To support the education and training of nurses in the area of foot screening of patients with Diabetes, the National Clinical Programme with the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director have developed:
Nursing practice in foot screening and education of the patient with diabetes in foot care is guided by the National Diabetes Programme Model of Care for the Diabetic Foot (HSE 2011)
The education programme ‘Foot Screening and Education of the Patient with Diabetes’ promotes excellence amongst nurses who provide care to the patient with diabetes. Such care must be informed by current best evidence, lifelong and practice based learning.
As outlined in the National Diabetes Programme Model of Care for the Diabetic Foot (HSE 2011) the nurse in primary care is required to:
- Screen feet of the patient with diabetes.
- Identify, educate and review patients at low risk of developing diabetic foot problems.
- Identify and refer the patient ‘at risk’ of diabetic foot disease to the podiatrist either in the community or in the hospital foot protection team.
- Refer all those with ‘active diabetic foot disease’ to the ‘multidisciplinary specialist foot care service’ in the Model 4 Hospitals/tertiary Diabetes Care Centre.
Thus nurses in primary care require knowledge, understanding and clinical expertise in screening patients with low risk, at risk: both moderate and high, and including ‘active diabetic foot disease’ as defined in the National Diabetes Programme Model of Care for the Diabetic Foot (HSE 2011)
Programme aim and learning outcomes
The aim of the education programme is to facilitate nurses working in primary care to be knowledgeable of, and able to use the National Diabetes Programme Model of Care for the Diabetic Foot (HSE 2011)
The expected learning outcomes of the Foot Screening and Education of the Patient with Diabetes programme are outlined in the Table below.
| Learning Outcomes |
| On completion of this course the nurse will be able to: |
| 1. Outline the anatomy and physiology of the normal foot. |
| 2. Identify the patient at risk of, and discuss the signs and symptoms of, neuropathy, ischaemia, and infection. |
| 3. Demonstrate an understanding of, and the utilisation of the National Diabetes Programme Model of Care for the Diabetic Foot (HSE 2011) |
| 4. Undertake an examination and assessment of the diabetic foot at the workshop session, categorise and identify appropriate referral process. |
Programme Delivery
This education programme promotes self-directed learning pre and post attendance at the programme. The education programme consists of a self-directed pre-course reading, classroom/direct contact hours (4 hours) and post course learning, Self assessment of Competency Tool. Currently, it is recommended the taught section of the foot screening education programme is delivered as a stand alone master-class/seminar to those with prior education e.g. those listed in the Table below.
| List of known primary care diabetes nursing education modules |
| ICGP E Learning Diabetes Module |
| Bradford Diabetes Nursing Course |
| DCU Module Nursing the Individual with Diabetes NS431 |
| UCC Diabetes Management Module (NU5077) |
| Diabetes in Primary Care (NUIG & UCC) |
| CNME HETAC Certificate in Diabetes Nursing (available in 2011 in two CNMEs) |
| MMUH Diabetes Nursing Course for Practice Nurses |
| CNME HSE West (LCNTR) - Diabetes Mellitus five day attendance programme for Nurses and Midwives HSE West (LCNTR) |
The pre-requisite for nurses to attend the foot care education programme is that each candidate/participant has:
- attended (or is attending) a recognised diabetes nursing programme
or
- for those who have no post registration education in diabetes nursing, it is recommended that they complete an MCQ and achieved a score of > 80% in their pre-assessment of prior learning (an MCQ); Note: in the main, participants’, as adult learners, are asked to self administered and self correct their MCQs.
and
Checklist:
These are the things you need to have done before attending the course
Disclaimer: Please note that the Podiatry Department at NUI Galway have provided the written content and images on the education slides. The slides are provided from the Podiatry Dept., NUI Galway in support nurse education and training as part of the National Diabetes Clinical Programme (free of charge and as a gesture of goodwill in support of and recognition of the importance of the programme). The National Diabetes Programme accepts the slides in the knowledge that they were developed by and remain the property of the Podiatry Dept at NUI Galway and are protected by copyright. Therefore we ask all readers and users of the education slides that the slides shall only be used for the purpose of education in the health services.
Education provider and Programme Facilitators click here for Information on the Education Programme
