection control, foot care techniques and treatments, instrumentation and procedures, assessment, and documentation, planning and management of a Podortho Nursing foot and lower limb care plan.
Foot Care Nurses may acquire this advanced continuing education by providing their Foot Care Certificate of Completion, register for the additional online courses available and complementary to OPNA members which is required to become a Podortho® Nurse ensuring all members have the same level of advanced knowledge and skills. OPNA members will be able to use the trademark title Podortho® Nurse. Foot Care Nurses may also choose to participate in the Foot Care Nurse to Podortho Nurse Bridge program to refresh and upgrade their theoretical and clinical practice. This is not mandatory to become a Podortho® Nurse, however, may be recommended by OPNA Directors to upgrade the Nurses knowledge, skill and judgement to ensure all members have obtained this higher level of education to provide this more advanced care consistent with the OPNA Podortho Nurse Core Competencies (PNCC).
Podortho® Nurses are regulated health care providers (RHCP) who have obtained the knowledge, skills and judgement to practice in the field of advanced medical foot and lower limb care. Podortho® Nurses are insured health care providers and are members of the College of Nurses of Ontario. OPNA (not for profit organization) maintains the Podortho® Nurse Trademark title for their members and encourages advanced practice so their members are able to provide complete client care working to their full scopes of practice in this specialized area of care.
Podortho Nurse Specialists are Registered Nurses (Registered Practical Nurse/Registered Nurse) that specialize in the field of Advanced Medical Foot and Lower Limb Care. The primary objective of a Podortho Nurse is to optimize foot and limb health, improve client mobility and overall Health Related Quality of Life.
Registration with the Ontario Podortho® Nursing Association Inc. and use of the Trademark title Podortho® Nurse
Continue to lobby Insurance Providers to recognize your care regardless of where it is performed. In home, clinic, hospital, LTC, any facility. Care is care. OPNA Director’s have been successful with many insurance providers and will continue to advocate for fairness and recognition of our Regulated Health Care Providers Podortho Nurses who have obtained advanced post graduate education in training and provide the best and most comprehensive quality care in the industry.
OPNA educates the public, stakeholders, allied health care providers, supporting associations and colleges in relation to the extensive education and care Podortho® Nurses provide in communities across Ontario.
Podortho® Nurses are First Nurses who are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) who are highly educated and trained in the medical profession and required to meet all professional competencies to acquire their designation with the CNO. In addition to this Podortho® Nurses have engaged in advanced post graduate education and skills training in order to provide comprehensive foot and lower limb care to appropriately service the public in the province of Ontario within their scope of Nursing practice.
OPNA has built relationships with our Resource Care Partners (RCP’s) / Vendors to offer special discounted rates on products, technologies, instruments and equipment for our members. These special offers are located in the members section titled “Foot Tools” of OPNA’s website.
Upgrade knowledge, advance and grow your practice by obtaining continuing education through OPNA.
Incorporate new services and utilize OPNA’s Directors researched foot and lower limb care products.
Podortho® Nurses will learn how to conduct biomechanical assessments of the foot and lower limb, prescribe, and dispense orthotics, assess the vascular status of your clients, offer compression therapy, treat foot pain and discomfort by incorporating non-invasive photodynamic therapy, clear onychomycosis with a new Health Canada approved system that eliminates the need for surgical intervention often performed by Chiropodists.
No need to refer your clients away from your practice and lose business revenue anymore. These revolutionary new therapies are now available to our members. OPNA has worked with our RCP and Educators to customize these programs and to ensure these treatments and therapies are safe, effective, and fully within a Nurses scope of practice to initiate and deliver without an order.
As the need for more qualified regulated health care providers grow in this specialized industry OPNA will be here to support our members so they can continue to provide quality comprehensive care with a Nurses caring approach.
Add your company name to our Find a Podortho® Nurse tool so clients can locate you and the services you offer.
OPNA’s PNCC promote best practice in foot and lower limb care performed by Podortho® Nurses.
OPNA members are celebrated for their extensive Nursing knowledge, judgement, and skill.
In addition, Podortho® Nurses have obtained post graduate continuing education in medical foot and lower limb care thereby, providing a comprehensive approach to the whole client addressing their health care needs and goals.
Quality Podortho Nursing Foot and Lower Limb Care is essential in order to meet the needs of a growing and aging population. Podortho Nurses are needed and well positioned to step into this role to meet the needs of the public and promote active and comfortable lifestyles, improve mobility and the general health and wellbeing in our communities across Ontario.
Podortho® Nurses are registered Nurses (RN’s, RPN’s, NP’s) that have obtained post graduate continuing education in the specialized field of advanced medical foot and lower limb Care.
The primary objective of a Podortho® Nurse is to optimize foot health, improve client mobility and their client’s overall health related quality of life.
Podortho® Nurses are registered Nurses (RN’s, RPN’s, NP’s) that have obtained post graduate continuing education in the specialized field of advanced medical foot and lower limb Care.
The primary objective of a Podortho® Nurse is to optimize foot health, improve client mobility and their client’s overall health related quality of life.
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